By Mike Lehman, TTU Sports Information

COOKEVILLE, Tenn. – The Tennessee Tech baseball team fell in both ends of a home doubleheader against Bradley Saturday, losing in game one at Bush Stadium at the Averitt Express Baseball Complex, 6-3, before dropping game two, 11-6.

The Golden Eagles (3-6) led for much of the first tilt of the day at Quillen Field, taking a 3-0 lead in the bottom of the second frame. It was sophomore catcher Will Long providing the offense in the inning, and all game, lacing a double to left field that cleared the bases for a three-run advantage.

In the fourth and seventh innings, Bradley (3-6) chipped away with single runs, pulling within one. The Braves then provided the blow in the eighth, plating four runs while sending 10 batters to the plate to take a 6-3 advantage.

Tech put together a ninth-inning rally attempt, with Long kicking things off with a leadoff single to center field. He finished 4-for-4 at the plate with three RBI in the contest. Two batters later, freshman Brett Roberts drew a walk to bring the tying run to the plate. Bradley managed a pair of outs to end the contest and take game one.

The Braves continued their momentum into the second contest, using a solo home run in the first to take an immediate lead. The Golden Eagles answered right away thanks to a round-tripper of their own from senior third baseman Gavin Johns. The second-year man crushed his first dinger of the season, a two-run shot, to right field to give his squad a 2-1 lead.

Bradley had its own response in the second, plating three while the Tech pitching staff struggled with free passes. The Braves then opened the game up with seven more runs in the third, again taking advantage of Golden Eagle walks to take an 11-2 lead.

Freshman Trey Wright, redshirt junior Devin Lancaster and sophomore Thomas Saliba combined to keep the purple and gold alive, combining to post six straight scoreless innings. Tech scored three times in the fifth, with two coming off a triple to center field by senior Cody Littlejohn.

Tech snagged one more in the seventh, but stranded the bases loaded with two outs and an opportunity to really close the gap. Bradley would hold on to defeat the Golden Eagles 11-6 and claim the series.

The Golden Eagles and Braves will square off in the series finale at 1:00 p.m. CT Sunday afternoon at Quillen Field and Bush Stadium.

Photo by Thomas Corhern