By Mike Lehman, TTU Sports Information
NASHVILLE, Tenn. – A ninth-inning rally by the Tennessee Tech baseball team came up just short in Nashville Wednesday afternoon, as the Golden Eagles plated two in the final frame before eventually succumbing to in-state rival Lipscomb, 11-9.
The Tech offense attacked in full force early and often in the contest, jumping out to a five-run lead through the first four frames. Junior first baseman Chase Chambers kicked off the action in the first, ripping a two-run single down the left field line for an early 2-0 lead.
The Golden Eagles struck for two more in the second, thanks to a Matt Jones two-run bomb to left center field. A solo shot from Ryan Flick to right field made it a quick 5-0 advantage heading into the fourth.
The two sides traded zeroes in the fourth, the only such frame of the contest, before Lipscomb took off on its own offensive tear. The Bisons crossed four across the plate in the fifth to tie things up and the two sides traded individual runs in each of the next two innings.
Lipscomb broke ground in the eighth, scoring four times to take what appeared to be a commanding 11-7 lead with just three outs to go in the contest. Tech refused to go down quietly, mounting a valiant comeback effort.
Leading off the frame, Nick Osborne ripped a 2-2 single to shortstop. The home steam coaxed back-to-back outs to all but end the game, but the Golden Eagles just refused to give in. Trevor Putzig worked a walk on six pitches and a Collin Harris single to third base loaded things for Jones.
Jones delivered with an RBI single to the pitcher, driving in one and leaving the bases loaded for pinch hitter Chris Brown. The senior catcher drew a walk on five pitches, driving in the second run of the frame for the Golden Eagles. Lipscomb nailed down for the final out, however, finishing the contest with a strikeout for the win.
On the day, Jones led the way offensively for Tech, finishing 3-for-4 with three RBI. Flick tallied three hits in five trips to the plate, scoring three times and finishing just a triple shy of the cycle.
The Golden Eagles will kick off Ohio Valley Conference play Thursday afternoon at UT Martin in a 4 p.m. CT contest. The three-game series, which was originally scheduled to be played Friday through Sunday, was moved to Thursday and Friday due to impending inclement weather expected in the area.
The two in-state rivals will finish the series with a doubleheader on Friday, with times for first pitch set for 1 p.m. and 4 p.m.
Photo by Tony Marable
