By Mike Lehman, TTU Sports Information
PHOENIX, Ariz. – All that went right for the Tennessee Tech baseball team in Saturday night's upset victory over No. 5 Arizona State didn't for the Golden Eagles Sunday afternoon, as the Sun Devils took the three-game series with a 16-4 win at Phoenix Municipal Stadium.
The Golden Eagles looked to be on the right path towards duplicating their start just one night prior, collecting a leadoff single from sophomore Tyler Brazelton. After two quick outs, freshman Chase Chambers ripped a ball to right field, much like his home run smash from the night before. This one just missed the sweet spot, however, falling into the glove of the right fielder and ending the inning.
It was all Sun Devils from that point on, as the home squad tallied two runs in each of the first and third frames to jump out to a 4-0 lead. ASU added another marker in the fourth before taking over for good in the fifth.
Arizona State showed why it was ranked as the No. 5 team in the nation, plating 11 runners in the bottom of fifth thanks to nine hits, two walks and a Golden Eagle miscue.
The Tech squad crossed two in the sixth, taking advantage of back-to-back walks issued to seniors David Allen and Dylan Bosheers to start the inning. Fellow senior Jordan Hopkins drove in the first run for the Golden Eagles, sending a sacrifice fly out to right field. Following a walk by redshirt freshman Ryan Flick, Bosheers came home on wild pitch to provide the second Tech score.
In the top of the seventh, the Golden Eagles notched two more runs thanks to the bat of outfielder Anthony El Chibani. After fighting through a seven-pitch at bat, freshman infielder Trevor Putzig drew a walk, setting up his teammate for the big fly. El Chibani sent a 3-1 offering down the right field line, clearing the fence and doubling the Tech run total to four in the same swing.
El Chibani led the Golden Eagles on the day, going 2-for-4 with a run and two RBI. Also collecting hits for the Tech squad were Brazelton, Matt Cunningham (a double to left center field), Chase Chambers and Jake Farr.
Tech will return to Cookeville for a brief, mid-week contest on Wednesday. The Golden Eagles will play host to in-state rival Middle Tennessee in a 6 p.m. CT match-up before hitting the road again for a three-game set at Southeast Missouri.
Photo by Jim Dillon
