By Mike Lehman, TTU Sports Information
ATLANTA, Ga. – A pair of one-run leads couldn't hold up for the Tennessee Tech baseball team Friday afternoon, as No. 22 nationally-ranked Georgia Tech pulled away late from the Golden Eagles to take the series opener in Atlanta, 12-3.
The purple and gold opened the scoring on the day in the second inning, with second baseman Eddie Garza providing the early spark. The redshirt freshman blasted a solo shot to center field on an 0-1 count, his second home run of the season, to give TTU a 1-0 lead.
Georgia Tech responded in the third, tagging a two-run shot off Golden Eagle hurler Peyton Calitri to take a 2-1 advantage. The junior right-hander finished off the frame without further damage and held the Yellow Jackets without another run through the fourth and fifth.
The strong performance allowed the Cookeville crew to regroup offensively, as Garza played hero for the second time in the contest. In the fifth, the righty-swinging infielder uncorked a hefty hack on the second pitch he saw, leading off the frame with a round-tripper to right field to tie the ball game.
The Golden Eagles pushed back out front in the sixth, using a pair of hits to the damage this time around. Designated hitter Troy Baunsgard dropped a perfect bunt with one out for an infield single to third base, setting up Theo Bryant IV for the big knock.
With two outs and facing a 2-1 count, the junior right fielder ripped an RBI double down the right-field line, plating Baunsgard for the 3-2 lead in favor of the purple and gold.
The Yellow Jackets answered back in the bottom half of the sixth, picking up a three-run long ball off new Tech hurler Hunter Mann to jump back on top, 5-3. The home squad leaked the lead out to three with a single run in the seventh, but made the most impactful showing in the eighth.
With two outs and the bases loaded, Georgia Tech blew the game wide open with a grand slam to right field, jumping in front by seven. The Yellow Jackets scored twice more in the frame, making it an even half-dozen in the inning for the 12-3 decision.
Garza led the Golden Eagles with a pair of hits and a couple of RBI and runs scored while Bryant added two knocks and a ribbie. Baunsgard and sophomore Tanner Shiver also picked up hits in the contest. Calitri took the loss on the day, tossing five innings with four earned runs allowed on four hits with four strikeouts and just one walk.
Game two of the series is set for a 1:00 p.m. CT first pitch Saturday afternoon at Mac Nease Baseball Park at Russ Chandler Stadium.
Photo courtesy of Georgia Tech Communications office
