By Mike Lehman, TTU Sports Information
CAPE GIRARDEAU, Mo. – For the second straight day, the Tennessee Tech baseball team used both timely hitting and an incredible performance from the bullpen to mount a comeback and rally from a four-run deficit, downing Southeast Missouri Sunday afternoon, 11-10.
The Golden Eagles (22-23, 13-11) captured the series with the victory over the Redhawks (30-17, 20-7), capping their fourth consecutive Ohio Valley Conference series win while also handing the first-place Southeast Missouri squad its first series loss in league play.
Tech mounted two rallies in the affair, beginning with a two-run second inning that gave the visiting team a 2-1 lead. Freshman first baseman Chase Chambers drove in the first run for the purple and gold, grounding out with a runner on third for an RBI. Fellow freshman Trevor Putzig followed it right up with an RBI single up the middle.
Southeast Missouri flipped the switch on the Golden Eagles over the next four frames, scoring five runs to retake the lead and put up a sizable five-run advantage. With Redhawk hurler Alex Winkelman throwing a gem, the Tech offense turned to some veteran leadership to right the ship. And that's just what happened.
It started with the pitching, as senior reliever Jeb Scoggins took the hill for the Tech squad in the fourth inning and proceeded to shut down the always dangerous Redhawk offense for five innings. The right-hander struck out a career-high 10 batters of the next five and two thirds innings, walking just one in that span. Scoggins allowed five runs in total in the game, but just one was earned.
It was the sixth inning that provided the Tech offense the opportunity to control its destiny, and it took full advantage. Redshirt freshman Ryan Flick started the Golden Eagle comeback bid, drilling a leadoff single to center field. Senior catcher Jordan Hopkins followed with a single to right field, and before long, junior second baseman Jake Farr had joined his teammates on the base paths courtesy of a walk.
The Redhawks managed to snag one out before the next Tech batter took control, as Putzig ripped a single up the middle on a full count to drive in one and help chip the lead down to 6-3 in favor of the home squad. Sophomore right fielder Anthony El Chibani drove in the next Golden Eagle marker, grounding out to first base for the second out of the inning, but knocking the SEMO advantage to just 6-4.
With leadoff man Tyler Brazelton approaching the plate, Southeast Missouri pulled its starter in favor of a right-handed reliever. It hardly mattered, as the sophomore left fielder drew a five-pitch walk to load the bases for one of the biggest moments of the game.
Sitting at 0-for-3 on the day with two strikeouts, senior center fielder David Allen took his turn in the batter's box in the game's most pivotal moment working a full count and fouling off a potential third strike. On the seventh pitch of the at bat, Allen loaded up and unleashed a power surge rarely found in the senior's swing, smacking a grand slam to left field for the biggest hit of the veteran's career and giving the Golden Eagles an 8-6 lead.
The senior wasn't done either, gathering a triple in the eighth inning to set up Flick for an RBI ground out and a very important insurance run. In the top of the ninth, Chambers would add to the Tech lead as well, crushing a solo shot to right center field for his sixth home run of the year and a 10-6 lead for the Golden Eagles. As he had done all day, Allen drove in one more run in the ninth as well, sending a sacrifice fly to center field to give Tech an 11-6 lead.
And, as it would turn out, the Golden Eagles would need every single one of those insurance runs.
A Tech miscue in the bottom of the ninth provided an early base runner for the home squad right off the bat. Scoggins recorded a quick out before surrendering back-to-back singles that loaded the bases. The senior dug deep and after starting the next batter off with three straight balls, rallied in the at bat to notch his 10th punch out of the night and bring the Golden Eagles within one out of victory.
Southeast Missouri refused to go down without a fight, however, as the Redhawks used a two-run single to bring the score within three and chase a tired Scoggins (who threw over 100 pitches on the day) from the ball game. SEMO gathered two more runs on a double off of reliever Trevor Maloney, prompting one more pitching change for the Tech squad.
Entering the contest for his first career save attempts, junior Kyle Godwin needed just two pitches to put an end to Southeast Missouri's comeback bid, forcing a pop up to third base to put a cap on an incredible ball game.
Godwin gathered his first career save with the appearance while Scoggins took home his third victory of the year.
Offensively, it was Allen who played hero, going 2-for-5 with two runs scored and career-high five RBI. Putzig also enjoyed a great day at the plate, the second in-a-row for the youngster, gathering three hits in four at bats while scoring two runs and driving in two. Chambers also tallied two RBI as well.
The Golden Eagles will take the midweek off with finals in the air before returning home for their final weekend series in Bush Stadium this season. Tech will play host to OVC rival Belmont beginning Friday, May 8.
Photo by Jim Dillon
