By Mike Lehman, TTU Sports Information
NASHVILLE, Tenn. – It was a tough night at the ballpark for the Tennessee Tech baseball team Friday evening, as the Golden Eagles fell to Ohio Valley Conference rival Belmont at E.S. Rose Park, 8-7.
The Bruins plated three runs in the bottom of the ninth to pull off a comeback and walk-off victory after the purple and gold led the contest for the majority of the night. Reliever Frankie Cresta was saddled with the tough-luck loss, allowing one run on two hits in one-third inning of work.
The Golden Eagles got off to a fast start in the first game of the final OVC series between the two in-state foes, taking a 1-0 lead in the first. On the second pitch of the night, left fielder Jason Hinchman smashed a laser to left field, clearing the wall for a solo home run.
It marked the senior slugger's 14th long ball of the season and 57th of his career, trailing only the league's all-time leaders, former Golden Eagles Kevin Strohschein and Zach Stephens, both of whom boast 62 to their respective names.
Tech went back to work in the third, setting the table early with a leadoff double down the right-field line by third baseman Gabe Lacy and a single through the left side by Hinchman. Two batters later, designated hitter Luke Jones drove them both home, lacing a double of his own down the left-field line.
Still later in the frame, right fielder Ryan Guardino ripped a single to center field to drive in another Golden Eagle marker, making it a 4-1 lead. Second baseman Noah Hattier turned it into a 5-0 advantage with a sac fly to center field.
Belmont scrapped its way back into the thick of it, scoring once in the third with a sac fly of its own. The Bruins followed with four more runs in the bottom of the fifth, tying things up at 5-5.
The Golden Eagles were quick to jump back on top, with first baseman John Dyer providing the fireworks. The slugger led off the top of the sixth with a solo jack to center field, his sixth round-tripper of the year.
Hinchman doubled the lead in the eighth, sending a sac fly into foul territory to make it a 7-5 Golden Eagle lead.
The Bruins went to work in the ninth, using a one-out walk and back-to-back singles to score once. An RBI ground out tied things at 7-7 and a single to right field provided the winning run.
Five Golden Eagles recorded two hits in the contest with Jones and Hinchman tying for the team lead with two RBI each. Three other Tech hitters posted at least one hit as well.
The two teams will square off in game two of the series, slated for a 2:00 p.m. CT first pitch Saturday afternoon.
File photo by Thomas Corhern
