By Mike Lehman, TTU Sports Information
CAPE GIRARDEAU, Mo. – It was a tough end to the weekend for the Tennessee Tech baseball team Sunday, as the Golden Eagles (10-24, 2-7) saw its two-run lead disappear in the eighth inning against Southeast Missouri (21-17, 10-2) in the two squads' Ohio Valley Conference series finale at Capaha Field.
The Redhawks plated three in the eighth inning to pull off an 8-6, comeback win and finish 3-0 on the weekend against the purple and gold. The Golden Eagles nearly pulled off a rally of their own, originally facing a 4-0 deficit after three frames.
SEMO plated a pair in the first inning, one in the second, and one more in the third, producing an early 4-0 lead. Tech got on the board in the fourth, with designated hitter Will Long driving in the first run with an RBI ground out. Preston Ford made it a two-run inning with an RBI double down the left-field line.
Responding immediately, the Redhawks scored once more in the fourth, moving out front 5-2. The purple and gold went back to work in the fifth, starting with a lead-off double down the right-field line from center field Nicho Jordan. Second baseman Troy Baunsgard drew a walk following a pitching change, putting a pair on for a big swing.
Third baseman Peyton Mills provided the might hack, crushing a three-run blast to left-center field to tie the ball game at 5-5. It marked his 12th long ball of the season. Three pitches later, on an 0-2 count, first baseman John Dyer made it back-to-back jacks for the Golden Eagles, smashing a solo bomb to left field for a 6-5 lead.
The senior's ninth round-tripper of the season also represented his 33rd as a Golden Eagle, giving him sole possession of eighth place on Tech's all-time career home run charts.
The Redhawks couldn't get much going over the next three frames, but finally broke through for three runs in the eighth, earning the win with a trio of RBI singles.
Tech hurler Jacob Morin tossed five and one-third frames with just one earned, and two total, runs allowed. He struck out four while scattering four walks and four hits. On offense, Mills and Dyer led the Golden Eagle effort, each recording a pair of hits on the day.
The Golden Eagles end their five-game road swing with a midweek tilt at nationally-ranked Tennessee Tuesday evening. Tech will head to Knoxville for a 5:30 p.m. CT tilt.
File photo by Jim Dillon
