By Mike Lehman, TTU Sports Information
COOKEVILLE, Tenn. – The Tennessee Tech baseball team just couldn't solve the pitching staff of the Northern Illinois baseball team Friday afternoon, as the Golden Eagles fell to the Huskies in the first match-up of a three-game series, 4-2.
Northern Illinois jumped out to an early 2-0 lead, plating an unearned run in the top of the first and collecting a second in the top of the third.
The normally stout Tech offense was held hitless through the first six innings of the contest by southpaw Ben Neumann. The Golden Eagles did manage to draw three walks and manage four total base runners off of Neumann before he was replaced to start the seventh inning.
Senior catcher Jordan Hopkins wasted no time making the decision seem like a bad one, hammering the first pitch offered by reliever Donovin Sims clear over the Quillen Field sign in left field. The home run marked the first of the year by the backstop and cut the Huskies' lead in half.
The Huskies answered in the top of the eighth, collecting two more runs to extend their lead to 4-1. Tech did manage to squeeze one more run out of the NIU pitching staff, loading the bases on three walks. A wild pitch allowed the Golden Eagles to trim the deficit to just 4-2, but NIU closer Andrew Frankenreider shut the door for the final four outs to claim victory for the visitors.
Golden Eagle starter John Gora took the tough-luck loss on the day, despite allowing just one earned run over six innings of work. The left-handed senior allowed just six hits and a walk while striking out three batters.
Hopkins led the Golden Eagles offensively, collecting the team's only hit of the day with his seventh-inning tater. The senior also drew three walks to finish the day 1-for-1 with an RBI and run scored.
The Tech squad will take on the Huskies in the second game of the series Saturday at 1 p.m. CST at Bush Stadium at the Averitt Express Baseball Complex. The game was moved up an hour to take advantage of anticipated warmer weather. Sunday's start time for the final game was also moved earlier into the day, being rescheduled for an 11:00 a.m. start with inclement weather expected in the area later in the day.
Photo by Jim Dillon
