By Mike Lehman, TTU Sports Information
EDWARDSVILLE, Ill. – An offensive battle went in favor of the Tennessee Tech baseball team Friday evening, as the Golden Eagles (23-19, 7-9) outlasted Ohio Valley Conference foe SIUE at Roy E. Lee Field by a final score of 10-9.
Every member of the purple and gold reached base at least twice on the night, with seven tallying hits and another group of seven securing at least one walk. The total team effort started early for visitors from Cookeville, as the Golden Eagles took an early lead and never looked back.
With one out in the second inning, designated hitter John Dyer pushed Tech out front for good, blasting a solo home run. It marked his ninth of the year and 21st of his career.
Third baseman Gabe Lacy ripped a single up the middle to drive in the second run of the ball game and was followed soon after by a sacrifice fly to center field off the bat of shortstop Ed Johnson for another marker. Left fielder Jason Hinchman made it a 5-0 lead for the purple and gold, lacing a two-run single to center field.
SIUE (20-21, 7-9) answered back with a pair of runs in the third and two more in the fifth, pulling to within one. The Golden Eagles fought back in the sixth, extending their advantage back out to four.
In the sixth, Dyer drove in his second run of the game, drawing a bases-loaded walk as one of the team's 13 free passes on the night. First baseman Golston Gillespie sent a sac fly to left field, extending the lead to 7-4. Right fielder Ryan Guardino followed by scoring on a wild pitch for an 8-4 lead.
The Cougars took two back in the seventh, but Tech had one more burst ready to go in the eighth. With the bases loaded and a pair of outs, second baseman Nick Spardone delivered the big hit, lacing a two-run single to left field for a 10-6 advantage.
SIUE scored three times in the bottom of the eighth, but right-handed pitcher Travis Odom came in and collected the final out of the frame with the bases loaded. He made quick work of the Cougars in the ninth, forcing a fly out before striking out the final two batters to pick up his first save as a Golden Eagle.
Starter Peyton Calitri earned his team-high fifth win of the season, tossing six frames with five runs allowed and a pair of punchouts. Spardone led the hitters with a trio of knocks while Hinchman paced the squad with three walks.
Game two of the series between the two OVC rivals is set for a 1:00 p.m. CT start Saturday afternoon.
File photo by Emily Armstrong