By Mike Lehman, TTU Sports Information
COOKEVILLE, Tenn. – Another grueling day at the ballpark saw the Tennessee Tech baseball team bounce back and even its Ohio Valley Conference series with in-state rival Austin Peay Saturday afternoon, as the Golden Eagles (24-23, 8-12) took down the Governors (19-32, 10-10) by a final score of 10-7.
For the second day in a row, Quillen Field and Bush Stadium at the Averitt Express Baseball Complex saw a delay in play due to inclement weather in the Cookeville area, including lightning. With the score knotted at 0-0 heading into the bottom of the third, both teams sat through a two-hour and 32-minute delay, topping the two-hour and 13-minute weather delay Friday night.
Coming back into action, Tech pounced on Austin Peay starter Harley Gollert, who threw just 14 pitches in two innings prior to the delay. Second baseman Noah Hattier led off the frame with a double down the right-field line. Two batters later, shortstop Ed Johnson drew a walk to set up the first score of the game.
Third baseman Gabe Lacy took his turn in the box, fouling off a pair of pitches before seeing the one he wanted. On an 0-2 count, the slugger unloaded for a three-run jack to left field, his ninth of the year, to give Tech a 3-0 lead.
Left fielder Jason Hinchman kept the inning going, dropping a base hit into right-center field. Three batters later, designated hitter John Dyer ripped a double to left field, driving in another Tech run for a 4-0 advantage.
Austin Peay got one back in the top of the fourth, but the Golden Eagles answered right back in the bottom half. After a pair of quick outs, Johnson clutched up and smashed a laser over the fence in left field on the first pitch he saw. It marked his 10th long ball of the season and made it a 5-1 ball game.
The Govs continued to fight back, collecting a two-run home run to trim the lead to 5-3, but Golden Eagle starter Brock Smith dug deep and limited the damage. The southpaw turned in his best outing of the year, completing a season-best five innings with just three runs allowed and a season-high six strikeouts.
With his departure, Austin Peay used another big fly to do some damage. Smashing a three-run shot in the sixth, the visitors from Clarksville took a 6-5 lead. It wouldn't last.
In the bottom of the seventh, Tech struck back with another big swing from a veteran. After a lead-off walk to catcher Will Long, Dyer delivered a monster, two-run rainbow to left field. The go-ahead bomb represented the Mt. Juliet native's 22nd career dinger, ranking him in a tie for 19th in program history with Cody Littlejohn, Chris Brown, and Chad Oberacker.
Two hitters later, center fielder Austin Turner crushed his third nuke of the season to right-center field, pushing Tech's lead to 8-6. In the eighth, Austin Peay mounted one last rally, loading the bases with one out and prompting a pitching change for Tech.
Senior Brock Myers took over on the hill and immediately created soft contact for an easy out at first. The Govs scored, but Tech gathered the all-important second out. After walking the next batter on a close full count, Myers induced a fly ball to right-center field to end the threat and keep the Golden Eagles on top.
For good measure, the Tech bats provided a little insurance for the right-handed hurler, gathering a pair in the bottom of the eighth. A base hit by Ryan Guardino allowed head coach Matt Bragga to call on the speedy freshman Jackson Green to pinch run. Long laid down a perfect sacrifice bunt to move him over to second.
One more time, Dyer came through, peppering an RBI single up the middle for his fourth RBI of the game and leaving him just a triple shy of the cycle on the day. The Tech veteran also added his first steal of the year and fourth of his career, moving into scoring position for first baseman Golston Gillespie.
The slugger also delivered, singling to center field to make it a 10-7 contest. Myers returned to the mound in the ninth, making quick work of the Govs. After a five-pitch strikeout, he induced a pair of 0-1 ground balls to collect his second save of the year. Travis Odom earned his first win of the season, tossing one and two-thirds frames with one run allowed.
All but one Tech starter collected a base hit in the contest. Long, who finished 0-for-1, reached base three times with a pair of walks and a hit-by-pitch, scoring once.
The Golden Eagles and Govs will square off in the series finale Sunday afternoon at 1:00 p.m. CT at Quillen Field. Tech's final home game of the season will represent Senior Day, with nine members of the purple and gold being honored approximately 20 minutes before first pitch.
Photo by Jim Dillon
