By Mike Lehman, TTU Sports Information
LEXINGTON, Ky. – An early lead was not enough for the Tennessee Tech baseball team to pull off its second upset over a Southeastern Conference opponent this season, as the Golden Eagles dropped its final non-conference tilt of the year Tuesday evening at Kentucky Proud Park against No. 16 nationally-ranked Kentucky.
The offense came ready to produce early for the purple and gold, with shortstop Troy Baunsgard watching the first four pitches of the ball game miss their mark. With the free pass, the junior lead-off man extended his reached-base streak to 42 games, the third-longest mark in program history.
A double to right-center field off the bat of third baseman Peyton Mills put a pair in scoring position, and, with two outs, catcher Hayden Gilliland loaded the bases after taking four consecutive misses by the UK starter. It was second baseman Eddie Garza pushing Tech (17-28) out front first, patiently taking five pitches before drawing his own free trip to first to plate a run.
The Golden Eagles doubled the advantage in the third inning, this time turning to a savvy veteran on a heater like very few have seen to provide the damage. With one out, first baseman John Dyer jumped on an 0-1 offering and belted a solo blast left field, clearing the wall for his 19th home run of the year.
The round-tripper marked the 43rd of the senior's career, ranking him in a tie for 21st on the Ohio Valley Conference's all-time home run charts and sixth in Tech's record books. It also represented his 11th long ball in the last 12 games and extended his career-long hitting streak to 17 straight contests. He now sits just one dinger shy of becoming just the fifth Golden Eagle ever to hit 20 in a single season.
Kentucky (34-13) finally got things going on offense in the bottom of the third, tying the game at 2-2 with a pair of markers. Tech reliever Andrew Guardino held the Wildcat bats at bay in the fourth after working into a bases-loaded jam with no out, inducing an infield fly to Garza for the first out. He bounced back with a clutch strikeout after watching Kentucky foul off five consecutive pitches. A ground out to Baunsgard ended the frame.
The Wildcats kept coming after the Cookeville crew, backed by a renewed vigor on the mound that saw the bullpen hold the Golden Eagles to just two hits after the third inning. With the pitching in command, the UK bats took the lead in the fifth with a lead-off dinger to right-center field.
In the sixth, the home squad's offense made the big dent in the scoreboard, plating six on six hits and two walks. Sporting a seven-run lead, Kentucky held off Tech's final threat on the base paths in the seventh.
With one out, left fielder Austin Turner flipped a base knock to center field, and Mills followed by drawing a five-pitch walk. Two batters later, catcher Hayden Gilliland was plunked on a full count to load the bases with two outs. UK escaped unscathed, using a fielder's choice at second base to move on to the stretch.
Tech will now focus on the final two weekends of league action left on the schedule, starting with a trip west to take on new OVC foe Little Rock in a three-game series starting Friday evening at 6:00 p.m. CT.
File photo by Jim Dillon
