By Mike Lehman, TTU Sports Information Coordinator
NASHVILLE, Tenn. – A quick attack out of the gate by Lipscomb left the Tennessee Tech baseball team attempting to play catch-up most of the evening Saturday, a game that would ultimately belong to the Bisons (27-20) as the Golden Eagles (35-13) fell in Nashville, 8-4.
Despite two home runs for the second straight night, the Golden Eagles just couldn't match the hot hitting of the home team, as the Bisons outhit Tech 12-6.
Tech showed signs of a rally late, turning a 7-2 deficit to just 7-4 in the top of the seventh, but that was as close the Golden Eagles would get as Bisons reliever Nick Andros would tame the Tech bats for the remainder of the contest.
Senior slugger Brandon Thomasson continued his hot streak, hammering his second home run in as many games and fifth in the past four contests. The solo shot cut an initial two-run Lipscomb lead in half. But the Bisons struck three times in the third inning and twice more in the fourth to put an exclamation point on the night.
Barely 24 hours after sending his first career long ball over the center field wall at Ken Dugan Field, freshman outfielder Anthony El Chibani cranked out his second moon shot of the series, a two-run shot to right center field in the seventh.
Lipscomb second baseman Mike Korte led the offensive effort on the night for the Bisons, going 2-for-4 with two runs scored and three RBI thanks to a three-run shot in the third.
Bisons starter Hunter Brothers claimed his third victory of the year, tossing six innings while allowing just two earned runs and three hits.
Golden Eagle outfielder Jake Rowland quietly collected his second multi-hit game of the series, going 2-for-3 on the night. Thomasson finished the game with a 1-for-3 performance, driving in one, scoring one, and walking once. El Chibani led Tech with two RBI on a 1-for-3 evening.
Both squads will now make the short trip back to Cookeville for the finale of the three-game series, a 2 p.m. CT contest Sunday afternoon. The game will mark the Golden Eagles' Legends Day, an event that will see several former Tech baseball players and coaches make the trip back to Bush Stadium to be honored for their efforts as members of the program.
