By Mike Lehman, TTU Sports Information
COOKEVILLE, Tenn. – A massive, offensive outburst to kick off the day wasn't enough for the Tennessee Tech baseball team to even its weekend series with Notre Dame Saturday afternoon, as the Fighting Irish rallied to defeat the Golden Eagles 15-11 at Quillen Field and Bush Stadium at the Averitt Express Baseball Complex.
After struggling to get the bats going in Friday's series-opening loss, the purple and gold left no doubt early in game two, plating a whopping nine runners over the first two innings of action at the Quill. Starter Peyton Calitri set the tone, setting down the Fighting Irish side in order in the first.
Tech (6-4) went to work with the sticks from there, with left fielder Austin Turner wasting no time by cranking a base hit through the left side on the first pitch of the bottom half. Notre Dame (7-2) secured a pair of outs to move closer to the second, but the Cookeville crew had other plans.
Center fielder Nicho Jordan turned on an 0-2 offering for a no-doubt, two-run bomb down the right-field line, providing an instant 2-0 lead for the Golden Eagles. Shortstop Preston Steele kept things rolling with a base hit down the left-field line before right fielder Theo Bryant IV plated him with a double that one-hopped the wall in center field.
Still not done, third baseman Eddie Garza ripped an RBI single up the middle to make it a four-run first frame for the purple and gold. Notre Dame picked up three, unearned runs in the top of the second, but the Tech bats were just warming up.
In the bottom of the second, the entire lineup came to the plate for the second time, with second baseman Troy Baunsgard and Jordan sandwiching a walk to catcher Hayden Gilliland with a pair of infield knocks to load the bags. Steele came through in the big spot, ripping a single to the deep hole at shortstop for an RBI single.
The Fighting Irish attempted to throw out the runner at second despite a difficult play, but the late attempt sailed into right field, allowing another run to score and Jordan to advance to third. Bryant then provided an exclamation point on the frame, crushing a three-run jack down the right-field line for his first round-tripper of the season and a 9-3 Tech lead.
In the fourth, Notre Dame fought back again, using a pair of two-run home runs to trim the Tech lead to 9-7. The Golden Eagles had one last run of offense in their bag of tricks, answering in the bottom of the inning.
Jordan drew a seven-pitch walk to lead off the frame and set the table. Steele followed, clobbering a 2-2 pitch well over the wall in right field for a two-run oppo taco, the slugger's third blast of the season.
Ever relentless, the Fighting Irish lived up to their moniker, plating five more runs in the fifth to take their first lead of the day at 12-11. They added three more in the seventh for a little cushion as the pitching staff took control and limited the Golden Eagles to just three hits over the final five innings of the contest.
Eight members of the Tech lineup recorded hits on the day, led by a 4-for-4 showing by Steele. He also scored three times and drove in a trio of runs. Bryant finished 3-for-5 with four RBI and pair of runs while Jordan delivered a 2-for-4 performance with three runs and two RBI.
On the mound, rookie hurler Drew Mattox offered up a pair of scoreless frames in the eighth and ninth, turning the first half of a double play in both innings. The freshman righty allowed just one hit and one walk.
The third and final contest in the series will feature a 1:00 p.m. CT first pitch Sunday afternoon at the Quill.
Photo by Jim Dillon
