By Mike Lehman, TTU Sports Information
CLARKSVILLE, Tenn. – The opportunity was just within reach, but a late, ninth-inning rally by the Tennessee Tech baseball team fell just short Saturday afternoon as the Governors of Austin Peay (13-10, 7-4) held on late to take the second game of the Ohio Valley Conference series over the Golden Eagles (10-15, 4-7), 9-8.
A day after being held to four hits, the Tech offense wasted no time getting on the board. All-American shortstop Dylan Bosheers worked an impressive at bat, seeing eight pitches before dropping his fifth home run of the season over the left field fence to give the Golden Eagles a 1-0 lead.
Austin Peay answered with a run in the bottom half, but the Tech bats weren't about to back down. Freshman Ryan Flick earned a four-pitch walk to set up another senior bat for fireworks. Jordan Hopkins took a 1-1 pitch deep over the wall in left center field, driving in two runs and propelling the Golden Eagles to a 3-1 lead.
Once again the Govs answered, scoring a single marker in the bottom of the second. But Tech kept pushing. In the third, Bosheers sent a single to right field, setting up Flick for an RBI double two batters later. After two and half, the Golden Eagles led 4-2.
The Austin Peay offense was just on during the afternoon, plating three more in the bottom of the third to take over control of the game at 5-4. A little more help from a Tech freshman evened out the score right quick, as Trevor Putzig launched his first career long ball to left field, knotting things at 5-5.
Two more runs in the bottom of the fourth kept the scoreboard busy as the Govs took back the lead at 7-5. Austin Peay added two more in the bottom of the seventh and looked well on its way to another victory.
The Golden Eagles weren't about to make things easy, however. Tyler Brazelton and Bosheers each worked walks to open the top of the ninth, putting the tying run in the on deck circle with Chase Chambers coming to the plate. A ground ball by the freshman moved Brazelton and Bosheers to second and third, but a strikeout put the Govs on more putout away from victory.
That's when Jordan Hopkins showed some senior prowess, ripping a double to left center field on the first pitch he saw. The catcher drove in two runs and brought the tying run to the plate in sophomore Anthony El Chibani. The outfielder was hit by a pitch and put two on for Putzig.
An error by the Austin Peay shortstop allowed Hopkins to score and cut the lead down to one, but with a full count and two outs, Governors' reliever John Sparks got the strike call he needed to record the final out and take his first save of the season.
Bosheers had a great day at the dish for the Golden Eagles, going 3-for-4 with an RBI and three runs scored while Hopkins tallied four RBI and two runs on a 2-for-4 performance. Putzig also tallied multiple hits.
The Golden Eagles will square off with the Govs one more time Sunday afternoon, concluding the OVC series with their in-state rival with a 1 p.m. tilt.
Photo by Jim Dillon
