By Mike Lehman, TTU Sports Information
NASHVILLE, Tenn. – The Tennessee Tech baseball team was unable to stave off a second Belmont comeback in as many days Saturday afternoon, as the Bruins defeated the Golden Eagles at E.S. Rose Park to claim the Ohio Valley Conference series between the in-state rivals with a 4-1 win.
The Golden Eagles struggled to get much going against Belmont starter Andy Bean, who held the purple and gold to just five hits, three walks, and one earned run over eight innings of work with seven strikeouts. Despite the tough day at the plate, it was the Cookeville crew that found itself on the scoreboard first Saturday, providing its damage in the fifth inning.
Catcher Will Long led off the frame with a double to right-center field and moved to third on a sacrifice bunt by second baseman Noah Hattier. The Tech infielder also reached on the play thanks to an error. Two batters, third baseman Gabe Lacy ripped a single to left field, driving in Long for a 1-0 Golden Eagle lead.
That was all the Tech squad would muster offensively and the lead wouldn't last long. In the bottom half of the fifth, Belmont struck back, using back-to-back singles to open the inning to chase Tech starter Matt Gelorme.
Brock Myers took over on the hill and recorded a quick, first out. The Bruins responded with an RBI single to tie the game and an RBI double to take the lead. Another base hit drove in two more, pushing the home team out front 4-1.
Neither side would dent the dish again, with Myers tossing a scoreless sixth before passing the torch to Eric Newsom in the seventh. The Tech utility man allowed just one Belmont hit over the final two frames, the team's only baserunner the rest of the way.
Belmont's Bean cruised through the eighth to pick up his fifth win of the season before handing things over to the OVC's saves leader, Kyle Brennan. The Bruin closer picked up his 11th save of the season, tossing a perfect frame with two punch-outs.
Lacy and Long led the Tech offensive effort, each recording a pair of hits. Left fielder Jason Hinchman finished the day 0-for-1, reaching base three times on two walks and a hit-by-pitch.
The series finale between the two programs is slated for a 1:00 p.m. CT start Sunday afternoon, with the contest scheduled to be streamed live on ESPN+.
File photo by Thomas Corhern
