COOKEVILLE, Tenn. – Needing wins to stay alive in the hunt
for the Ohio Valley Conference tournament, the Tennessee Tech
baseball team came through in a big way, beating OVC foe
Jacksonville State 5-1 and 5-3 in a double header on Saturday.
Sophomore A.J. Kirby-Jones, junior Lee Henry and senior Ryan
Dennick all had big games for the Golden Eagles (24-20-1, 9-11-1),
as the team moved back into the sixth and final spot in the OVC
tournament as the conference season winds down. Kirby-Jones had a
huge day from the plate, going 2-for-4 in game one,with two home
runs, and four RBIs. He also struck out nine batters injust four
innings pitched, allowing just two hits in the save.
“You look at a performance like that, and that’s just
what A.J. does,”head coach Matt Bragga said. “He is
such a great baseball player in somany different ways.”
Dennick got the win for Tech, after pitching five scoreless
innings, striking out three batters and scattering six hits.
“When you have a starting pitcher give you that kind of
performance,five shutout innings, it really motivates you to go out
there andfinish strong for him,” Kirby-Jones said. “I
was in the zone a littlebit, and it felt really good to help my
teammates out like that.”
The Golden Eagles took the lead off Kirby-Jones first home run, a
two run shot in the second inning that put Tech up 2-0.
A leadoff double from Chad Hayes in the seventh inning turned into
arun when Chad Oberacker hit an RBI single to give the Golden
Eagles a3-0 lead. The very next batter was Kirby-Jones, who hit his
secondhomer of the game, a bomb that cleared a 50-foot light pole
in leftfield, putting Tech up 5-0.
“I was really focused coming into the game, and I had a
couple of goodswings,” Kirby-Jones said. “Anything I
can do to help the team win,that’s what I want to do. We
understand how important these games are.”
Kirby-Jones’ two home runs were his 15th and 16th of the
season,putting him alone in third place on Tech’s all-time
single-season homeruns list. Only Mark Mayberry’s 17 and
Jeremy Bonczynski’s 20 homeruns, both hit in Tech’s
1997 OVC championship season, are ahead of himon that list.
The Gamecocks (28-19, 10-9) got one run back in the top of the
eighthafter a walk and a hit batter set up an RBI single, making
the score5-1, but JSU would not come any closer.
I addition to Kirby-Jones, Hayes and Alex Henry also went 2-for-4
from the plate, and each scored a run in the first game.
In game two, the Golden Eagles found themselves down 3-1 heading
intothe bottom of the sixth of the seven-inning contest.
Kirby-Jones ledoff the inning with a walk, and freshman Ben Burgess
followed that upwith a double, putting runners on second and third
for sophomoreCasanova Donaldson, who hit an RBI single to pull Tech
within one. EvanWebb walked in the next at-bat, to load the bases
for Tate McMillan,who would knock in a run on a grounder to the
third baseman to tie thegame at 3. Donaldson would score on a wild
pitch before Hayes groundedout, and Alex Henry capped the four-run
inning with an RBI single togive Tech a 5-3 lead.
“When we had the bases loaded with no outs, I was thinking
that I’d bepitching in a 3-2 or maybe a 3-3 game,” said
Golden Eagle startingpitcher Lee Henry. “When we got our
fourth run I sort of switched overto a closer mentality. Then when
we went up 5-3, I just startedsmiling.”
And he had a lot to smile about, as he forced two groundouts
beforeending the game with his seventh strikeout in the seventh
inning,capping off his fifth complete-game in five starts, and
improving hisrecord to 7-2 on the season.
“I don’t like being taken out of games,” Lee
Henry said. “Fortunately,god blessed me with a rubber band
arm, so I’m able to pitch the wholegame. I love pitching the
seven innings games.”
Burgess went 2-for-3 in that game with a double and an RBI, and
Alex Henry, Donaldson and McMillan also added one RBI each.
Alex Henry and Burgess each finished the day going 3-for-7 from
theplate, and Donaldson finished 2-for-6. Chad Oberacker hit his
fourthtriple of the season and scored two runs on the day.
“Our guys really believed in each other today, and as a
result of thatall the little things came together, the clutch hits,
the greatdefensive plays,” Bragga said.
The two wins move Tech into sixth place in the OVC standings, a
halfgame ahead of Eastern Kentucky, which split a pair of
conference gamesagainst Southeast Missouri on the day. The Golden
Eagles own thetie-breaker over EKU as Tech swept a three-game
series against theColonels in Cookeville earlier this season.
Austin Peay is the other team on Tech’s heels. The
Gov’s had a pair ofgames against OVC-leading Eastern Illinois
rained out Saturday, butwere only percentage-points behind Tech
entering the day. The Gov’s andPanthers will attempt to play
a double-header Sunday.
