By Mike Lehman, TTU Sports Information
COOKEVILLE, Tenn. – The Tennessee Tech baseball team couldn't pull off the sweep in its season-opening series with Bowling Green, falling to the Falcons in Sunday's finale by a final score of 10-4 at Quillen Field and Bush Stadium at the Averitt Express Baseball Complex.
Having already clinched the series behind a 1-0 victory on Friday and an 11-9 triumph Saturday afternoon, the Golden Eagles looked to kick off the season 3-0. The Falcons had other plans, however, taking advantage of some miscues by the Tech defense and showing their patience at the plate.
Bowling Green got on the board first in the second inning, but the purple and gold were quick to respond in the bottom half. Second baseman Eddie Garza drew a lead-off walk and followed it up by reaching second on a wild pitch. Later in the frame, left fielder Elijah Brooks brought him home with a sacrifice fly down the left-field line.
In the fourth, the Falcons blew the contest wide open, gathering four hits, two walks, and a hit-by-pitch. Bowling Green plated six in the inning, four of which came unearned following an error by the Golden Eagles. The visitors made it an 8-1 lead in the fifth, drawing a bases-loaded walk.
The Golden Eagles looked to kickstart a rally in the bottom half of the frame, with catcher Hayden Gilliland leading things off with a base hit to right-center field. Two batters later, Garza ripped a single through the left side.
After the Falcons secured their second out of the inning, right fielder Theo Bryant IV provided the clutch moment for the purple and gold, blasting a double to center field to drive in both Tech runners. Designated hitter Preston Ford followed with his own double, just missing a home run with a ball off the top of the fence in left-center field. The hit drove in Bryant to cut the deficit to 8-4.
That would be all the offense the Golden Eagles would muster the rest of the day, as the Falcons expanded their lead back out to six with a run in the seventh and another in the ninth. Bowling Green reliever Connar Penrod took the win with 2.1 innings out of the bullpen and now baserunners allowed.
Bryant led the Tech offense with a pair of hits and two RBI while Ford also tallied two knocks. Six other Golden Eagles racked up hits on the day as well.
Tech will hit the road for its first midweek tilt of the season on Tuesday, making a visit to Tuscaloosa, Ala. for a match-up with the Alabama Crimson Tide at 3:00 p.m. CT.
Photo by Jim Dillon
