By Mike Lehman, TTU Sports Information
JACKSON, Tenn. – Playing up to the purest definition of playoff baseball, it was the Morehead State Eagles that came out on top in Thursday afternoon's Ohio Valley Conference Tournament contest, downing the Tennessee Tech baseball team in a thrilling extra-innings affair, 4-3.
The Golden Eagles (26-28) and Eagles (36-20) battled back and forth throughout the match-up, with each starting pitcher providing quality starts as well as each bullpen providing huge performances throughout.
For six and two thirds innings, sophomore hurler Evan Fraliex held the nation's most potent offense relatively in check, scattering seven hits and allowing just three earned runs. The right-hander struck out three and walked none and, after allowing two runs in the bottom of the second, gained some huge momentum by retiring 10 consecutive Morehead State batters.
The No. 2 seeded Eagles captured the early advantage after a two-out, RBI double off the bat of Alex Stephens. The third baseman blasted a one-hopper to fellow third baseman Trevor Putzig, a ball that took a nasty bounce off the freshman's chest and ricocheted into left center field. Clayton Meyer followed with a triple to right field, driving in Stephens with a flare that bounced just past the diving stretch of left fielder Tyler Brazelton for a 2-0 Morehead State lead.
Luke Humphreys kept the Tech offense at bay through the first three innings, settling down after walking the first two batters of the contest. Then the fourth inning occurred.
The heart and soul of the Golden Eagle squad, All-American Dylan Bosheers did what he does best to open the fourth, sparking the Tech offense into a big inning. On a 2-1 offering, the shortstop blasted a solo dinger over the wall in right field, his second of the tournament, giving the Golden Eagles a much-needed run and shot of adrenaline.
Junior second baseman kept the hot streak for Tech going, ripping the first pitch he saw to right field for a single. Senior Jordan Hopkins also swung at the first pitch he saw, and the boy did the catcher connect, crushing a two-run bomb to the identical location in right field as Bosheers' long ball to provide his squad a 3-2 lead.
Fraliex kept the Morehead State batters off balance for three straight innings, keeping the Eagles off the base paths in the fourth, fifth and sixth frames. Robby Spencer finally broke through for the home squad, singling up the middle to open the seventh. After two quick outs, Meyer provided the tying RBI, driving his own single up the middle to even the score at 3-3.
Both sides traded zeroes on the scoreboard for the final two innings of regulation, forcing extras in a surprisingly low-scoring affair.
Key for the Golden Eagles during that stretch was freshman reliever Travis Moths, who entered the contest in the bottom of the seventh to gather the final out of the frame. The right-hander fanned the first batter he faced, providing some foreshadowing for the rest of his outing.
Over the next three innings, Moths was fantastic, striking out two in the eighth and three in the ninth. The freshman gathered a quick first out to start the 10th, forcing a fly ball to left field. Ryan Kent then drew a five-pitch walk before he coaxed the second out of the frame, a line drive out to right field by Kane Sweeney.
A single down the left field line would be enough to essentially end his day, however, as he would intentionally walk OVC Player of the Year Chris Robinson, before giving way to senior reliever Cain Sloan on for the pivotal moment in the game. Robbie Spencer would play hero for the Eagles, providing a patient approach at the plate and eventually drawing the game-winning, walk-off free pass to give Morehead State the 4-3 victory.
With the loss, the Golden Eagles will set their sights on tomorrow's contest, a 3 p.m. elimination contest against an opponent yet to be determined. Tech will face off against the winner of tomorrow's morning match-up between No. 5 Jacksonville State and the loser of tonight's contest between No. 1 Southeast Missouri and No. 6 Belmont.
Even though technically the lowest remaining seed is supposed to play in the 11 a.m. affair against Jax State (that would be Tech if the Redhawks were to lose), the Golden Eagles will play at 3 p.m. regardless due to a rule exception. The rule states that if one of the two teams that lost Thursday already received a bye, then that team will have to play in the first game regardless of seeding.
Should the Golden Eagles win tomorrow's elimination contest at 3 p.m., they would then move on to a Saturday match-up with the loser of the semifinal battle from Friday evening.
Golden Eagle Fans can follow all the action of tomorrow's contest via live stats, radio broadcast or webstream. Dylan Vazzano will be on the call with Mike Lehman providing color commentary on FM 107.7 WHUB and AM 1400 The Hub while fans can also watch the Tech squad live on the OVC Digital Network.
Photo by Jim Dillon
