By Mike Lehman, TTU Sports Information
DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. – There was plenty of Wood to stoke the fire of the Golden Eagle baseball team Friday evening, Michael Wood that is. The senior hurler was nearly flawless on his way to a complete game shutout in Tech's (8-2) 5-0 series-opening victory at Bethune-Cookman (6-3).
The Golden Eagle offense took early advantage of some first-inning miscues by the Wildcats, starting early on the first batter of the game. Leadoff man Alex Junior laced the third pitch of the game down the left field line for a double and took third base on a throwing error.
Junior Collin Harris, the reigning Ohio Valley Conference and Tennessee Sports Writers Association Player of the Week, took little time driving in Junior, singling to short. The nation's leader in home runs coming into the contest then took second on a wild pitch. Another wild offering allowed Harris to reach third before a throwing error from home plate gave the left fielder a free pass to home plate.
Kevin Strohschein followed with a five-pitch walk, advancing to not just second, but also third after a failed pickoff attempt and error by the pitcher. Two batters later, Chase Chambers finished the job, ripping a single through the right side for an RBI and 3-0 lead for Tech.
It would prove plenty of room for Wood to work with. The right-hander fanned two of the first two batters he faced in the first frame while cruising through four no-hit innings to start play. The Golden Eagle defense was out in full force from that point on.
Bethune-Cookman opened up the fifth with its first hit of the game, but Wood made quick work from there, fanning the next batter and then inducing an inning-ending, 4-6-3 double play. The Tech defense turned an even bigger double play in the sixth.
Wood forced a leadoff groundout, but Bethune-Cookman answered with a double down the left field line and a hit-by-pitch to put runners on first and second. Wood responded by including another 4-6-3 double play to end the only real threat of the night.
After coasting through the seventh and eighth frames, Wood entered the ninth with just three outs to go for his first career complete game shutout. After a quick fly out, the Wildcats looked to chase the senior from the game with a single up the middle. Wood never flinched, however, inducing one last 4-6-3 double play to end the game and give the Golden Eagles their third shutout of the season, the most by a Tech squad since notching four in 2014.
Wood's dominance was evident throughout, tossing the nine complete innings while scattering five hits and facing just two batters over the minimum. He tallied five strikeouts and walked no one on 106 pitches.
Offensively, Matt Jones, Chambers and Junior led the way, each posting multi-hit games. Junior scored a team-high two runs as well.
Tech returns to Jackie Robinson Park for game two of the series against Bethune-Cookman Saturday, with first pitch set for noon CT.
Photo by Tony Marable
