By Mike Lehman, TTU Sports Information
COOKEVILLE, Tenn. – A late three-run home run by Jimmy Wright left a sour taste in the mouth of the Tennessee Tech baseball team Sunday afternoon, as the Morehead State Eagles rallied in the eighth inning to defeat the Golden Eagles in their Ohio Valley Conference match-up, 6-5.
The Golden Eagles had a chance to tie things up in the bottom of the ninth, as senior All-American Dylan Bosheers collected a two-out single to center field to bring the game-winning run to the plate. But Morehead State closer Craig Pearcy came on for his second save in as many days, forcing freshman Ryan Flick to ground out to second base on one pitch and end the ball game.
The Tech squad jumped out to an early lead in this one, as Bosheers drove in the first run of the game with a sacrifice fly to right center field. Two innings later, the Golden Eagles struck again, once again using a sac fly to push a runner across. Junior Jake Farr took care of the RBI, lining out to a diving Morehead State outfielder.
The Eagles scratched across a run in the fourth to cut Tech's lead down to 2-1, but the Golden Eagles answered in the fifth, plating another run thanks to the bat of Anthony El Chibani. The sophomore gave Tech a 3-1 lead by hammering out his first home run of the season. A native of Knoxville, El Chibani finished the game just a double short of the cycle.
Morehead State knotted things up in the seventh, taking advantage of a Golden Eagle miscue to score two runs on a two-out double down the right field line by Ryan Kent.
Once again, the Tech squad remained resilient, answering for the second time of the game with a run in the bottom half. El Chibani scored on a Jake Farr single through the right side after tripling earlier in the inning.
Tech scored in the eighth as well, cutting the Morehead lead from 6-4 to 6-5 thanks to a wild pitch with the bases loaded.
Wright and Kent led the Morehead squad, recording two hits each and three and two RBI, respectively. Blake Smith picked up the win, tossing one inning of relief. Pearcy collected his fifth save of the season.
El Chibani finished the day 3-for-4 at the plate, scoring two runs and driving in one. He tallied a home run and a triple. Senior David Allen collected three hits in four trips to the plate and Farr added two as well, finishing with two RBI and a run scored.
The Golden Eagles will wrap up the series with Morehead State on Monday morning, facing off at Bush Stadium at the Averitt Express Baseball Complex in an 11 a.m. CT contest. The game has been moved up from an original start of noon due to impending weather expected in the area.
Photo by Jim Dillon
