By Mike Lehman, TTU Sports Information
COOKEVILLE, Tenn. – An early pitcher's duel fell in favor of the visitors Friday evening, as Bradley defeated the Tennessee Tech baseball team, 8-2, at Quillen Field and Bush Stadium at the Averitt Express Baseball Complex.
The Golden Eagles were quick to strike, using a sacrifice fly down the left-field line by first baseman Golston Gillespie to a 1-0 lead in the first. Tech collected two base hits in the frame, hinting at a strong night at the plate.
Both starting pitchers went head-on for the next four frames, trading zeros on the scoreboard. Tech's Peyton Calitri struck out five over the opening five innings, holding the Braves scoreless and with just three hits.
Bradley broke through in the sixth, loading the bases after Calitri secured strikeout number six on the night. Braves' third baseman Connor Manthey provided the big swing, smashing the first pitch he saw to left field for a grand slam to chase the Tech ace from the game and give his team the lead for good.
The visiting ace, Jacob Kisting, went on to toss two more innings without allowing another Tech run, totaling seven for the game while racking up nine punch-outs on just four hits. He held the Golden Eagles to just one hit after the second inning.
The Braves plated two more runs in the seventh, one in the eighth, and one more in the ninth for good measure. Golden Eagle hurler Jackson Berry turned in one inning of scoreless relief, earning one strikeout.
In the eighth, Tech left fielder Jason Hinchman attempted to give the home squad a jolt, blasting an 0-2 offering to right field for his eighth home run of the year. It marked the slugger's 52nd career round-tripper as well, moving him into sole possession of third place on the program's all-time list for long balls, breaking a tie with TTU Sports Hall of Famer A.J. Kirby-Jones.
The dinger also moved the senior into a tie for fourth on the Ohio Valley Conference's career chart, tying Eastern Kentucky's Lee Chapman and Clay Elswick.
The two teams are slated to match up again in game two of the series Saturday afternoon. First pitch is slated for a 1:00 p.m. CT start.
Photo by Thomas Corhern
