By Mike Lehman, TTU Sports Information
MARTIN, Tenn. – The bats went to work for the Tennessee Tech baseball team Friday evening, as the Golden Eagles (21-14, 5-5) erupted for a 19-6 victory over Ohio Valley Conference and in-state rival UT Martin at Skyhawk Baseball Field.
The offense really got going in the third inning, for Tech's most runs since the 19-7 win over North Alabama on Mar. 22, the most hits (20) since the team's 18-4 victory at Southeastern Louisiana, and the second-most home runs on the year with the six smacked in a 15-7 W over Purdue Fort Wayne on Mar. 6.
Right fielder Ryan Guardino got things going with a single up the middle for the team's first hit of the night. Two batters later, center fielder Austin Turner – who acted a lot like a second lead-off man for the purple and gold – crunched an RBI triple off the top of the wall in right field, putting Tech on top 1-0.
Shortstop Ed Johnson, the actual Tech lead-off hitter on the day, tripled the lead two pitches later, hammering a two-run blast to left field. Following a single to right field by third baseman Gabe Lacy, left fielder Jason Hinchman made some more history.
Since 2003, only 10 Division I baseball players had reached the 60-career-pumps mark, including former Golden Eagle greats Zach Stephens (2011-14) and Kevin Strohschein (2016-19) – each with an OVC and school-record 62 – and future MLB veterans Justin Smoak of Louisville and Matt LaPorta of Florida. Hinchman became the 11th on the night, tattooing a two-run oppo-taco to right field.
His 16th jack of the season made him just the third player in school and league history with 60 dingers for a career, joining Stephens and Strohschein.
Catcher Hayden Gilliland followed with a double off the top of wall in centerfield, which rises up the middle while also acting as the batter's eye. First baseman Golston Gillespie made it back-to-back doubles with a towering smash off the wall in right field.
Designated hitter Eric Newsom peppered an RBI single to right-center field, driving in the sixth run of the inning for the purple and gold. Guardino, who kicked off the frame, delivered the last blow of the inning to the Skyhawks, sending a long shot to right field for a sacrifice fly ball and a 7-0 lead.
UT Martin answered with a pair of runs in the bottom half of the inning, but Tech was quick to strike again in the fourth. Turner led things off with a four-pitch walk and Johnson delivered a single to set up Lacy for another huge swing.
The slugger uncorked a monster bomb to left field, driving in a trio with his seventh dinger of the year. Hinchman continued the inning with a double to right-center field and Gilliland drove him in with a single up the middle, minting a 9-2 lead.
Tech added two more in the fifth, with Guardino leading things off with a base knock to center field. Another walk drawn by Turner and base hit by Johnson set up Lacy for a two-run single to left field.
Up 11-2, the purple and gold continued to do damage, scoring twice more in the sixth. Guardino uncorked on the first pitch he saw for a solo rocket to center field, his sixth round-tripper of the year. Hinchman later drew a bases-loaded walk to make it a 13-2 ballgame.
Once again in the seventh, Tech put on the pressure, with Guardino toasting a two-run shot over the scoreboard in left field for his second tater of the night and seventh on the year. UT Martin cut the deficit to 17-6 with a pair of two-run shots, but the Golden Eagles were the last to dent the dish on this night.
After a pair of quick outs to start the eighth, Gilliland got plunked with a pitch to set up Gillespie for one more big swing. The slugger went yard for the ninth time on the year, sending a two-run rainbow over the wall in center field.
Starter Peyton Calitri (4-3) earned the victory with five innings of work and just two earned runs allowed. He scattered seven hits and no walks while striking out three. Matthew Meadows turned in two and one-third frames of scoreless ball out of the bullpen, allowing just one hit and a walk.
Seven Golden Eagles produced multi-hit efforts on the night, led by a 4-for-4 performance from Guardino, who plated four and scored three. Gillespie tallied three hits and a pair of RBI, scoring three times as well.
Johnson secured three knocks, two RBI, and two runs while Lacy boasted three hits, a team-high five RBI, and two runs. Hinchman drove in three with a 2-for-5 showing while Gilliland tallied two hits as well. Turner drew a team-high three walks and was 2-for-2 with a team-high four runs scored.
Game two of the series is slated for 3:00 p.m. CT first pitch Saturday afternoon at Skyhawk Baseball Field.
File photo by Emily Armstrong
