By Mike Lehman, TTU Sports Information
RICHMOND, Ky. – A back-and-forth barn burner between the Tennessee Tech and Eastern Kentucky baseball teams landed in favor of the home squad Friday afternoon, as the Golden Eagles (24-27, 15-14) fell to the Colonels (21-28, 12-16) in game two of their Ohio Valley Conference series, 12-10.
EKU wasted no time jumping out to an early lead for the second consecutive game, grabbing a solo run in the first, two in the second and another in the third. Tech answered with a two spot in the top of the fourth, using back-to-back singles from Tyler Brazelton and Dylan Bosheers to lead off the frame.
Brazelton scored after two quick outs, crossing home plate on a miscue by the Eastern Kentucky defense. Bosheers would score on the very next pitch, as redshirt freshman Ryan Flick ripped a single to left field for his first RBI in what would result in a career performance for the youngster.
With its lead cut in half, the Colonels went back to work, extending its advantage to 7-2 in the bottom of the fourth after plating three more runs.
As it's done all season long, the Tech squad refused to give in, making a fantastic rally in the top of the fifth, to actually take an 8-7 lead when the frame concluded. Eastern Kentucky induced a quick out to begin the inning before the Golden Eagles kicked off the comeback.
Senior David Allen executed on the first pitch he saw, driving the ball to center field for a base hit. Right fielder Anthony El Chibani followed immediately with a double down the right field line, advancing Allen to third and giving Tech an excellent opportunity for some runs. That chance was increased exponentially after Brazelton fought back from an 0-2 count to draw a walk to load the bases for Bosheers.
The All-American came through, pounding a ball out to left field for a sacrifice fly and RBI. With two outs in the frame, junior second baseman Jake Farr kept the run going for the Golden Eagles, collecting a single to right field for another Tech RBI and cutting the EKU lead to 7-4. Tech then found itself with another bases-loaded chance after senior catcher Jordan Hopkins beautifully worked a seven-pitch free pass, bringing Flick to the dish.
An 0-2 count didn't faze the designated hitter, as he deposited the third offering of the at bat deep into center field for a bases-clearing double, three RBI and the tying hit. Third baseman Josh Pankratz kept the rally going for one more at bat too, giving Tech its first lead of the contest with an RBI single up the middle.
The Colonels just would not go away offensively, however, as the squad collected four more runs in the bottom of the sixth to take an 11-7 lead that seemed like it might hold. And it did, but barely.
In the top of the seventh, the Golden Eagles gave another great offensive effort in bringing the game within reach, getting a base runner with one out after Farr drew a walk. A quick second out brought Flick to the plate, with an impressive four RBI already on his resume for the day, but that just wasn't enough. The slugger watched two strikes pass by, followed by two pitches that missed the zone. On the fifth attempt, he saw what he wanted, clubbing his team-leading 10th long ball clear over the right field fence to bring the Golden Eagles within one run of tying the game.
That would be as close as the visiting squad would get, however, as EKU held the Golden Eagles scoreless over the final two frames while adding an insurance run in the bottom of the eighth for a 12-10 victory.
Flick led the Tech attack on the day, grabbing an impressive four hits in five at bats while driving in a career-high six runs and scoring two as well. He became the first Tech freshman to club 10 dingers in a single season since Zach Stephens, the OVC's all-time leader in home runs, RBI and total bases, accomplished the feat back in 2011. Both Bosheers and Pankratz notched multi-hit affairs as well with each driving in a run to boot.
Despite the loss, the Golden Eagles still control their own destiny regarding the OVC tournament, needing a victory Saturday afternoon to make the six-team field. Play against the Colonels will kick off with a 12 p.m. CT first pitch.
Photo by Jim Dillon
