By Mike Lehman, TTU Sports Information
COOKEVILLE, Tenn. – A furious, fifth-inning rally propelled the Tennessee Tech baseball team to a huge victory over in-state rival Lipscomb Wednesday evening, as the Golden Eagles (7-7) overcame an 8-2 deficit to defeat the Bisons (8-5), 12-8.
Seven Golden Eagle players drove in runs against the team from down I-40, but the big daddy of the night was redshirt freshman Ryan Flick. The designated hitter enjoyed a 1-for-2 day at the dish, ripping a clutch double and garnering two walks to finish with four RBI and two runs scored.
Things looked bleak early, as Lipscomb jumped out to a 2-0 lead in the top of the first thanks to a two-run home run by Jonathan Allison. But the Tech squad answered immediately, squaring things at 2-2 in the bottom half after an RBI single by freshman Chase Chambers and sacrifice fly by Flick.
Bisons' starter Brady Puckett shut the door hard on the Golden Eagles over the next three innings, not allowing a hit and working out of a jam with two runners on, due to walks, with no outs. And then the Lipscomb bats took another swing at the hopes of the Tech squad.
In the top of the fourth, Lipscomb tallied five runs, breaking the game wide open and taking a 7-2 lead. The Bisons added to their advantage the next frame as well, crossing one more runner over home plate to take a sizable six-run lead.
Lipscomb quickly found out that no lead is safe against a Matt Bragga coached team. Senior All-American Dylan Bosheers proved just how valuable of a leader he is to the Tech squad, entering the dugout following the top of the fifth and vocally challenging his teammates to never give up and go approach the next at bat as any other.
Message received.
Despite two quick outs to start the fifth, Tech never surrendered and began to use that old, careful approach. Sophomore outfielder Anthony El Chibani garnered a six-pitch walk to kick start some action. Bosheers followed right behind, watching two strikes to open the at bat before patiently taking four pitches outside the zone for his own free pass.
After swinging and missing on the first pitch he saw, Chambers forced Puckett to throw to him and was rewarded with his own walk. With three consecutive freebies allowed, Puckett's day would end.
Flick entered the batter's box, taking on a new pitcher in a high-pressure situation. After working a 1-1 count, the Bluff City native smoked the next offering down the left field line, clearing the bases and shrinking the Lipscomb lead down to just 8-5. But the Golden Eagles were done there.
The freshman advanced to third on the throw to home plate and scored just a few pitches later after one found the backstop. Now the scoreboard read Lipscomb 8. Tech 6.
Freshman catcher Adam Reed took his opportunity and sent a ground ball to third base, seemingly ending the inning. But a bad throw and eventual error left the youngster safe at first and kept the Golden Eagles alive in the fifth.
Yet another freshman, Matt Cunningham, entered the box and put together one of the more impressive at bats of the evening. The left fielder fought off three tough pitches before eventually earning an eight-pitch walk to set up sophomore Andrew Contreras with a chance to close the gap even closer.
And the second baseman delivered, despite another Lipscomb pitching change, squeaking a single through the right side to plate Reed and trim down the Bisons' lead to just one run. And Tech still wasn't done.
Pinch-hitting in a huge spot, freshman Trevor Putzig came through with the hit of the day after working a full count. The third baseman threaded a shot just between the outstretched gloves of the Lipscomb first and second basemen, driving in both Cunningham and Contreras and putting the Golden Eagles in command of the game for the first time.
Tech added to that lead in the sixth, grabbing two-out RBI from pinch-hitter and senior catcher Jordan Hopkins and Matt Cunningham. Bosheers provided one more insurance run in the bottom of the seventh with an RBI double with two outs as well.
Back in action for the first time since Tech's opening series due to injury, Trevor Maloney closed the book on the Lipscomb offense following the rally, tossing two scoreless frames with no hits and just two base runners allowed. The junior picked up his first win of the season while striking out two batters.
Andrew Barkley made his season debut, facing one batter in a situational spot before giving way to senior Jeb Scoggins for the final five outs. While he wasn't up for the save, the right-hander helped keep the Bisons hitless over the final four innings, walking just one batter while also fanning two and ending a remarkable comeback.
Bosheers scored three runs as part of a 1-for-2 night at the plate, driving in a run as well as walking twice and getting plunked once. All but three of the 11 Tech batters scored against the Bisons and eight Golden Eagles also tallied a hit.
The Tech bats garnered nine walks on the night, actually eclipsing its hit total of eight. Tech took advantage of three Lipscomb errors on the night, plating three unearned runs in the contest. The Golden Eagles scored 10 unanswered runs, all of which came with two outs, to close out the ball game.
The Golden Eagles will now set their sights on an Ohio Valley Conference weekend series with in-state foe UT Martin. With weather playing havoc on the Skyhawk field, the original schedule of games on Friday, Saturday and Sunday has been changed to feature contests on Saturday, Sunday and Monday.
Saturday's game will kick off the action with a 6 p.m. CT start. Game two will follow on Sunday at 3 p.m. and the series finale will commence with a 3 p.m. match-up on Monday.
Photo by Jim Dillon
