By Mike Lehman, TTU Sports Information
COOKEVILLE, Tenn. – A dominating performance early, both on the mound and at the plate, proved more than enough for the Tennessee Tech baseball team to collect a home victory against Alabama A&M Tuesday evening, as the Golden Eagles (19-12) rolled to a comfortable 11-6 win over the Bulldogs (6-29).
Making just his second career start, freshman hurler Ty King was purely dominant on the hill, covering four innings before being pulled do to a pre-determine pitch count. The right-hander scattered four hits and two walks in the contest while striking out a career-high nine Bulldog batters.
With King handling business on the defensive side of the diamond, the Tech offense wasted no time in taking advantage of the great performance, scoring nine runs in the first two innings despite eking out just three hits. Instead of using the sticks to produce the brunt of the damage, the Golden Eagles employed a large supply of self-discipline, drawing seven walks over the first two frames.
In fact, Tech kicked off the contest with back-to-back four-pitch free passes to Alex Junior and Trevor Putzig. Junior Chris Brown drove in the first run of the contest, grounding out to third base for the second out of the frame. That didn't faze the Golden Eagles, however, as a walk to sophomore Ryan Flick set up freshman Kevin Strohschein for a huge start to the contest.
On a 1-2 count, the right fielder smashed a double down the right field line, driving in two more Tech runs for a 3-0 lead. Sophomore shortstop David Garza ripped an RBI single to center field to complete a four-run first inning for the home squad.
The Golden Eagles were back at it again in the second, getting a one-out boost from Junior. The redshirt freshman took a free opportunity to reach first after getting plunked with an offering and ran with it, literally. Junior swiped both second and third base, the ninth and 10th swipes of the season for the speedster. Back-to-back-to-back walks to Putzig, Matt Jones and Brown loaded the bases and gave Brown an RBI, setting up a juiced set of bags for Flick. The slugger took a pitch off his hip, leading to the first run of the contest.
Strohschein followed ripping a chopper to second base that was mishandled and allowed everyone to reach safely. Garza single through the left side for another RBI and catcher Connor Goodspeed rounded out the scoring in the frame with his own bases-loaded free pass and RBI.
Tech's final two runs in the contest came off the power of, well, power as Garza and Strohschein each hammered solo dingers for an 11-0 lead. Alabama A&M crossed six runners over home plate over the final two innings, but the Golden Eagle lead proved much too great as the home squad captured its fifth consecutive victory.
For the contest, Strohschein led the way offensively, finishing 3-for-5 with a game-high four RBI and just a triple shy of the cycle. Garza also tallied three hits in five trips to the plate, driving in three Tech runs as well. Brown posted two RBI without a hit while Putzig earned three free trips to first base on balls, scoring two runs.
Sophomore Travis Moths, freshman Marcus Evey, senior Trevor Maloney and sophomore Will Gardner each completed scoreless innings in the contest, combining to allow just two hits and one walk while fanning five.
The Golden Eagles will return to action Friday evening in 6 p.m. CT match-up with Ohio Valley Conference rival Jacksonville State, kicking off a three-game series against the top-ranked team in the league.
Photo by Jim Dillon
