By Mike Lehman, TTU Sports Information

EVANSVILLE, Ind. – A sluggish start on offense and a pair of big innings at the dish from the opposition proved too much for the Tennessee Tech baseball team to overcome Sunday afternoon, as the Golden Eagles fell at Southern Indiana, 8-1, in their Ohio Valley Conference series finale at USI Baseball Field.

The Screaming Eagles (11-12, 2-1) scored with two outs in the bottom of the first, using a double and a base hit to provide the early lead. USI went back on the attack in the third, racking up five hits to plate four runs for a 5-0 advantage.

The Tech bats struggled to get much going over the first six innings, compiling just three hits and three walks along the way. Southern Indiana extended its lead in the fifth, scoring three more times for the 8-0 lead.

The purple and gold finally broke through in the eighth, starting with a lead-off single through the right side by left fielder Austin Turner. Catcher Hayden Gilliland followed with a well-earned free pass, setting up center fielder Nicho Jordan for a Golden Eagle opportunity.

The junior delivered, singling through the right side to drive in Turner and officially get the Golden Eagles on the board. It marked the only run for the Tech squad, as USI limited the damage and finished things off in the ninth.

Freshman Drew Mattox took over for the Cookeville crew in the fifth inning and settled things down on the hill, completing 3.0 innings without allowing a hit. He struck out a pair and walked just one before being relieved with two outs in the eighth.

Jordan led the Golden Eagles with two of the team's six hits in the contest.

Tech returns to the road on Tuesday, making the trip east down I-40 for an in-state battle with Tennessee in a 5:00 p.m. CT tilt in Knoxville.

File photo by Jim Dillon