By Mike Lehman, TTU Sports Information
RICHMOND, Ky. – With its back against the ropes in a win-or-go-home-for-good situation Saturday afternoon, the Tennessee Tech baseball team answered the call, defeating Eastern Kentucky in Richmond, 10-2, to clinch a spot in next week's Ohio Valley Conference Tournament.
The Golden Eagles (25-27, 16-14) came into the regular-season finale with the simplest of scenarios staring them in the face; win or the season was over. And the Cookeville bunch did just that, using a gutsy pitching performance from senior Jacob Honea to down the Colonels (21-29, 12-17) and keep its 2015 campaign alive with its third consecutive post season berth.
While the Tech offense did more than its fair share of work on the day, pounding 16 hits to a tune of 10 runs, it was the Golden Eagle pitching staff that really provided the spark needed to capture the team's 16th league victory. Just two hurlers were needed on the day for TTU, with Honea taking the bump to start the game before giving way to freshman reliever Travis Moths in the top of the seventh inning.
Honea captured his first win of the season in arguably the biggest game of career, tossing six crucial innings for a battle-tested pitching staff while holding the Colonel offense to just two earned runs. A native of Tullahoma, Tenn., the right-hander scattered five hits and two walks in what could mark the final start of his career, fanning three EKU batters along the way.
With a pitch count over 100 entering the bottom of the seventh frame, Honea exited the contest in favor of Moths, who made his 18th appearance of his first season in the purple and gold count. The right-handed throwing freshman wrapped up the final three innings for the Golden Eagles, retiring all nine batters he faced, including three via strikeout, while picking up his first save of the season.
As for the offense, Tech wasted no time warming up the bats, leading off the contest with double to right center field by senior David Allen and a single through the left side by sophomore Anthony El Chibani. A ground ball by left fielder Tyler Brazelton provided the first run of the game, as Allen crossed for a 1-0 Tech lead.
Eastern Kentucky quickly answered with a two spot in the bottom of the frame, taking advantage of a leadoff walk and two base hits to take over the lead in the contest at 2-1. Unfortunately for the home team, the Golden Eagle pitching staff dominated the rest of the way, holding the hot offense scoreless over the final eight innings of the contest.
Both sides traded zeroes on the scoreboard in the second and third before a fourth-inning run by the visitors knotted the contest at 2-2. The tying score came courtesy of freshman third baseman Trevor Putzig, who missed the first two games of the series due to injury. Putzig singled to right field with a runner on third, collecting one of his two RBI on the day.
The Golden Eagle offense was far from done after tying the contest, denting home plate eight more times across the final five innings. The eight-run barrage started in the fifth with El Chibani ripping a double down the first base line to kick off the frame. Brazelton followed with a seven-pitch walk, setting up All-American Dylan Bosheers for some heroics.
The shortstop laced a single through the right side on the second pitch he saw, plating the first run of the inning and what would turn out to be the game-winning marker. Fellow senior Jordan Hopkins approached the plate next, sending a single to center field for two RBI and a 5-2 Golden Eagles lead. Freshman first baseman Chase Chambers rounded out the scoring in the fifth with a sacrifice fly to center field.
Three quick outs in the bottom half allowed the Tech squad to attack the Colonels again in the sixth inning, beginning with another leadoff double from El Chibani. Brazelton went back-to-back with his fellow outfielder, smacking his own double to right center field for the RBI and 7-2 Tech lead. Two batters later, junior Jake Farr added to the Golden Eagle run total with an RBI single up the middle. Putzig then put a capper on the frame, ripping his own single up the middle for another Tech run.
For good measure, the Golden Eagles added one more to the scoreboard in the top of the ninth, as El Chibani drove in Putzig, who had led off the frame with his own double down the left field line.
All in all, the Tech offense, clubbed six doubles in the contest, nearly half of the 16 base knocks the team put together in the regular season finale.
El Chibani was the offensive leader, going 4-for-6 with two runs scored and an RBI while batting in the two-hole for the Golden Eagles. Putzig collected three hits in four at bats in his return to the lineup, driving in two runs, joining Hopkins and Brazelton with multiple RBI on the day. Allen, Brazelton, Bosheers, and Farr each recorded two hits on the day as well.
With the victory, a loss by Belmont later in the afternoon and the cancellation of Jacksonville State's regular-season finale due to rain, the Golden Eagles not only clinched its third straight postseason berth, but also earned the No. 4 seed in the OVC Tournament. Tech will take on Jacksonville State in the first game of the tournament, squaring off against the Gamecocks in a 3 p.m. CT affair at the Ballpark at Jackson in Jackson, Tenn.
More details on Tech's trip to the OVC tournament will made available as the information becomes available.
Photo by Jim Dillon
