By Mike Lehman, TTU Sports Information
COOKEVILLE, Tenn. – An up-and-down, seesaw battle from the very beginning, the Tennessee Tech baseball team couldn't quite complete its late comeback bid against Miami (Ohio) Saturday afternoon, falling to the RedHawks by a final score of 11-10.
The visiting squad scratched the scoreboard first, plating two in the first inning for the early advantage. The Golden Eagles quickly rallied, loading the bases on three walks to three of their first four batters of the game, Alex Junior, Jake Farr and Chase Chambers. Sophomore Ryan Flick took it from there, ripping a two-run single up the middle to tie the contest.
Two batters later, freshman outfielder Kevin Strohschein followed suit, plinking his own single up the middle to drive in one and give Tech an early 3-2 lead.
The Golden Eagles tickled home plate again in the bottom of the third, beginning with a leadoff walk to Jake Rowland. The redshirt junior swiped second base and advanced to third on a groundout. With two outs, he kicked on the jets on a wild pitch, sliding in just ahead of the tag from Miami hurler Cole Gnetz to increase the lead to 4-2.
The RedHawks took one back in the fourth before retaking its lead in the top of the fifth frame, using an RBI single and bases-loaded walk to do its damage. Halfway through the contest, Miami led 5-4.
Again, the Golden Eagles fought back, using two heads up plays on the base paths to climb back on top. Making his first career start, Junior, a redshirt freshman, just beat out a chopper to first base for his first career hit, flashing his blazing speed. He showed it off almost instantly, swiping second base on the first pitch and promptly taking third after the throw to second was mishandled by the RedHawk shortstop.
Farr singled up the middle on the next offering, driving in Junior to knot things up at 5-5. The senior then did his best imitation of Junior, stealing second base before advancing to third on a throwing error by the catcher. An RBI single off the bat of Rowland provided the home squad a 6-5 lead headed to the sixth.
Miami jumped back on top behind a big sixth inning from the offense, scoring five runs in the frame for a 10-6 lead.
Tech managed to take one back in the bottom half, scoring on an RBI double off the bat of pinch-hitter and third baseman Matt Jones. The RedHawks matched the one run effort in the eighth, moving its lead to 11-7 before the Golden Eagles made one final attack run.
Shortstop David Garza led off the bottom half of the eighth with a first-pitch single through the right side, setting the tempo for the rest of the inning. Jones reach on a fielding error by the RedHawk third baseman, right before the fourth Miami error of the night allowed Junior to reach.
Laying down a sacrifice bunt, the speedy Junior placed the ball perfectly to make the play at first close enough that the RedHawk pitcher made an errant throw that blew past the first baseman and into foul territory down the right field line. Garza easily scored on the play and Jones slid in safely as well, trimming the Miami lead by two. Junior reached third on the play, using his wheels to set up Tech for another run.
The RedHawk woes continued, as their hurler plunked Farr with his next toss and then tossed a wild pitch to Rowland that allowed Junior to score and Farr to take second. Back-to-back walks from Chambers and the pinch-hitting Tyler Brazelton set up the Golden Eagles with the bases loaded and one out. Miami managed a strikeout, brining Strohschein to dish with bases loaded. The freshman hit a chopper to the RedHawk shortstop who flipped it to second base for the force out and to get out of the jam.
The rally attempt was officially shut down in the ninth after three quick outs, giving the visiting RedHawks an 11-10 victory and a 2-0 series lead. Miami reliever Gus Graham notched his first victory of the season while Ryan Marske earned his third save of the year.
In his first career start, Junior scored three runs while drawing two walks and gathering an infield single. Flick finished 2-for-4 with two RBI and Garza kept his strong play rolling with a 3-for-5 showing at the dish with two runs scored. Farr also dented home plate twice while reaching base three times.
The series finale between the two squads will commence Sunday afternoon at Bush Stadium at the Averitt Express Baseball Complex with a 1 p.m. scheduled start.
Photo by Jim Dillon
