By Mike Lehman, TTU Sports Information
COOKEVILLE, Tenn. – It was a fitting end to spectacular day and fantastic season for the Tennessee Tech baseball team Saturday afternoon, as the Golden Eagles (31-22, 17-13) sent their seniors off with a 7-5 victory over Eastern Kentucky (24-31, 13-17) on Senior Day at Bush Stadium at the Averitt Express Baseball Complex.
In defeating the Colonels, Tech completed the three-game series sweep of its Ohio Valley Conference rivals and clinched the No. 5 seed in the league's postseason tournament set to begin next Wednesday, May 25. The cherry on top? Five of the team's six senior members were able to provide crucial contributions to what represents Tech's third consecutive victory on Senior Day.
Starting in the field from first pitch, second baseman Jake Farr, catcher Connor Goodspeed and left fielder Josh Pankratz each played a pivotal role in helping the Golden Eagles overcome an early, 5-1 deficit. On the hill, reliever Trevor Maloney picked up his second victory of the season while fellow reliever Kyle Godwin notched his second save of the year.
Eastern Kentucky scored quickly in the contest, building a lead first for the third consecutive game thanks to a three-run home run off the bat of Kyle Nowlin in the top of the first inning. It represented the senior's nation-leading 21st long ball of the year.
The Golden Eagles struck back with a ticker on the board in the bottom half, collecting an RBI single from freshman Kevin Strohschein after redshirt freshman Alex Junior stole second and advanced to third on a throwing error. It marked Strohschein's league-best 70th RBI of the year, making him just the sixth Golden Eagle with at least 70 in a single season. He now sits just six behind Brandon Thomasson for the program's all-time record and is currently tied for fifth with Chad Oberacker.
The Colonels plated solo runs in the top of the second and fourth to amass a four-run advantage, but the offense went cold from there, allowing the Golden Eagles to chip away at the lead. Tech cut the deficit in half with a pair of runs in the bottom of the fourth, using a clutch, two-out, two-run single to center field off the bat of Farr to spark the rally.
One inning later, the Golden Eagles completed the comeback, starting with a grueling, seven-pitch, leadoff walk to junior Chris Brown. Sophomore Trevor Putzig followed that up by lacing a single to right center field to bring the go-ahead run to the plate.
The visitors forced a fly ball to left field from Chase Chambers on the next pitch, a ball that may have had the distance on any normal day. With the wind whipping in towards home plate, however, it hung up and fell safely into the glove of Nowlin.
The out turned out not to matter, as sophomore David Garza ripped an 0-2 offering down the first base line for his team-leading fourth triple of the year to drive in two and tie the game at five runs apiece. Pankratz battled for four pitches before finally sending a towering fly ball to right center field that proved deep enough to let Garza tag up for an RBI sac fly. More importantly, it represented what would turn out to be the game-winning run.
Tech scratched across an insurance run in the bottom of the eighth, collecting an RBI double from Brown two batters after Farr connected for a triple down the right field line. Godwin, who had entered the contest in the eighth, then closed things out for his second save of the year and Tech's 31st victory of the season.
Farr finished with a 3-for-5 day in his final game at Bush Stadium, driving in two runs and scoring one more. Pankratz tallied a hit, a run and the game-winning RBI in three at bats. Goodspeed was the tough man on the diamond, getting plunked not once, not twice, but three times on the day, scoring in the fourth inning.
Maloney garnered his second win after two innings of relief. He held the Colonels to just one run on two hits while striking out three. Godwin totaled two innings as well, scattering two hits while punching out one.
With the win, Tech will enter the OVC Tournament as the No. 5 seed and take on No. 4 Morehead State on Wednesday, May 25 at the Ballpark at Jackson in Jackson, Tenn. It marks the team's fourth straight OVC Tournament bid and its eighth in the past nine seasons. Overall the Golden Eagles have won six of seven and 10 of its last 13 games including winning three-straight Conference series.
Fans can watch the entire 2016 OVC Baseball Tournament live on the OVC Digital Network. There is no charge to watch the event and the games are available on any computer, tablet or smart phone by live and on-demand.
Tickets for the event will be $10 per day or $28 for an all-session pass (up to 11 total games). There is also an $8 a day rate (or $25 for an all-tournament pass) for students/faculty of OVC-member schools (with valid ID) or for groups. All seats at the 6,000-seat park are general admission for the OVC Championship.
Fans can purchase tickets in person at the Jackson Generals box office or by calling (731) 988-5299 or going online here.
Photo by Jim Dillon
