By Mike Lehman, TTU Sports Information
CHARLOTTE, N.C. – A huge seventh inning lifted the Tennessee Tech baseball team to a series-evening victory over Queens University of Charlotte Saturday afternoon, as the Golden Eagles rallied from a four-run deficit to down the Royals, 8-6, at Tuckaseegee Fields in Charlotte.
It was a slow start for the visiting bats, as Queens held the Golden Eagles without a hit through the opening four innings to build a 4-0 lead one day after earning a 13-12, walk-off win on the same field. Unfortunately for the home squad, Tech knew there were still five innings in the ball game and made the most of two of them.
In the top of the fifth, third baseman Peyton Mills rocked a 1-0 pitch to right field, smashing a one-out home run to break up the no-no attempt by Queens. His second dinger of the year kickstarted the Golden Eagle comeback, with one more run to come in the frame.
After a base hit by designated hitter Preston Ford, Tech turned in a two-out rally, gathering a nine-pitch walk by catcher Will Long and an infield single by left fielder Austin Turner to load the bases. Center fielder Jackson Green delivered the clutch at-bat, ripping an RBI single through the left side to make it a two-run game.
With right-handed reliever Andrew Guardino holding the Royals off the scoreboard in the fifth and sixth, the purple and gold went to work again in the top of the seventh. The junior finished the day with two innings, two runs allowed, two punch outs, and his first victory as a Golden Eagle.
The Tech bats sang again in the seventh, this time churning out six runs to move out front. First baseman John Dyer opened the session with a one-out single up the middle and Long followed with another walk. Turner legged out his second infield single of the day to load the bases once again.
Green continued his delivery service, earning an RBI by drawing a walk on four pitches. Shortstop Troy Baunsgard made it back-to-back, run-scoring free passes to tie the game at 4-4. Following a pitching change by the Royals, right fielder Theo Bryant IV turned in the big swing, peppering a two-run double down the left-field line for a 6-4 Tech lead.
Not to be outdone, second baseman Eddie Garza smoked a single to right field for another RBI and Tech run. Mills made it an even half-dozen in the frame with an RBI ground out to third base.
Queens plated a pair in the seventh after Guardino exited the contest following a pair of hits allowed to start the frame. Freshman Brody Lanham took over and limited the damage to the two runs on a hit and sac fly.
The rookie shut things down from that point on, gathering three outs with one walk allowed in the eighth. In the ninth, Lanham pitched around a pair of baserunners, one via a wild pitch on a strikeout to open the frame and one on a walk. The right-hander gathered three grounds outs in the frame to lock down his first career save with three innings pitched, no runs allowed, and just one hit surrendered.
Bryant finished with a pair of hits and two RBI while Mills and Green each tallied multiple RBI as well. Seven different Golden Eagles combined for the team's nine hits in the contest.
The rubber match of the series is slated for a 12:00 p.m. CT first pitch Sunday in Charlotte.
Photo courtesy of Austin Slough, Queens Athletics
