By Mike Lehman, TTU Sports Information
DAVIDSON, N.C. – Early offense wasn't enough for the Tennessee Tech baseball team to walk away with a victory Friday evening, as the Golden Eagles (8-13) fell on the road to Davidson (11-10) in the teams' series opener at Wilson Field, 9-5.
The purple and gold actually out-hit the Wildcats in the contest, but the home squad executed on its chances at a higher rate to pick up the first win of the weekend. Davidson provided all of its damage with a trio of three-run frames in the first half of the ball game.
Tech kicked off the scoring for the day, with shortstop Nick Spardone opening the night with a bang. The senior smashed a leadoff home run to left field on the fourth pitch of the tilt, just his second of the year and in his Golden Eagle career.
Catcher Hayden Gilliland followed with a base hit to center field and found his way to third before second baseman Eddie Garza drove him home with a sacrifice fly to right field. Right out of the gate, Tech boasted a 2-0 lead.
Davidson answered in the bottom half, using a walk and two-run jack to center field to tie the game instantly. A second dinger in the frame, a solo blast to center field, gave the Wildcats the lead for good.
The home team doubled its lead in the second, denting the dish three times with a two-run single and RBI double. In the fourth, Davidson tripled the advantage, moving in front 9-2 with another homer in the mix.
Both sides traded zeroes in the fifth, sixth, and seventh innings, but Tech finally broke through in the eighth. Freshman Kayne Jinks ripped a one-out double to left-center field to get things going and both Spardone and Gilliland helped load the bases by each drawing two-out walks.
Third baseman Peyton Mills came up clutch, smashing his own double to left field to plate two runs. Tech scored once more in the ninth, with center fielder Nicho Jordan starting things with a single through the right side. Jinks moved him over to third with another base knock to center field. Jordan scored later in the frame on a passed ball.
Jinks led the offensive effort for the purple and gold, finishing the day 3-for-5 with a run scored. Catcher Will Long added a pair of hits as well.
Junior Andrew Guardino locked down the final three and two-thirds innings on the mound for the Golden Eagles, holding the Wildcats scoreless and without a hit. The right-hander struck out four while issuing just one walk.
Game two of the series is slated for a 1:00 p.m. CT first pitch in Davidson, N.C. at Wilson Field.
File photo by Jim Dillon
