By Mike Lehman, TTU Sports Information
HAMMOND, La. – A massive burst of offense in the first inning was plenty to help the Tennessee Tech baseball team salvage a victory in its series finale at Southeastern Louisiana Sunday afternoon. The Golden Eagles cruised to an 18-4 victory over the Lions at Pat Kenelly Diamond at Alumni Field.
Frustrated by a lack of production over the first two games of the weekend, the purple and gold made the bats sing early and often as part of a mammoth, 11-run first inning. It marked the first time Tech dropped double-digit runs in a first inning since scoring 10 to open a 17-8 victory at Morehead State on Mar. 15, 2014 and the most runs in an opening frame in the Matt Bragga era (first or second).
Much like Friday night, shortstop Ed Johnson provided an instant spark, smoking a line drive over the wall in left field for a lead-off home run. It marked his fifth of the year, but there was plenty more to follow.
Four batters later, right fielder Ryan Guardino lit into a 1-0 offering, pulverizing a double off the wall in center field to drive in a run and make it 2-0. Designated hitter John Dyer doubled the lead as the next Tech batter to take his place in the box, ripping a two-run single up the middle.
After a walk to catcher Will Long and base hit by second baseman Nick Spardone, center fielder Austin Turner drew his own free pass to drive in a run with the bases loaded. The Lions finally secured their second out of the frame, but Tech was far from finished.
Up 5-0, second baseman Gabe Lacy blew the game wide open, cranking a blast to left field for a grand slam and his third round-tripper of the year. Still not satisfied, left fielder Jason Hinchman reached on a throwing error and first baseman Golston Gillespie followed with a base knock through the right side.
Guardino provided one more scoring play for good measure, blistering his second double of the inning to left-center field for two more RBI and an incredible, 11-0 lead.
The lead gave Golden Eagle starter Connor Adams more than enough room to operate and the southpaw delivered. The junior took a no-hitter into the fifth, allowing just a single knock in five innings of work with two strikeouts to pick up his first win of the season.
Jackson Berry covered three innings in relief while Travis Odom finished off the final frame without allowing a base runner and striking out one.
Tech scored twice in the fourth inning, plating both courtesy of a double down the left-field line from Lacy. The junior added one more RBI in the sixth, peppering a run-scoring single through the left side. Hinchman followed with an RBI double down the left-field line.
For good measure, Tech answered SLU's three-inning eighth with three more markers in the ninth. Gillespie led off the frame with a solo tank to right field, his third dinger of the year. Later in the frame, pinch-hitter Zach Bondurant drilled a double down the right-field line.
Another pinch-hitter, Jackson Green delivered with a two-run double to left field, giving the Golden Eagles a season-high 18 runs.
Lacy led the day with three hits and a career-high seven RBI. Johnson and Guardino each chipped in three hits with Guardino driving in three. All 12 of Tech's batters on the day reached base at least once while 11 secured at least one hit. Six tallied multiple knocks while 11 scored at least one run.
Tech will return to Cookeville to host in-state rival Lipscomb on Tuesday. First pitch is slated for 3:00 p.m. CT at Quillen Field and Bush Stadium at the Averitt Express Baseball Complex.
File photo by Thomas Corhern