By Mike Lehman, TTU Sports Information
MURFREESBORO, Tenn. – The Tennessee Tech baseball kicked off its four-game stretch with a bang, taking down in-state rival Middle Tennessee in midweek action Wednesday afternoon by a final score a of 9-6.
The Golden Eagles (21-14) used a consistent and strong attack, particularly from the top of the lineup, to down the Blue Raiders (16-22), as eight of the nine Tech starters gathered a hit. Things started out quickly for the purple and gold, as the first three batters of the contest reached base.
Sophomore Trevor Putzig led things off with a four-pitch walk, followed by a base hit from senior Jake Farr. Next to the plate, junior Matt Jones ripped a single to left field to drive in the first run of the game. Two batters later, sophomore Chase Chambers ripped a single to right field, driving in another Tech marker for a 2-0 lead.
The offense wasn't finished. In the top of the second, sophomore David Garza was plunked by a pitch. Farr came back to the dish again two batters later, connecting for a single to center field. Middle Tennessee managed to snag its second out of the frame, but junior Chris Brown had a little to say about things.
The catcher fell behind quickly to an 0-2 count, but the switch hitter rallied to crank a huge, three-run home run to right field to give the Golden Eagles a 5-0 lead.
The two in-state and former Ohio Valley Conference foes traded multiple runs over the final seven frames, with Tech collecting a solo marker in the fourth, two more in the fifth and a final score in the eighth. The Blue Raiders managed a single run in the second, a three-spot in the fourth and solo markers in the fifth and eighth frames, but it just wasn't enough as the Tech pitching staff held off any rally hopes.
On a day that saw six pitchers man the mound, sophomore Travis Moths collected the victory, tossing one and one third innings while allowing just one hit and one walk and striking out two Blue Raider batters. Freshman Nick Osborne, who made a start in left field, came on for the final three outs, garnering his first career save.
On the day, both Farr and Jones led the way offensively, each tallying 3-for-5 performances. Jones drove in two runs while Farr scored twice. Brown posted three RBI while smacking his sixth long ball of the year.
The Golden Eagles will return to the road for a three-game weekend series at OVC rival Murray State starting Friday with a 6 p.m. CT match-up.
Photo by Jim Dillon
