By Mike Lehman, TTU Sports Information
MOREHEAD, Ky. – The Tennessee Tech baseball team fell in both games of a doubleheader Friday evening, as the Morehead State Eagles used strong pitching efforts on the hill to take the first two games of Ohio Valley Conference play from the Golden Eagles at Allen Field in Morehead, Ky.
In the first contest, the Morehead State (11-3, 2-0) offense took advantage of three Tech miscues, scoring six runs in the bottom of the second, all unearned. The Golden Eagles (6-7, 0-2) didn't take long to answer, however, scoring four runs of their own in the top of the third.
Tyler Brazelton led off the frame with a solo long ball, sparking the scoring for the Tech squad. A two-out single from Jake Farr, followed by a double to left center field off the bat of Chase Chambers, led to the team's second run of the inning. Sophomore slugger Ryan Flick finished the scoring in the fourth, crushing a two-run shot to cut the Morehead lead to just two runs.
The Eagles managed single runs in the fourth and fifth innings while the Golden Eagles collected their fifth run of the game in the top of the eighth, an RBI single to right field from Flick. Morehead State answered, however, using three runs in the bottom half to finish with 11 runs in the contest. Tech scored one more time in the top of the ninth thanks to an RBI single from pinch hitter Josh Pankratz.
Eagles starter Luke Humphreys and reliever Aaron Leasher combined for 14 strikeouts in the contest, limiting the Golden Eagles to seven hits.
Game two started out in a similar manner, as the home squad took an early 4-0 lead with a four runs in the bottom of the second inning. One more run in the fifth made that advantage 5-0 before the Golden Eagles started to chip away at the Morehead State lead in the sixth.
In the top of the sixth, the Golden Eagles took a two-out a single from Farr and subsequent walk from Chambers to set up Flick with two runners on base. The sophomore reached on an error by the Morehead left fielder, scoring Farr for the team's first run of the contest.
An inning later, Tech took advantage of another Eagle miscue to hit the scoreboard. Chris Brown led off the frame with a pinch-hit double and after two quick outs, Alex Junior was plunked with a pitch. Brazelton singled to left field to load the bases and Farr reached on an error by the Morehead second baseman, allowing two Tech runners to dent home plate.
The Golden Eagles tallied on more run in the eighth, using an RBI double from Matt Jones to pull the Tech squad within a single run of the home squad. But that's where the rally ended, as the Eagles used a strikeout to end the frame.
Morehead State used four pitchers to combine for 14 strikeouts in the second game, led by winner Patrick McGuff. Golden Eagle relievers Marcus Evey and Kyle Godwin finished off the last three and two thirds innings by scattering two hits and a walk while holding the Eagle offense scoreless.
Game three in the series between the two OVC programs is set for a noon CT start Saturday. The contest has been moved up one hour from an original first pitch of 1 p.m.
Photo by Jim Dillon
