By Mike Lehman, TTU Sports Information
COOKEVILLE, Tenn. – A furious rally late fell just short for the Tennessee Tech baseball team Sunday afternoon, as the Golden Eagles smacked two grand slams and plated three ninth inning runs in a heart-breaking, 15-14 loss to Jacksonville State.
The Gamecocks (24-11, 13-2) took the three-game Ohio Valley Conference series with the victory, despite nearly blowing a four-run, ninth-inning advantage. The Golden Eagles (20-14, 10-8) will now hit the road for seven of their next eight games.
After Jax State jumped out to a 1-0 lead in the top of the third, momentum took a huge turn in favor of the Golden Eagles, as the home team turned in a seven-run bottom half. Highlighting the frame were senior Jake Farr's two-run home run to right center field, followed later by a grand slam off the bat of sophomore slugger Ryan Flick.
In the blink of an eye, Tech looked well on its way to a Sunday victory. The Gamecocks had other plans, however, plating six in the top of the fourth to tie things at 7-7. The visitors kept the offense rolling in the fifth as well, scoring five more times to retake the lead at 12-7.
Three more Gamecock runners dented home plate in the top of the seventh, seemingly dooming the home team's chances at making it a game, as the lead swelled to 15-7 with just two and a half inning left.
But the Golden Eagles put on full display the team's never-quit attitude and resiliency, with the first three batters of the bottom half of the seventh reaching safely. A pitching change allowed Jax State to gather a quick out on a line drive to second base, setting up first baseman Chase Chambers with a chance for some damage.
The sophomore delivered, blasting a grand slam to center field to cut the Gamecock lead in half. Jax State shut the scoring down for the next five outs, however, heading into the bottom of the ninth with what seemed to be a comfortable 15-11 lead.
The Gamecocks managed another quick out to start the frame as Peyton Williams made a fabulous diving snag on a line drive to right field by Chase Chambers. But just as quickly as the defense made a brilliant play, it failed the visitors. Back-to-back errors on routine ground balls to shortstop and second base set up the Golden Eagles with runners on first and second.
A pitching change seemed right at the time, as Jax State turned to Colton Pate to end things. The right hander tossed a wild pitch that allowed both Tech runners to move up a base before sophomore David Garza smacked a sacrifice fly ball to center field for an RBI.
With the Gamecock lead cut to three, freshman Nick Osborne took his turn at the dish, ripping a single to left field to load the bases. Junior Tyler Brazelton continued the trend of clutch at bats, driving in another Golden Eagle run with an infield single to shortstop.
With the lead down to just two, the Gamecocks brought on closer Justin Hoyt, who had blown the save the previous contest, to put a cap on the Tech rally. The sophomore nearly messed it up again.
Facing Jake Farr with two outs already taken care of, the southpaw surrendered a base hit to left field that brought the Golden Eagles within one of the lead. Junior Matt Jones coaxed a walk out of the Gamecock hurler, setting up Chris Brown with the bases loaded and two outs in the bottom of the ninth.
A highly questionable first strike call set the tone for the at bat, as the Gamecock catcher dropped a called first strike in an attempt to frame the pitch. After a misfire for ball one, Hoyt seemingly took advantage of another borderline strike call, this one low and inside so much that Brown turned around in disbelief after hearing the call. The junior catcher took a mighty hack at the fourth offering, just missing the pitch as Hoyt gathered his ninth save of the season.
Flick and Chambers each finished with four RBI apiece in the contest while Farr rallied three. Brazelton led the squad with three hits in six at bats, driving in two and scoring twice.
The Golden Eagles will hit the road for a midweek contest at Middle Tennessee Wednesday evening a 6 p.m. CT affair that will kick off a four-game road stretch for Tech.
Photo by Jim Dillon
