By Mike Lehman, TTU Sports Information
MURRAY, Ky. – The Tennessee Tech baseball team (21-15, 10-9) fell in a pitcher's duel at Reagan Field Friday evening, a 4-3 decision that went in favor of Ohio Valley Conference rival Murray State (18-21, 7-9) in the first contest of a three-game series.
Golden Eagle junior Michael Wood and Racer right hander Ryan Dills battled head-to-head all night, each tossing seven innings on the night with Dills exiting first prior to the top of the eighth frame.
Dills scattered three hits while allowing one earned run and striking out 10 Golden Eagles in the contest while Wood allowed just four hits and two earned runs while tallying five punch outs on the night. Neither hurler factored in the final decision of the contest, but both were quite impressive for their respective clubs.
Tech jumped out to the early 1-0 advantage in the top of the first, using a solo shot to right field off the bat of junior second baseman Jake Farr to do the damage. The Racers answered in the bottom half of the second, scoring once on three hits.
Wood and Dills traded five straight scoreless frames from that point on, setting up each side for more scoring once again in the eighth. The Golden Eagles struck first, plating a solo run off the power of an RBI single from junior right fielder Matt Jones.
The home squad answered once again, however, only this time the Racers captured the lead. Murray State scored three times in the inning, chasing Wood from the contest after earning a leadoff walk. The team popped out three hits in the frame to complete a three-run showing to take a 4-2 lead.
The Golden Eagles nearly managed to force extra innings in the contest, as sophomore Chase Chambers reached base on a wild pitch after striking out. Two batters and one out later, pinch-hitter Nick Osborne worked (and worked) a 10-pitch walk to set everything up with two runners on base.
Racer hurler Cody Maerz came on in relief, fanning the first batter he faced for the second out of the contest. Senior Connor Goodspeed pinch hit as the next batter, and made the most of his opportunity, lacing an RBI single to left field to cut the Murray State lead to 4-3.
It would be as close as Tech would get, however, as Maerz forced a fly out to center field to close things out for the home team.
Game two of the series is set for a 2 p.m. CT first pitch Saturday afternoon with Jake Usher taking the hill for Tech.
Photo by Jim Dillon
