By Mike Lehman, TTU Sports Information
EDWARDSVILLE, Ill. – A late surge from the Tennessee Tech baseball team fell short Sunday afternoon, as the Golden Eagles (23-21, 7-11) dropped their Ohio Valley Conference rubber match at SIUE, 6-4.
The Cougars (22-21, 9-9) took the early lead in the contest, plating a pair in the opening inning. Two RBI singles gave the home team a 2-0 advantage.
In the fourth, the purple and gold took its turn denting the dish, with left fielder Jason Hinchman providing the damage. The slugger provided the Golden Eagles with their first hit of the ballgame as well, smashing a solo home run to left field.
The long ball represented the senior's 21st of the season. It also marked his OVC and program record-extending 65th dinger of his career.
SIUE answered back two innings later, doubling its run total in the bottom of the sixth. Following an RBI single and bases-loaded walk, the Cougars led 4-1. That advantage became 6-1 in the seventh with the Cougars striking for two more with an RBI double and RBI single.
Tech kicked off the comeback bid in the eighth, with catcher Will Long drawing a lead-off walk. After an out, center fielder Austin Turner also drew a walk. Shortstop Ed Johnson followed with a single to right field, loading the bases.
Third baseman Gabe Lacy delivered in the next at-bat for the Golden Eagles, ripping an RBI single through the left side. Hinchman came next, sending a hard-hit shot to left field for a sac fly. It marked his 170th career RBI, tying Ryan Flick for sixth on the program's all-time list.
Johnson scored later in the frame, rounding third and denting the dish on an error by the SIUE shortstop. His run cut the deficit to just a pair, but the Cougars gathered the final out of the frame before further damage could be done.
Lacy led the Tech offense with a pair of base knocks while Hinchman paced the team with two RBI. Brock Myers tossed one and one-third frames of scoreless ball to end the game, gathering a strikeout.
Tech will return to action with a road tilt at in-state rival Middle Tennessee on Tuesday, May 10. First pitch is slated for 6:00 p.m. CT in Murfreesboro.
File photo by Emily Armstrong
