By Mike Lehman, TTU Sports Information
COOKEVILLE, Tenn. – A quick start with the bats and a great performance on the mound proved more than enough for the Tennessee Tech baseball team to pick up the win in its home-opener Friday evening, as the Golden Eagles cruised to a 13-4 victory over Eastern Michigan at Quillen Field and Bush Stadium at the Averitt Express Baseball Complex.
Backed by a ton of early run support, sophomore hurler Peyton Calitri shoved for the purple and gold in his first tilt in front of the home crowd. The right-hander tossed seven innings while scattering five hits and allowing just two runs.
Calitri delivered six scoreless frames to kick off the contest, with the only damage on the night coming by way of a two-run home run in the seventh. He struck out a season-high five without issuing a walk to collect his first win as a Golden Eagle.
It didn't take long for the purple and gold to strike against the visiting Eagles, with shortstop Ed Johnson leading off the bottom of the first with a double down the right-field line. A few batters later, first baseman Golston Gillespie lined out to right field for a sacrifice fly to bring in the first run of the game. Designated hitter Hayden Gilliland followed with an RBI single to right-center field, making it a 2-0 ballgame after one.
Tech continued to press the issue on offense, with Johnson peppering an RBI single through the right side in the second. Left fielder Jason Hinchman followed suit two batters later, ripping his own single through the left side to drive in another Tech marker for a 4-0 lead.
Turning up the heat in the third, the Golden Eagles took advantage of a pair of EMU miscues defensively. With the bases loaded, Gilliland crossed home plate safely after a muffed throw by the catcher. In the next at-bat, Johnson was plunked with the bases juiced, earning an RBI the hard way. Third baseman Gabe Lacy continued the line with a sac fly to right field before Hinchman blistered a single to right-center field to drive in one more and make it an 8-0 advantage for the home squad.
In the fifth, it was Hinchman providing the spark yet again, this time with the long ball. The slugger launched his first-round tripper of the season down the left-field line, a two-run blast that made it a 10-0 game.
Pinch-hitting in the sixth frame, second baseman Noah Hattier earned his first hit as Golden Eagle, driving in a run with a single to center field. The sophomore drove in another member of the Cookeville crew making his season debut, Wofford transfer Ryan Guardino, who doubled to lead off the frame after pinch-hitting. Center fielder Jackson Green followed with his own pinch-hit RBI, lacing a double down the third-base line.
Finishing off the scoring on the day for the purple and gold was Luke Jones, delivering yet another incredible pinch-hit performance. Filling in at designated hitter, the sophomore blasted a solo bomb down the left-field line for his first dinger of the year.
Both Logan Hewitt and Caleb Pearson made their Tech debuts on the mound after redshirting last season, each tossing a frame to complete the night. Both faced five batters and allowed a single run.
Tech and Eastern Michigan are set to square off in the second game of the series Saturday afternoon. First pitch is slated for 1:00 p.m. CT at Quillen Field.
File photo by Thomas Corhern
