By Mike Lehman, TTU Sports Information
COOKEVILLE, Tenn. – One comeback wasn't enough for the Tennessee Tech baseball team Saturday afternoon, as Morehead State held off the Golden Eagles after an early rally for a 9-7 victory. The visiting Eagles claimed the Ohio Valley Conference series with the win at Quillen Field and Bush Stadium at the Averitt Express Baseball Complex.
Morehead (12-14, 4-1) got off to a fast start to kick off the day, plating three runs in each of the first and second frames to blow open a 6-0 lead. The Tech offense was methodical in its approach back into the contest, starting with the bottom of the second.
Knowing a good rally starts with one, the Golden Eagles accomplished just that, scoring once in the frame. Designated hitter Luke Jones led things off with a double down the left-field line and later scored in the inning on a fielding error at first base.
That one run boasted a trickle-down effect for the purple and gold, as the home squad went back to work in the third. After third baseman Gabe Lacy was plunked with a pitch, left fielder Jason Hinchman came to dish and promptly crushed a two-run bomb to left field.
It marked the senior slugger's 12th home run of the season and the 56th in his illustrious career, tying him with Austin Peay's Parker Phillips for third on the OVC's all-time career charts for long balls. He now trails only Golden Eagle greats Zach Stephens and Kevin Strohschein on the list, both of whom hammered 62 dingers in their respective careers.
Later in the frame, catcher Hayden Gilliland blooped a single to left field, driving in shortstop Ed Johnson, who collected a base hit to right-center field earlier in the inning. The work turned in by the bats made it a 6-4 contest.
Tech completed the comeback in the fourth, scoring twice more to tie the game after opening the frame with three straight hits from second baseman Zach Bondurant, center fielder Austin Turner, and Lacy. Hinchman grounded out to second to drive in the first run and Johnson followed with a sac fly to right field to square things up.
In the fifth, Morehead State jumped back on top, using a two-out double to plate the go-ahead run. Tech reliever Travis Odom would get stuck with the tough-luck loss after giving up the hit that just found room inside the left-field line. The right-hander tossed two and two-thirds frames for his team, allowing just two hits and one run while striking out six batters.
Brock Myers took over on the hill and finish the game for the Golden Eagles, allowing just two more runs on a pair of solo home runs over four and one-third innings. The senior scattered five hits and fanned seven along the way.
The purple and gold snagged one more run in the seventh, with first baseman John Dyer ripping an RBI double down the left-field line. Trailing by two in the eighth, Tech loaded the bases with two outs looking to take back the lead. Golston Gillespie stepped in as a pinch-hitter, smashing the third pitch he saw to deep left-center field, but the bat just missed its mark and the ball fell short at the warning track for the final out of the inning.
Each Tech starter gathered at least one hit in the contest, with Lacy, Hinchman, Johnson, Jones, and right fielder Ryan Guardino all producing a pair. Hinchman led the way with three RBI.
The series finale between the two OVC rivals is set to commence Sunday afternoon at 1:00 p.m. CT. The contest will be streamed live on ESPN+ with Dylan Vazzano on the call.
Photo by Thomas Corhern
