By Mike Lehman, TTU Sports Information
COOKEVILLE, Tenn. – It was a heartbreaker for the Tennessee Tech baseball team Thursday evening, as the Golden Eagles (9-11, 4-6) fell to the visiting Murray State Racers (12-12, 5-2) in their Ohio Valley Conference series opener, 4-2.
Deadlocked at 2-2 in the top of the ninth inning, the Racers put the first two batters on to prompt a Golden Eagle pitching change. Freshman Jackson Berry took over on the hill, collecting a quick out as the Racers used a sacrifice bunt to move the runners into scoring position.
After issuing an intentional walk to load the bases and create a force at every base, Berry delivered the perfect pitch, forcing a ground ball to the shortstop. Tech earned the easy out at second, but a throwing error by the second baseman allowed a pair of Murray State runners to cross the plate safely for a 4-2 lead.
The Racers managed to load the bases again, but Berry bounced back, collecting a swinging strikeout to end the top of the inning.
Tech took the initial lead in the contest, scoring quickly with some good, old-fashioned hitting. Junior Jason Hinchman led off the bottom of the first with an infield single off the third baseman's glove. Returning freshman Brett Roberts followed with a single to center field, moving Hinchman to third.
First baseman Golston Gillespie made it three straight base knocks to start the game, ripping a single through the left side to drive in Hinchman for a 1-0 lead.
Murray State answered with a two-run double in the top of the fourth, finally scoring off Tech starter Tyler Sylvester. The right-hander tossed four and one-third frames with just two hits allowed and five strikeouts.
Tech had a response of its own in the bottom half, with Will Long blasting a deep double down the left-field for an RBI. With the contest tied at 2-2, both pitching staffs took over for the next four frames while trading zeroes.
Golden Eagle reliever Brock Myers took the tough-luck loss after covering three and two-thirds inning with just one hit allowed and four strikeouts. Murray State snagged two runs off the right-hander, one earned and one unearned.
Senior Cody Littlejohn led the Tech batters with a pair of hits while seven different Golden Eagles recorded at least one.
The series will wrap up Friday with a doubleheader, starting with a 1:00 p.m. CT first pitch. Game two is scheduled for an approximate 4:30 p.m. start.
Photo by Thomas Corhern
