By Mike Lehman, TTU Sports Information
COOKEVILLE, Tenn. – While not the story book ending many wanted to see, Monday night's regular season home finale was not without plenty of intrigue as Tennessee Tech baseball team fell to visiting Western Carolina, 11-4.
The Golden Eagles (24-25) were the ones that jumped out to early lead in the midweek match-up, grabbing a quick 3-0 advantage over the Catamounts (20-26) in the bottom of the second inning. Redshirt freshman Ryan Flick kicked off the frame, singling through the left side on a 1-1 count. Fellow redshirt freshman Matt Cunningham reached base in the next plate appearance for the Tech squad, taking advantage of a catcher's interference call.
Western Carolina snagged two quick outs, but freshman catcher Adam Reed made sure to keep Tech's scoring hopes alive, drawing a six-pitch walk to load the bases. A wild pitch allowed the first Golden Eagle run to cross the plate, moving the remaining base runners to second and third. Sophomore Tyler Brazelton worked a seven-pitch walk to load the bases yet again, setting up senior David Allen for an excellent scoring chance.
The center fielder took advantage of his chance, kicking a flare out to right field and driving in two runs to make it 3-0 in favor of the home squad.
The Catamounts took over from that point on, scoring five runs in the third inning, one in the fourth and five more in the fifth frame. Tech managed to collect one more run in the contest in the bottom of the seventh with an RBI from junior Jake Farr.
With the Golden Eagle bullpen shorthanded and struggling early in the contest, head coach Matt Bragga turned to a new solution for pitching help on the night, bringing in junior infielder Josh Pankratz to help quiet the Western Carolina offense. And the Taylorsville, Miss. native delivered in flying colors.
Pankratz tossed the fifth, sixth and seventh frames for the Golden Eagle squad, allowing zero hits and no runs while allowing just two walks. He also struck out a team-high three Catamount batters in his first career stint on the mound.
Trevor Maloney took over in the eighth, again holding the visitors scoreless and hitless, while also fanning two of the three batters he faced. And then Bragga went back to where he found success, calling on another infielder to wrap up the contest.
After spending the first eight innings at second base, Farr took over on the hill for his first pitching performance of the season. He performed admirably, keeping Western Carolina hitless and scoreless while inducing an inning-ending double play.
On the night, Allen led the Tech offense in his final appearance at Bush Stadium, going an impressive 4-for-5 with two RBI. Fellow senior and All-American shortstop Dylan Bosheers also ended his Golden Eagle career at Quillen Field by collecting a base hit.
The Golden Eagles will now take to the road to wrap up the 2015 regular season, heading north for a crucial three-game series with Ohio Valley Conference rival Eastern Kentucky. The Tech squad needs one victory to clinch a spot in the OVC Tournament, which will begin next Wednesday. Game one of this weekend's series will kick off with a 4:00 p.m. CT first-pitch Thursday, May 14.
Photo by Jim Dillon
