By Mike Lehman, TTU Sports Information
MARION, Ill. – A solid run at the Ohio Valley Conference Tournament came to an end for the Tennessee Tech baseball team Thursday, as the Golden Eagles fell in a pair of contests at Mt. Dew Park in Marion, Ill. during the double-elimination portion of the league's annual postseason event.
After staving off elimination twice on Wednesday, the No. 6 seeded Tech squad (21-34) turned in an incredible effort against No. 2 Little Rock (31-21), holding its own against one of the nation's top arms in the Trojans' Jackson Wells. TTU fell in the contest, 4-1, forcing a second tilt in the day to try and stave off elimination.
The Cookeville crew squared off with No. 5 Eastern Illinois (36-19), threatening to rally late in the ball game. The Panthers went on to take the win, defeating the purple and gold, 8-2, ending Tech's season.
In game one on the day, the Golden Eagles receive their third consecutive quality start in a row to open the tournament, this time a heroic effort from right-hander Tyler Zarella. The senior hurler put the purple and gold on his back for much of the day, opening things with back-to-back scoreless frames while scattering a pair of hits.
Tech used the strong start to jump on top offensively, with centerfielder Nicho Jordan smashing a double to right-center field with two outs in the top of the third. Four pitches later, shortstop Troy Baunsgard plated the first run of the ball game, slashing an RBI single up the middle.
That would be the extent of the damage the Golden Eagles would put on Wells, the nation's No. 2-ranked hurler in ERA this season. The right-hander tossed a complete game, allowing just one more Tech hit and two walks while striking out seven for the win.
Zarella went toe-to-toe with the OVC's Pitcher of the Year, blanking the Trojans' vaunted offense in the third, fourth, and sixth. Little Rock finally got to the Golden Eagle starter in the seventh striking for a trio of runs to chase the hurler following six and two-thirds frames of impressive work.
The Trojans picked up an insurance run in the eighth with a solo home run to left field, finishing things off for the 4-1 win.
Looking to extend its season for at least one more day, the Golden Eagles ran into a fiery Panther squad that was quick to strike offensively. EIU piled up three hits to plate a trio of runs in the opening frame, a lead that would hold as the contest went on.
The Tech pitching staff delivered a bunch of bend-don't-break relief from the second through the fourth, allowing baserunners, but keeping the Panthers off the scoreboard and from extending the lead. Eastern Illinois broke through again in the fifth, smacking a two-run home run that finished just inside the left-field foul pole for a fair ball.
In the sixth, the Golden Eagles turned in their only real offensive threat on the day, loading the bases with one out. Designated hitter Preston Ford worked a nice at-bat, drawing a seven-pitch walk to drive in the team's first run of the game.
Two batters later, right fielder Theo Bryant IV was plunked with an offering, scoring a second run for the purple and gold. It marked the extent of the damage, as Tech went on to strand the bases loaded.
Eastern Illinois added an insurance run in the sixth inning after a bang-bang play at first base, that would have ended the inning, went in favor of the Panthers. EIU followed it up with two more runs in the seventh ending the year for the Golden Eagles with an 8-2 win.
Tech racked up 11 hits in the contest, with eight of the nine starters picking up at least one base knock. The Panther defense came up clutch, tallying three double plays on the night. Rookie Brody Lanham recorded a season-high five strikeouts with two and one-third innings of work, allowing just one run on two hits and a walk.
Photo by Thomas Corhern
