By Mike Lehman, TTU Sports Information
COOKEVILLE, Tenn. – It was a historic day at Quillen Field and Bush Stadium at the Averitt Express Baseball Complex Tuesday evening, as the Tennessee Tech baseball team used a whopping 10 home runs to rally for a 19-7 victory over North Alabama.
For just the second time in program history, the Golden Eagles turned in double figures in the home-run column, falling just one short of the school record of 11 set back on Feb. 24, 2018, in a 30-17 victory over Illinois State. Eight of Tech's nine position players circled the bases at least once in the contest, while eight of the Golden Eagle dingers were of the solo variety.
The visiting Lions certainly held the momentum and confidence early on the night, taking a 3-0 lead in the first and plating two more for a 5-0 advantage in the third. UNA starter Austin Nichols seemed to be cruising early, holding the purple and gold without a hit over the opening two frames.
With two quick outs in the bottom of the third, Tech shortstop Ed Johnson finally broke the Golden Eagles through, smashing a solo shot to left-center field for the team's first hit and run. It marked his sixth of the year.
While it represented the only run of the frame for the Cookeville crew, it was just a sign of things to come. After holding North Alabama scoreless in the top of the fourth, Tech erupted in the bottom half.
Left fielder Jason Hinchman kicked things off by crushing the first pitch of the inning to left-center field for his seventh long ball of the year. It also marked the 51st of his career, tying him for third in program history with A.J. Kirby-Jones.
First baseman Golston Gillespie made it back-to-back jacks two pitches later, pulverizing his fourth moon shot of the season down the right-field line to cut the deficit to two. After a quick out, designated hitter John Dyer fought of four consecutive foul balls before blasting a solo bomb of his own to left field.
Far from finished, the Golden Eagles loaded the bases with a pair of base hits and a hit-by-pitch, setting up Johnson for another scoring chance. Rather than force anything, the junior patiently drew a walk after falling behind in the count 0-2, tying the contest at 5-5.
The free base passed the aluminum to third baseman Gabe Lacy, who made his opportunity count. With the Lions turning to a new hurler on the mound, Lacy went into full ambush mode, belting a grand slam down the left-field line. It marked his fourth of the year and second slam of the season.
In the bottom of the fifth, Tech added to its new, 9-5 advantage, with yet another leadoff batter starting the damage. Right fielder Ryan Guardino uncorked a hefty swing on a 2-2 count for a solo tank to start the frame. After another pitching change, Dyer gave the Golden Eagles back-to-back blasts for the second time on the night, pounding his second round-tripper of the game and fifth of the year to right field.
The Lions tried to create an answer, plating single runs in the sixth and seventh innings, but the Tech bats were far from finished. In the bottom of the seventh, catcher Will Long provided the team's third leadoff nuke, crushing a laser over the fence in right-center field for his second bomb of the season. Two batters later, center fielder Austin Turner became the eighth Golden Eagle to circle the bags, destroying a 2-1 pitch to right-center field for his second dinger on the year.
Guardino collected his second light show of the evening in the eighth, a two-run missile to center field that gave him five this season. It also represented the 10th of the game for the Golden Eagles. Tech loaded the bases with a single, hit-by-pitch, and walk, setting up Turner with a chance to do more damage.
The nine-hole hitter was patient, working a full count before drawing a free pass for another RBI. Johnson followed with a two-run single to left field, the team's first, RBI-producing hit of the night that didn't leave the ballpark. Lacy sent a long fly ball down the left-field line, driving in one more for good measure.
All nine Golden Eagle batters secured at least one hit and one run scored while eight drove in at least one run. Lacy led the way with five ribbies while Johnson drove in four on three hits. Dyer also turned in three hits while five more Tech players posted two each. Turner, Long, and Dyer all scored three times, with four more denting the dish twice.
Daniel Holley picked up his first win of the year out of the bullpen, tossing one and one-third frames with a strikeout and just two baserunners allowed.
Tech will stay in the comfort of the Quill for a weekend series against Bradley, starting with a 6:00 p.m. CT tilt on Friday. The Golden Eagles will wrap it up with a pair of 1:00 p.m. contests on Saturday and Sunday, concluding non-conference weekend match-ups for the year.
Photo by Jim Dillon
