By Mike Lehman, TTU Sports Information
COOKEVILLE, Tenn. – The Tennessee Tech baseball team (33-14, 19-3) continued its winning ways Saturday evening, taking the first contest of its three-game Ohio Valley Conference series against in-state rival Belmont (22-22, 14-11) by a final score of 3-2.
The Golden Eagle pitching staff was out in full force during the contest, as starter Michael Wood and closer Ethan Roberts combined to hold the Bruins to just two, unearned runs in the nine-inning affair. The two also struck out 12 batters while not issuing a single walk.
Wood was effective early in the contest, scattering five hits over the first four frames while allowing just the two unearned runs. The senior's final two and one thirds innings were pure dominance, as he retired the final seven batters he faced. Earning his eighth victory of the year, Wood fanned seven batters while firing 115 pitches.
Roberts, a sophomore hurler from Sparta, Tenn., came on for the final one and two thirds innings, making quick work of the Belmont batters after surrendering a double to the first batter he faced in the eighth. He quickly rebounded, striking out the final five batters of the contest to earn his OVC leading 12th save of the year.
Offensively, the Golden Eagles took the early 2-0 lead in the bottom of the second, starting with a leadoff double down the right field line by junior designated hitter Ryan Flick. Junior first baseman Chase Chambers followed with a single through the right side.
After senior catcher Chris Brown was plunked by a pitch to load the bases, senior second baseman Matt Jones delivered an RBI single through the right side. A second run scored in the frame on a ground ball double play, providing the 2-0 advantage.
Belmont cut the lead by one in the third, scoring an unearned run after Nick Egli reached on throwing error and dented home plate later in the frame. The visitors then tied the game in the fourth, scoring another unearned marker on a ground ball after a passed ball allowed Hunter Holland to advance from second to third.
Tech answered almost immediately, with Jones singling up the middle as the second batter of the bottom of the fourth. Then after fighting for a nine-pitch at bat, junior shortstop David Garza delivered the winning blow, lacing an RBI double to right center field that drove in Jones from first for the go-ahead run.
Wood and Roberts took over from there, blanking the Bruins over the final five innings while combining for nine strikeouts down the stretch.
With his 12th save of the year, Roberts moved into a tie with former closer Seth Lucio for the most saves in a single season in program history. Lucio notched 12 saves during the 2013 squad's OVC regular-season championship run.
Roberts has been on an absolute tear while pitching on the hill in the comfort of Bush Stadium at the Averitt Express Baseball Complex. The sophomore's last 17 consecutive outs recorded at Tech's home digs have come via the strikeout. In that time, he has posted three saves.
Game two of the series is slated for a 2 p.m. CT start Sunday afternoon.
Photo by Tony Marable
