By Mike Lehman, TTU Sports Information
CLARKSVILLE, Tenn. – For the second consecutive day, a ninth-inning rally came up just short for the Tennessee Tech baseball team as the Golden Eagles (10-16, 4-8) fell to Austin Peay (14-10, 8-4) Sunday afternoon in a 12-10 slugfest that featured eight home runs.
The Govs took an early 2-0 advantage in the contest, plating two runs in the bottom of the first. Tech quickly reversed the advantage in its favor in the top of the third, however, kicking off a scoring barrage with a lead-off home run from junior Josh Pankratz.
Two batters later, Tyler Brazelton singled to center field and was joined on base by senior Dylan Bosheers thanks to a fielding error by the Govs. With two outs, freshman designated hitter Ryan Flick continued his ability to produce in the clutch, singling to second base and driving in Tech's second run of the inning.
Senior Jordan Hopkins approached the plate next for the Golden Eagles, and after watching a pitch go by for a ball, clobbered the next offering he saw clear over the fence in left center field for a three-run round-tripper and 5-0 Tech lead.
The Austin Peay bats just wouldn't go away, tying the game in the bottom half of the third before dropping their own five spot in the bottom of the fifth. With the damage done, the Govs owned a 10-5 lead heading to the sixth, but Tech refused to back down.
Senior David Allen earned a free pass to first base after getting hit by a pitch and with two outs in the frame, Bosheers singled up the middle to put runners on first and second with freshman Chase Chambers on his way to the dish. The first baseman delivered during a six-pitch at bat, finally clubbing a double to right center field to drive in two runs for the Golden Eagles and cut down the Austin Peay lead to 10-7.
In the bottom of the seventh, Austin Peay collected two more markers to drive the lead back to five runs and held the Tech bats silent in the top of the eighth. The Golden Eagles had just one more chance to complete a rally.
They sure gave a heckuva effort, starting with the second batter of the frame. A quick out for Tech brought Flick to the plate with a lot of work left to do. He sparked the Golden Eagle comeback attempt, simply tattooing a ball over 400 feet over the right center field wall for a solo dinger.
A ground out brought the Golden Eagles to their final chance and Anthony El Chibani at the plate and the sophomore earned an impressive, eight-pitch walk to keep Tech alive. Freshman Trevor Putzig came to the plate next and continued the ride for the Golden Eagles, doubling to right center field and driving in another run for Tech.
Another Golden Eagle freshman took his turn with the bat next, as Adam Reed pinch hit and was walked on four pitches to continue the improbable, ninth-inning run. Still with two outs, Allen approached the plate and after seeing three pitches, including two strikes, chipped a ball up the middle for one more Tech run. The score now read Austin Peay 12, Tennessee Tech 10.
That would be the closest the Golden Eagles would get, however, as Govs' closer AJ Gaura induced a ground ball to second base to end the game and pick up his fourth save of the season.
Four Austin Peay batters tallied at least two RBI in the contest and four also managed multiple hits in the contest. As for the Golden Eagles, Jordan Hopkins led the way with three RBI on a 2-for-5 day at the plate. Flick and Chambers each totaled two RBI apiece and sophomore Tyler Brazelton made good use of his time with the bat, gathering three hits in six at bats.
The Golden Eagles will head back to Cookeville for a Tuesday contest, hosting UNC Asheville in the two squads' second match-up of the season. First pitch is scheduled for a 4 p.m. start at Bush Stadium at the Averitt Express Baseball Complex.
Photo by Jim Dillon
