By Mike Lehman, TTU Sports Information

ATLANTA, Ga. – The Tennessee Tech baseball team went toe-to-toe with No. 29 nationally-ranked Georgia Tech for eight innings Tuesday evening, falling on the road by a final score of 11-2.

The Yellow Jackets (8-4) did the majority of its damage in the sixth inning, breaking a 2-2 tie with nine unanswered runs in the frame. Four of the nine markers were unearned, with the lone Tech error of the contest extending the inning.

The Golden Eagles (3-8) kicked off the scoring in the match-up, courtesy of sophomore catcher Will Long. In the second inning, the backstop rocketed a 1-0 offering over the wall in center field for his first home run of the season for a 1-0 lead.

Georgia Tech answered in the bottom half of the inning, jumping out in front with a two-run long ball of its own. Both sides traded zeroes over the next three frames before the purple and gold made another move on offense.

In the sixth, Golden Eagle right fielder Theo Bryant IV delivered a spark for his team on the second pitch he saw. With two outs in the inning, the freshman uncorked a mammoth swing, blasting his first collegiate round-tripper to left field to tie the game at 2-2.

Quick to respond, the Yellow Jackets answered again, this time with the nine-run inning that put the game away for good.

Seven different Golden Eagles combined for the team's seven hits on the night while a total of five of the team's pitchers turned in scoreless appearances, including Brock Myers, Daniel Holley, Grant Phillips, Jacob Parham and Solomon Washington. Making his collegiate debut on the mound, Washington led the purple and gold with four strikeouts in two innings of work.

Tennessee Tech will stay on the road to kick off Ohio Valley Conference play Friday, Mar. 6, visiting SIUE in a three-game series running through Sunday, Mar. 8. Game one is set for a 3:00 p.m. CT first pitch while the second and third games of the series are slated for 1:00 p.m. starts.

Photo by Tony Marable