By Mike Lehman, TTU Sports Information
MURRAY, Ky. – It took extra innings to decide a winner in the second game between the Tennessee Tech baseball team (21-16, 10-10) and Murray State (19-21, 8-9) Saturday afternoon, as the Racers beat out a suicide squeeze in the bottom of the 11th to claim their second victory in the Ohio Valley Conference series.
The home team actually jumped out to a 1-0 lead early in the contest, claiming a single run in the bottom of the first inning off Tech starter Jake Usher. The Golden Eagle hurler rebounded to keep Murray State off the scoreboard over the next four frames however, watching his team unload offensively for a big 6-1 advantage.
Tech scored twice in the top of the second inning, immediately answering Murray State's initial offensive effort with a leadoff double from freshman Nick Osborne on the first pitch sparking the run. Sophomore Trevor Putzig tied things up a few batters later, ripping a single through the left side to drive in Osborne. Senior Jake Farr followed suit, lacing an RBI single down the third base line to give Tech a 2-1 lead.
One inning later, the Golden Eagles struck again, taking a 3-1 advantage after true freshman Kevin Strohschein drilled his team-leading 12th double of the season down the left field line for an RBI. Osborne supplemented his fellow rookie's output, singling to right field for another Tech run and 4-2 lead.
Single runs in the top of the fourth and again in the top of the fifth gave the Golden Eagles a 6-1 lead heading to the bottom of the sixth, but the Racer offense jumped on the chance of not having to face off against Usher again.
The home squad struck for six runs in the frame, including a go-ahead grand slam off the bat of Ramsey Scott. Just like that, the Racers were back in front, 7-6. The Golden Eagles answered one more time in the top of the eighth, using a leadoff double from Putzig to set up Farr with an RBI single through the right side just six pitches later.
With the score knotted at 7-7, the two sides traded threats over the next two innings, with nothing coming to fruition for either side. It wasn't until the 11th the Racers finally broke the armor of the Golden Eagle defense, collecting a suicide squeeze RBI from Nick Moore for the victory.
After garnering the save in Friday night's contest, Cody Maerz captured the victory after tossing one and two thirds frames of scoreless ball. Usher took a tough no decision in the contest after completing five innings with just four hits and one earned run allowed. The junior fanned six in the contest as well.
The Golden Eagles will look to salvage a victory in the series Sunday afternoon in the rubber match against the Racers. First pitch is set for a 1 p.m. CT start.
Photo by Jim Dillon
