By Mike Lehman, TTU Sports Information
COOKEVILLE, Tenn. – The longest winning streak in both Tennessee Tech and Ohio Valley Conference history came to an end Sunday afternoon, as the Golden Eagles (37-6, 19-2) fell in their series finale against Southeast Missouri (21-23, 15-9), 10-6.
It had been 49 days, or seven weeks, since the last loss endured by the Tech squad, doubling the previous program record for consecutive wins from 14 to 28. The team held the nation's longest winning streak for 29 days, besting the previous OVC record by six games.
During the run, the Golden Eagles outscored their opponents 294-117, smashing 61 home runs and plating 10 or more runs 13 times. Also in that span, the Tech pitching staff held opponents to two or fewer runs 12 times. Tech trailed in just eight of those contests, including just five after the fourth inning.
On this day, however, the visiting Redhawks were the better team, scoring five runs in the second inning to kick things off. Tech answered with single runs in the second and third frames, but SEMO kept gathering hits throughout the day, tallying 17 in total.
Both sides traded a pair of runs in the fourth inning, equaling a 7-4 lead for the Redhawks. Again, in the eighth, the two teams plated a pair of runs in their respective half innings. Tech nearly mounted a fierce rally in the ninth, putting its first two runners on with no outs.
Southeast Missouri made a timely pitching visit, putting a pause to the Golden Eagle momentum. The Redhawks then recorded three straight outs to clinch the victory.
Junior hurler Alex Hursey was dealt with the loss, allowing four earned runs and five total in two innings. Cody Creed came out of the SEMO bullpen to earn the win for the visitors.
Tech's Trevor Putzig, Chase Chambers and David Garza all turned in multi-hit performances, with Chambers and Garza combining to score half of the Golden Eagle runs.
Despite the loss, Tech still clinched the three-game series on Saturday, the team's eighth straight series win on the year. In all, the Golden Eagles have won 10 of their 11 weekend series this season.
Tech will return to action next weekend, making the visit to Nashville for an OVC slate against Belmont beginning on Friday, May. 4. The Golden Eagles and Bruins will kick off the three-game series at 6 p.m. CT on Friday, with games two and three to come at 6 p.m. Saturday and 2 p.m. Sunday.
Photo by Tony Marable