By Mike Lehman, TTU Sports Information
JACKSONVILLE, Ala. – After two straight, wire-to-wire contests, it seemed as if the Tennessee Tech baseball team decided enough was enough Sunday afternoon, exploding for five, first-inning runs on its way to a decisive, 9-4 victory to clinch the Ohio Valley Conference series over Jacksonville State.
The Golden Eagles (15-19, 8-10) bounced back in impressive fashion in the rubber match, less than 24 hours after falling to the Gamecocks (18-15, 7-8) in a 13-inning heartbreaker. Just like in that second game, Tech jumped out early offensively, scoring five runs in the top of the first for the second straight day.
But unlike Saturday's contest, the Golden Eagles gave Jax State little chance at a comeback, holding the home team to just four runs on 10 hits and not allowing a run to cross until the third frame.
Senior Jacob Honea provided a huge boost to a relatively fatigued Tech pitching staff, holding the potent Gamecock offense to four runs over four and two thirds innings in his first weekend start of the season. The right-hander came within just one out of picking up his second straight victory in Jacksonville, having saved Tech from Jax State series sweep back in 2013 with an incredible eight and one third innings of shutout ball.
Instead, junior reliever Kyle Godwin entered the contest, his fifth straight appearance in as many games, to help limit some damage during a Jax State comeback bid. With runners on first and second and two outs in the bottom of the fifth, the right-hander allowed a single to the first batter he faced, bringing the Gamecocks within three runs of the Golden Eagles. He settled down quickly, however, forcing a fly out to end the inning and the threat.
Godwin tossed one more inning in the contest, giving up zero hits and striking out one to earn his first victory as a Golden Eagle. Senior closer Jeb Scoggins took over for the final three innings and couldn't have looked more in charge, allowing just two base runners and fanning two on the way to his third save of the year and a crucial series victory for the Golden Eagles.
With the Tech pitching staff holding the Gamecocks pretty much at bay all afternoon, the Golden Eagle offense was able to operate efficiently and in a timely manner. After the home squad tallied two markers in the bottom of the third, cutting the TTU lead to just three runs, the purple and gold answered in the top of the fifth.
The visitors plated two huge runs in the frame, using a sacrifice fly by junior Jake Farr and a defensive miscue by the Gamecocks to inflict the damage. With Jax State scoring its own two runs in the bottom half of the inning, the two Tech markers were huge in keeping a healthy buffer on the lead.
Tech picked up two more insurance runs late in the ball game as well, using an RBI single in the eighth by David Allen and RBI double by Ryan Flick in the ninth to provide the final score of 9-4.
As has been the theme much of the season, the Golden Eagles used a balanced attack to down their opponent, with eight of the nine batters notching a hit in the contest. Allen, All-American Dylan Bosheers, and freshman Chase Chambers each finished with multi-hit affairs. Chambers crushed two doubles on the afternoon with Bosheers grabbing his 10th two-bagger of the season.
Seven Golden Eagle batters tallied RBI in the ball game as well, with Ryan Flick leading the way with two. He finished the day 1-for-3 with two walks as well. Chambers finished 2-for-4 at the dish, scoring a game-high three times and garnering a free pass.
The Golden Eagles will close out its five-game road stretch on Wednesday, Apr. 15 with a contest in Cullowhee, N.C., facing off against Western Carolina in a 5 p.m. CT tilt. Tech will then return home for another pivotal OVC series, playing host to Murray State from Apr. 17-19.
Photo by Tony Marable