The series finale between Tennessee Tech and Jacksonville State
will beSunday at 1 p.m., with a special senior-day presentation
preceding thegame. It will be Tech’s final conference game of
the season, as everyother OVC team has three more conference games
scheduled.
June 27, 2009
Dennick makes professional debut with Burlington Royals
May 25, 2009
Goin' to Carolina... for Clemson Regional
April 22, 2009
Golden Eagles rally comes up short, Tech falls 9-7
April 15, 2009
Hayes two-hitter too much for Scots to handle
April 15, 2009
Golden Eagles rally late, but fall at East Tennessee
April 12, 2009
Golden Eagles complete sweep over EKU in crucial OVC series
April 11, 2009
Golden Eagles drop 10 on EKU in game one win
April 2, 2009
Donaldson reaches single-game hit mark in Tech win
March 31, 2009
Golen Eagles host ETSU, hit the road for three OVC contests
March 30, 2009
Tech drops a pair at defending OVC champ EIU
March 24, 2009
Tech on the road for four of five games this week
March 22, 2009
Golden Eagles swept by SEMO to open OVC play
March 21, 2009
SEMO takes OVC-opening doubleheader from Tech
March 18, 2009
Kirby-Jones' four RBIs not enough to top Volunteers
March 13, 2009
Golden Eagles split double header with Valparaiso
March 11, 2009
Tech erases five run deficit, tops Belmont 8-6
March 8, 2009
Rockets prevent sweep, top Golden Eagles 11-7 in finale
March 7, 2009
Golden Eagles take two in double-header against Toledo
March 6, 2009
Golden Eagles score late to grab 4-2 win over Toledo
March 5, 2009
Daniel Northern named to NABC all-district second-team
March 2, 2009
Tech's Adam Liberatore named OVC Tri-Pitcher of the Week
February 27, 2009
Liberatore keeps Thundering Herd off the scoreborad, Tech wins 1-0
February 27, 2009
Tech hoops team wrap up regular season with pair at Jacksonville State
February 26, 2009
Golden Eagles can't catch up to Blue Raiders
February 24, 2009
Tech visits Middle Tennessee before heading to The Citadel Tournament
February 21, 2009
Tech splits twinbill with St. Peters; Win 12-6 but fall in nightcap, 5-2
February 21, 2009
Ball State narrowly tops Tech in ESPNU Bracket Buster game, 59-55
February 20, 2009
Baseball season begins today with four-game series against St. Peters
February 19, 2009
Tech storms back, but Tennessee State escapes with 77-74 OVC win
February 17, 2009
Seniors look to go out with win over Tennessee State
February 16, 2009
Baseball team opens this weekend, building on record-setting 2008
February 16, 2009
Tech's Kevin Murphy honored as OVC Freshman of the Week
February 13, 2009
UT Martin stops Tech 71-62 despite big games from Murphy, Northern
February 13, 2009
Road trip takes Tech hoops teams to Martin for Saturday doubleheader
February 12, 2009
Murray State uses second half surge to down Golden Eagles, 73-52
February 11, 2009
Golden Eagle basketball teams face tough chores in Kentucky
February 8, 2009
Golden Eagles take on perennial power Austin Peay Governors
February 8, 2009
Golden Eagles hang close but fall to league-leading Morehead State
February 6, 2009
Golden Eagle baseball schedule features 31 home games in '09
February 6, 2009
Suttons squad looking to knock off league leaders
February 5, 2009
Tech junior Frank Davis named to Academic All-District team
February 5, 2009
Eastern Kentucky holds on to secure 80-73 OVC victory
February 3, 2009
Golden Eagle Bracket Buster: Tech to play at Ball State Feb. 21
January 31, 2009
Northern leads Tech in 91-75 road romp at SEMO
January 29, 2009
Golden Eagles off target, lose 75-58 at Eastern Illinois
January 24, 2009
Tech shoots well, downs TSU 86-78 as Alex Davis drains 21
January 17, 2009
Tech nabs 61-55 OVC win over Racers in final two minutes
January 16, 2009
Hottest Tech hoops rivalry adds another chapter against Racers
January 15, 2009
UT Martin Skyhawks rally in second half for 83-72 OVC win at Tech
January 13, 2009
National TV audience looks on as Golden Eagles host UTM
December 9, 2008
Golden Eagle baseball nabs nine standouts in early signing period
October 14, 2008
Maberry one of five in Hall of Fame Class of 2008
September 24, 2008
Tech baseball team to host final Fall Camp Saturday
August 15, 2008
Benjamin, Redhawks rolling along in Pacific Coast League