By Mike Lehman, TTU Sports Information
MOBILE, Ala. – Another strong performance with the bats and huge showing out of the bullpen led the Tennessee Tech baseball team to a perfect showing at the South Alabama Invitational over the weekend, as the Golden Eagles (3-0) defeated the host Jaguars (1-2) Sunday evening at Stanky Field, 11-7.
The purple and gold kicked off the second era under the direction of head coach Matt Bragga in style, sweeping opening weekend while also securing the 16th-year leader of the Tech program his 500th career victory in Division I baseball.
Things started off quite nicely for the Golden Eagles, with the visitors instantly lighting up the scoreboard for a five-spot in the first. Shortstop Ed Johnson provided the earliest fireworks, blasting the team's first home run of the season to left field to lead off the game.
Two batters later, left fielder Jason Hinchman singled to left-center field to set up first baseman Golston Gillespie. The junior slugger responded with an RBI double to right-center field, making it a 2-0 lead. Up next, catcher Hayden Gilliland kept the offense rolling with an RBI base knock to center field.
Later in the frame, designated hitter Will Long reached on an infield single to shortstop, beating an errant throw that allowed Gilliland to cross home plate safely. Second baseman Nick Spardone concluded the scoring for the purple and gold in the first with a sac fly to left field.
After the Jags collected a run in the bottom half, Johnson answered with another flick of the wrist. The junior hammered a solo blast to left field to lead off the second and put Tech up 6-1.
South Alabama scored once in the second on an unearned run, and provided even more offense in the third, tying the game at 6-6 with a three-run triple and sac fly. Brock Myers entered the game in the frame for the Golden Eagles, taking over on the hill and recording the final two outs.
The junior, who picked up the first win of the season on Friday out of the bullpen, went on to dominate over the next four innings. Myers finished the day with four and two-thirds frames of work with just four hits and a walk allowed while holding USA scoreless.
His performance provided the Tech bats the opportunity to regroup after being shut out for three consecutive innings. In the sixth, the offense struck back, using walks by Long and Spardone to lead off the frame. Center fielder Austin Turner laid down a sacrifice bunt to advance the runners, leading to an intentional walk of Johnson.
Long went on to score on a wild pitch in the frame, putting the Golden Eagles back in front, 7-6. Jason Hinchman followed by blistering a tricky ball to first base, reaching on an error that allowed two more runs to cross safely for a three-run lead.
In the ninth, Johnson went back to work with the bat, providing a pair of critical insurance runs. Spardone sparked the success with a two-out single off the tip of the glove of a leaping third baseman. Turner followed with his own single to left field, a flare that was mishandled and allowed the runners to advance to second and third.
Johnson took the opportunity and ran with it, peppering a single through the left side to plate two more and send Tech to an 11-6 advantage with just three outs to go. South Alabama managed to score once in the ninth, but reliever Jackson Berry finished things off by forcing a ground ball for a 5-3 double play.
Myers picked up his second win of the year with the great showing out of the pen. Johnson finished an impressive 3-for-5 with three runs scored and four RBI on the day, drawing a walk as well. Spardone also tallied multiple hits and scored twice while eight different Golden Eagles picked up at least one hit.
The Golden Eagles will hit the road for their first midweek tilt of the season on Tuesday, squaring off with No. 16 Tennessee in a 3:30 p.m. CT match-up in Knoxville.
File photo by Thomas Corhern
