Golden Eagles fall to UT Martin in regular-season finale

Golden Eagles fall to UT Martin in regular-season finale

By Mike Lehman, TTU Sports Information

MARTIN, Tenn. – The Tennessee Tech baseball team couldn't overcome a big second inning by UT Martin Saturday afternoon, falling on the road in its regular-season finale, 8-1.

The Golden Eagles (22-32, 9-21) struggled to get much going offensively on the day, scoring once with two outs in the top of the ninth while being held to six hits. The Skyhawks (24-29, 12-18) did the majority of their damage in the second frame, scoring seven runs.

Seth Noel, Caleb Morgan, Tony Curry, Jacob Parham, Connor Adams and Thomas Saliba all combined to hold UT Martin to just one hit and one run over the final six innings, totaling seven strikeouts.

Six Golden Eagles combined to turn in a hit, including Anthony Carrera, Nathan McMeans, Jack Schad, Cody Littlejohn, Hunter Higdon and All-American Kevin Strohschein. It was Higdon, who pinch hit in the top of the ninth with a pair of outs that provided the Tech run.

After McMeans led off the frame with a double, Higdon singled through the right side to drive him in.

Strohschein ended his historic career with the Golden Eagles with one more base hit, a single up the middle in the fifth inning. In four years, the senior established himself as one the best to ever put on the purple and gold and represent not only Tennessee Tech, but also the Ohio Valley Conference.

A native of McDonough, Ga., Strohschein slashed .359/.418/.636 for his career, starting all 236 games the Golden Eagles played from 2016-19, the second-most games played and started in OVC history. He set new career standards for the league in at bats (1,009), hits (362), doubles (74), home runs (62), RBI (247) and total bases (642).

The Golden Eagles center fielder's 362 career hits rank him 10th all-time in the history of NCAA Division I baseball. Strohschein also ranks second in career runs scored in OVC history, just three off the record.

Photo by Tony Marable