By Mike Lehman, TTU Sports Information
COOKEVILLE, Tenn. – The roles were reversed at the Averitt Express Baseball Complex Saturday afternoon, as the Tennessee Tech baseball team jumped out to a large and early lead over Austin Peay on its way to a series-evening, 14-3 victory.
A day after watching the Governors (15-10, 7-4) leap out to a 5-0 lead in the second inning, the Golden Eagles (14-11, 6-5) took their turn popping a five-spot on the scoreboard, delivering their damage with the first opportunity they got.
After senior starter Trevor Maloney struck out the side in the top half of the first, the Tech offense went to work in the bottom half, starting the frame with a five-pitch walk to redshirt freshman Alex Junior. A quick out brought junior Matt Jones to the dish, and after watching the first offering miss the zone, he laced what seemed to be a single into right center field. With some brilliant, heads-up running, however, the first baseman stretched into his team-leading ninth double of the season, sliding in just ahead of the throw from the outfield.
Junior Chris Brown created the second out of the inning, grounding out to shortstop. The Golden Eagle catcher managed to drive in the first run of the game, however, giving his team an early 1-0 lead. And the team wasn't done. Sophomore slugger Ryan Flick too his turn at the plate, earning a five-pitch free pass to put runners on first and second.
Fellow sophomore Trevor Putzig followed suit, taking first on APSU starter Michael Costanzo's third walk of the inning to load the bases for freshman right fielder Kevin Strohschein. The rookie battled late in the at bat, fouling off a 1-2 offering to get another chance at extending the inning and possibly driving in a couple of runs.
He did better than that, despite a 20 miles per hour wind howling straight into his face. On Costanzo's second attempt at setting him down on strikes, Strohschein unleashed a grown-man's swing and hammered his second career grand slam just to the right of the green monster in center field. Austin Peay managed to sneak out of the frame without any further damage, but Tech made its statement clear, leading 5-0 after just six outs.
After Maloney ran into a spot of trouble in the top of the third, allowing two runs, albeit just one earned, and two runners on base, freshman Ethan Roberts came on in relief and shut the Austin Peay offense down for the majority of the contest. The right hander induced a ground out on the first pitch he threw, ending the third with minimal damage.
And then the Tech offense struck again, with a little help from the Austin Peay defense. Flick drew his second straight walk of the game to lead off the bottom half of the third, this time on just four pitches. One out later, Strohschein went back to work with the sticks, ripping a single up the middle for his fifth RBI of the contest. Costanzo worked his second out of the inning, forcing Farr into a pop up to shortstop, before his defense began to unravel.
With Josh Pankratz at the plate, Strohschein stole second base. But the throw went flying into right center field, allowing the freshman to jump up and snag third base on the visitor's first error of the game. One pitch later, the Govs notched their second miscue of the frame as Pankratz smacked a ball to third base. What looked to be a sure third out flew just high enough to bounce off the glove of a leaping Dre Gleason and allow Pankratz to reach safely, not to mention let Strohschein score Tech's second run of the inning.
Things continued to unravel as Costanzo hit Junior on a 1-2 offering, putting runners on first and second. Sophomore shortstop David Garza then lined a single through the left side to drive in another Golden Eagle run. Austin Peay's third error of the contest, a muffed catch at first base, allowed Jones to reach safely and Junior to dent home plate.
That proved enough to end Costanzo's day, leading to the first of five pitching changes on the day for the Govs. It didn't matter much though. Brown promptly ripped a single through the right side for an RBI, and after Flick garnered his second free pass of the inning and third in the game, Putzig picked up an easy RBI, earning his own four-pitch walk with the bases loaded.
Austin Peay ended the run with a strikeout, but six more Golden Eagles had crossed to blow the game wide open and provide Tech an insurmountable 11-2 lead.
Tech added two more runs in the bottom of the fifth as a drive from Putzig bounced off the top of the fence in right field, into the net blocking the scoreboard and back onto the field. Initially ruled a double, the umpiring crew came back from conference to deliver the correct call; home run. It marked the youngster's second of the week and the year.
Roberts controlled the Austin Peay bats through the eighth inning, tossing five and one third innings on his way to his third victory of the season. The rookie scattered three hits and allowed just a single, unearned run on the day while fanning six Govs. Brandon Smith finished the contest, working a scoreless ninth frame with just one hit.
Offensively, Strohschein led the way with five RBI on three hits. He also scored two runs. Putzig tallied four RBI on the day, going 2-for-3 with two walks and two runs scored. Jones managed two base knocks while scoring a team-high three times. Brown also recorded a multi-hit day, finishing 2-for-5 with two RBI.
The Golden Eagles and Govs will square off the rubber match of the series Sunday afternoon. The 1 p.m. CT first pitch will pit Tech's Michael Wood against Austin Peay's Caleb Powell.
Photo by Tony Marable
