By Mike Lehman, TTU Sports Information
COOKEVILLE, Tenn. – The offense continued to roll for the Tennessee Tech baseball team Saturday, as the Golden Eagles (10-8, 3-3) completed a three-game sweep of Ohio Valley Conference and in-state rival UT Martin (7-13, 2-4) with two victories in some doubleheader action.
In game one, UT Martin tried to assert itself early by collecting the first run of the game in the top of the third, but it was all Tech from that point on.
The Golden Eagles scored 10 unanswered runs for their second straight double-digit scoring effort, starting with a three-run tater to right field off the bat of junior catcher Chris Brown in the bottom of the third. Tech more than doubled the output an inning later, plating four in the fourth.
The scoring started with a five-pitch, bases-loaded walk to senior Jake Farr. Sophomore Chase Chambers got plunked on the very next pitch, driving in another run for Tech. Fellow sophomore Ryan Flick smacked an RBI groundout to up the Tech advantage to 6-1 before a wild pitch allowed Chambers to dent home plate for a 7-1 lead.
In the fifth, junior Tyler Brazelton ripped an RBI single through the right side to keep the offense rolling and a RBI single up the middle from Jake Farr gave the Golden Eagles a 9-1 lead. Redshirt freshman Alex Junior completed the Tech scoring effort in the first affair, cranking an RBI double for a 10-1 lead.
The Skyhawks managed a single run in the top of the ninth, but it was too little too late as the Golden Eagles closed the deal for a 10-2 victory.
Sophomore Travis Moths took home the victory in game one, tossing three and two thirds innings of relief after an apparent injury ended Tech starter Evan Fraliex's day after a scoreless first frame. Moths scatter two hits while allowing just one, unearned run and fanning one.
Kit Fowler covered the next three and one third innings, striking out three batters while holding UT Martin hitless and scoreless. Jake Usher tackled the final frame, giving up one run before wrapping things up for the Golden Eagles.
Brown led the way offensively, going 3-for-4 with three RBI. Junior also notched multiple hits, finishing 2-for-4 with two runs scored and an RBI.
In game two, UT Martin once again tried to jump out early and take the momentum, scoring a single run in the top of the first thanks to a sacrifice fly. The Tech pitching staff said no more, however, shutting down the Skyhawk attack until the seventh frame, allowing just one more run.
The Golden Eagle offense took over from there, starting with an RBI double to left field from Brown in the bottom of the second inning. Freshman Kevin Strohschein followed, crushing an RBI ground-rule double to right field for a 2-1 Tech lead.
Sophomore Trevor Putzig made it a 3-1 advantage in the fourth, drilling an RBI single to center field. Junior then broke the game open with a two-run single to left center field, increasing the Tech lead to 5-1. UT Martin managed a seventh-inning score and one more in the ninth to cut the lead to 5-3, but Kyle Godwin closed things out for the three-game sweep.
Junior once again was a force with the sticks, going 2-for-4 with two RBI. Chambers claimed two hits in three at-bats, scoring two runs. Senior Trevor Maloney took home his first victory of the season, tossing five innings while allowing just one hit and one earned run. He finished with five strikeouts.
Michael Wood covered the next one and one third inning, allowing just one earned run on two hits before handing things over to Godwin for the final two and two thirds innings. He picked up his first save of the season while allowing just one hit and one unearned run.
The Golden Eagles will hit the road to take on the Tennessee Volunteers Tuesday in a 6 p.m. CT tilt that can be view live on the SEC Network.
Photo by Jim Dillon
