By Mike Lehman, TTU Sports Information
COOKEVILLE, Tenn. – There was no silencing the Golden Eagle bats Saturday afternoon, as the Tennessee Tech baseball team (5-3) compiled 14 hits off of four pitchers to down the Northern Illinois Huskies (4-5), 14-5.
Just one day after being held to a single hit and racking up nine strikeouts, the Golden Eagles looked like a different team, racking up hits in six out of eight innings and scoring a season-high 14 runs. Tech also did not strike out once on the day, instead drawing six walks.
Northern Illinois seemed destined to pull off a second victory in two days early in the contest, taking an early 1-0 lead thanks to a first-inning home run by Stephen Letz. But the tables turned quickly in the bottom of the third.
Having already tallied twice as many hits through the first two innings as the previous nine combined, Tech unleashed a relentless attack on Huskie starter Joe Ceja. With one out quickly recorded, Josh Pankratz earned an impressive, 10-pitch walk that seemed to shake Ceja.
Senior leadoff man David Allen proved that point, doubling down the left field line on the first pitch he saw, putting runners in scoring position for Jake Farr. The shortstop answered the call, doubling down the right field line to give the Golden Eagles a lead they would never relinquish.
All-American Dylan Bosheers promptly stepped into the box and, after one pitch, was plunked in the back to once again give Tech multiple base runners. Then the real damage began to occur. Redshirt freshman Ryan Flick took four pitches for a 3-1 count before hammering a three-run bomb to right center field and breaking the game wide open. Just like that, Tech led 5-1.
Next to enter the box for the Golden Eagles was sophomore Tyler Brazelton. The right-fielder sent a flare down the right field line for a double to keep the momentum flowing. And it didn't take long to explode. Freshman Adam Reed took his turn with the stick, crushing the first pitch he saw clear over the wall in right center field for his first career home run and two RBI. After the third the scoreboard read 7-1 in favor of Tech.
Reed tallied another RBI in the fifth inning, leading a four-run frame that turned the game into a double-digit affair. Jordan Hopkins laced a double to left center field for an RBI and an NIU error brought in another Tech runner. Allen closed the scoring out in the fifth, sending a sacrifice fly to center field.
Tech grabbed one run in each of the next three innings as well, highlighted by a towering shot down the left field line by Bosheers.
The senior finished the day 2-for-3 at the plate, scoring three runs and driving in one. Flick led the Golden Eagles offensively, however, driving in four runs on two hits and scoring two times as well. Reed finished just behind his fellow freshman, putting together a 3-for-4 performance at the dish with three RBI and two runs scored.
Not to be forgotten, sophomore starter Evan Fraliex enjoyed a fantastic day on the hill for the Tech squad, tossing seven innings of nearly spotless ball to pick up his second victory of the season. The right-hander surrendered just the one run in the top of the first, scattering two more hits across the final six frames of his day. He also walked just two batters while punching out three on strikes.
A huge milestone was accomplished on the day as well as head coach Matt Bragga compiled his 300th career victory at the helm of the Tennessee Tech program.
The Golden Eagles will square off with the Huskies in the rubber match on Sunday in an 11 a.m. CST contest at Bush Stadium.
Photo by Jim Dillon
