By Mike Lehman, TTU Sports Information
MURFREESBORO, Tenn. – The Tennessee Tech baseball team put forth a late charge against in-state rival Middle Tennessee Tuesday afternoon, but the Blue Raiders (21-27) held on to defeat the Golden Eagles (34-16) in their non-conference finale, 11-9.
Tech was forced to fight back from an early deficit after the Blue Raiders plated six runners in the bottom of the first. The Golden Eagles were quick to respond at first, answering with three runs of their own in the top of the second.
Senior second baseman Matt Jones crushed a two-run long ball to left field for the first TTU runs of the game. Then, junior catcher Brennon Kaleiwahea followed with his own home run, jacking a solo shot to left field for back-to-back dingers.
The Blue Raiders snagged a run in the third while the Golden Eagles earned one back in the fifth, making it a 7-4 contest. In the bottom of the fifth, Middle Tennessee seemingly blew the game wide open, scoring three more runs to take back a six-run advantage, 10-4.
Unfazed, Tech answered once again, this time with a three-spot in the sixth. After a leadoff single by Jones, Kaleiwahea came through again, ripping and RBI double to left center field. Junior left fielder Collin Harris drew a walk next, setting up sophomore center fielder Alex Junior for a two-run double to right field.
The Golden Eagles filled in two more runs in the scoring column in the seventh, scoring on a wild pitch and a ground out by Jones to pull within one run of the lead.
Middle Tennessee closed things out from that point on, however, scoring once in the bottom of the seventh and holding Tech off the board in the eighth and ninth.
Offensivley, Jones led the way with three RBI on two hits. Sophomore right fielder Kevin Strohschein and Kaleiwahea each tallied multiple hits as well.
Tech will return to Ohio Valley Conference play and its quest for a regular season title on Friday, May 12 with a 6 p.m. CT contest at Eastern Kentucky. One more league win or loss by Morehead State will clinch the ninth OVC regular season championship for the Golden Eagles and first since 2013.
Photo by Tony Marable