By Mike Lehman, TTU Sports Information
COOKEVILLE, Tenn. – A pair of strong pitching performances and more impressive work with the bats were plenty for the Tennessee Tech baseball team to secure yet another victory Saturday afternoon, as the Golden Eagles (9-0) defeated Purdue Fort Wayne 7-1 at Quillen Field and Bush Stadium at the Averitt Express Baseball Complex.
The victory secured a perfect 9-0 start to the 2022 campaign for the purple and the gold, the second-best in program history and best since the 1955 team started 14-0.
The offense provided the Golden Eagles with a quick start to the day, with a pair of long balls providing the early sparks. Shortstop Ed Johnson wasted no time, working a full count before smashing a screaming line drive deep over the wall in right-center field. It marked his third of the year.
Two batters later, left fielder Jason Hinchman took his turn uncorking on an offering, hammering a solo blast to left-center field for a 2-0 Tech lead. The dinger represented the senior's fourth of the year and 48th of his career, putting him just two away from passing Chase Chambers on the program's all-time career list and becoming just the fourth Golden Eagle in program history to crush 50.
The two-run lead proved more than enough for starting pitcher Carter Gannaway to work with. The right-hander tossed six complete innings, scattering four hits and a pair of walks while allowing just a single run on a solo home run in the third. Collecting his second win of the year, the Decatur, Ala. native struck out three batters.
The Golden Eagle bats provided Gannaway with some room to breathe in the fourth, with right fielder Ryan Guardino singling to his counterpart to kick off the frame. Two batters later, second baseman Nick Spardone collected a base knock, singling off the outstretched glove of the Mastodon third baseman.
Center fielder Austin Turner delivered the big hit in the inning, peppering a shot down the first-base line that rolled all the way to the right-fielder corner. The speedster legged out the team's first triple of the year and drove in a pair. Johnson made it three in the frame, driving in Turner with a single to left field.
Third baseman Gabe Lacy drove in another for the purple and gold in the sixth, singling through the right side to drive in Johnson. Noah Hattier scored in the seventh for Tech's final run of the game, entering as a pinch-runner and advancing three bases on three wild pitches.
Fifth-year senior reliever Tyler Sylvester finished off the game on the mound for the Golden Eagles, covering each of the final three frames to secure his first save of the year. It marked the eighth of his career, tying him for fifth place in Tech history with Cullen Park. The right-hander fanned three while holding Purdue Fort Wayne to two hits, two walks, and no runs.
Johnson paced the offensive effort for the Cookeville crew, finishing 4-for-5 with two RBI and two runs scored. Hinchman collected three hits in five at-bats with an RBI and run scored. Five more Golden Eagles secured hits on the day as well.
The series finale with the Mastodons is slated for a 1:00 p.m. first pitch Sunday afternoon at Quillen Field and Bush Stadium.
File photo by Jim Dillon
