By Mike Lehman, TTU Sports Information
DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. – Bethune-Cookman scored twice in the fourth and held on from there to edge the Tennessee Tech baseball team Sunday afternoon at Jackie Robinson Ballpark, 3-1. The Wildcats (8-3) took the three-game series with the win over the Golden Eagles (8-4), two games to one.
Tech delivered the first blow of the contest in the third inning, taking an early 1-0 advantage. After Alex Junior advanced to second base on a passed ball, the sophomore speedster came around to dent home plate on an RBI single to center field off the bat of junior third baseman Trevor Putzig.
Bethune-Cookman answered in the bottom of the fourth, taking the lead for good on a two-run double to left field. The home team added an insurance marker in the eighth on an RBI ground-rule double to left center field.
Putzig led the way offensively on the day, finishing 2-for-4 at the plate with Tech's lone RBI while batting in the two-hole for the first time this season. Juniors Ryan Flick, Chase Chambers and David Garza each added base knocks in the contest as well.
Chase Burkett took the tough-luck loss Sunday, tossing four innings and allowing five hits and two earned runs. Travis Moths fanned two in an inning of relief while Ethan Roberts finished with two and two thirds inning of work with four hits and an earned run allowed while punching out three. Sophomore Ty King struck out the only batter he faced.
The lost marked the first series defeat of the season for the Golden Eagles, who will continue a seven-game road stretch on Tuesday afternoon. Tech will make a visit to in-state rival Lipscomb for a 4 p.m. CT match-up.
Photo by Tony Marable