By Mike Lehman, TTU Sports Information
NASHVILLE, Tenn. – A close battle early, the No. 1 team in the nation eventually pulled away from the Tennessee Tech baseball team Tuesday evening, as the Golden Eagles (9-10) fell to Vanderbilt (20-3) at Hawkins Field, 12-5.
The purple and gold wasted little time in challenging the top-ranked squad in the country, plating a run in the opening frame. After returning freshman Brett Roberts eked out a two-out single and stole second, Golston Gillespie followed two batters later with an RBI single to right field.
The Commodores responded immediately, racking up five of their 14 hits on the night to the tune of four runs.
Tech took advantage of an early Vandy error and a walk to Theo Bryant IV, setting up a senior veteran for some fireworks. Cody Littlejohn blasted the first pitch he saw to right field for a three-run home run to tie the game at 4-4. It marked the fifth long ball of the year for the Golden Eagle designated hitter, tying for the team led with first baseman Golston Gillespie.
Once again, the home team had an answer, collecting a two-run dinger to jump back on top, 6-4. Both teams traded zeroes on the scoreboard in the third before Vanderbilt broke things open in the fourth. The Commodores connected for a three-run round-tripper in the frame, increasing the advantage to 9-4.
Tech delivered one more run in the contest, running into a bit of bad luck along the way. Shortstop Ed Johnson opened the frame by getting plunked. Roberts followed with his own hit-by-pitch. Johnson would later advance to third base on a fly-out.
With runners on the corners, the right-handed hitting Gillespie laced a beautiful extra-base knock the other way to left-center field for looked like an easy two runs with the speedy Roberts off to the races from first. Unfortunately, the ball took one bounce off the turf at Hawkins Field and found its way over the wall for a ground-rule double. Gillespie still earned an RBI, but Roberts was sent back to third by rule.
Having extended its lead to 11-4 prior to the seventh, Vandy answered Tech's run in the top half with a solo home run to lead off the bottom half of the frame.
Four Golden Eagles recorded multi-hit games on the night, including Littlejohn, Johnson, Gillespie and John Dyer. The Tech pitching staff combined for 13 strikeouts on the night, with right-hander Mark Leonard and southpaw Daniel Holley leading the way with three each.
Tech is scheduled to host Murray State in Ohio Valley Conference play in an early weekend, starting with a 6:00 p.m. CT contest Thursday, Apr. 1. It will be followed by a doubleheader on Friday, Apr. 2, beginning at 1:00 p.m.
File photo by Thomas Corhern, TTU Sports Information
