By Mike Lehman, TTU Sports Information
COOKEVILLE, Tenn. – A strong offensive outburst in the first inning set the tone early for the Tennessee Tech baseball team Friday afternoon, as the Golden Eagles picked up a 13-8 victory in the series opener with visiting Queens University of Charlotte at a very windy Quillen Field and Bush Stadium at the Averitt Express Baseball Complex.
After hurler Landon Smiddy needed just 11 pitches to set down the side in order in the first, the purple and gold turned to the bats to give its starter room to work. The Golden Eagles (8-5) responded with a six spot in the frame to create space from the Royals (4-10) right out of the gate.
Left fielder Austin Turner, who entered the contest tied for third nationally in base on balls, naturally drew a walk to set the table. Second baseman Troy Baunsgard ripped a double to left field, putting a pair in scoring position for catcher Hayden Gilliland.
The senior backstop delivered immediately, smashing the first pitch he saw down the right-field line for a two-run double and a 2-0 Tech lead. Center fielder Nicho Jordan poked an RBI single to center field to drive in another marker before the fireworks came out.
Queens gathered a pair of outs and seemed on its way out of the inning, but Tech wasn't finished. Making his return to the Golden Eagle lineup after battling an illness last week, designated hitter Mack Whitcomb made up for the lost time, crushing a two-run blast to left-center field for his second round-tripper of the year.
Third baseman Tanner Shiver made it back-to-back jacks on the very next pitch, hammering a solo shot to the same spot as Whitcomb for a 6-0 Golden Eagle advantage. Queens answered with a lead-off homer in the second, but that was it for the offense for a spell after Gilliland caught a Royals runner trying to steal to end the frame.
Tech got back after it in the fourth, with Shiver and right fielder Jackson Green getting plunked on consecutive offerings to put a pair on. A sac bunt by Turner moved the two into scoring position and Baunsgard made the decision count.
The senior narrowly missed sending a missile out of the park, settling for a two-run double off the top of the wall in deep, left-center field. Jordan brought him home on an 0-2 count, finding a hole through the right side for another RBI knock.
Trailing 9-1, Queens battled back in the fifth, collecting another lead-off long ball to start. The Royals tallied a two-run dinger later in the frame and chased Smiddy from the contest with two outs a pair of runners on base after the Tech hurler attempted to pitch after taking a comebacker off the lower body.
Jaxson Pease took over for the purple and gold and used just one pitch to escape the inning, with Gilliland throwing out another Royals runner trying to steal to put an end to the fifth. Back-to-back solo jacks from Queens in the seventh made it a 9-6 Tech lead, but the Golden Eagle offense returned to form to put the game out of reach.
Shiver provided the first level of support following the stretch, smoking his second blast of the contest to left field for his third long ball of the year. The offense continued in the eighth, with Tech needing just one hit to do the damage.
Baunsgard drew a one-out walk and advanced to second base on a fielder's choice, bringing Jordan to the plate with two outs. Queens opted to place him at first with an intentional free pass, but the plan backfired quickly.
Shortstop Preston Steele, Tech's leader in home runs on the year, took his time waiting for the right pitch, finding the one he wanted on a 1-2 offering and properly hammering a towering shot to right-center field for his sixth dinger of the year and a 13-6 lead.
The Royals picked up back-to-back solo homers in the ninth with a pair of outs just for good measure, but Pease finished things up to earn his first win of the season after 4.1 innings of work. The right-hander struck out four batters along the way while saving the bullpen. Smiddy worked 4.2 innings with five punch-outs.
Six different Golden Eagles drove in multiple runs in the contest, led by Steele's three ribbies. Baunsgard, Jordan, and Shiver all ended up with a pair of hits and a pair of RBI, with Baunsgard and Shiver also scoring three times each.
Game two of the weekend series is currently set for a 2:00 p.m. start on Saturday at the Quill. With continued rain in the forecast throughout the weekend, fans are encouraged to check TTUSports.com and Tennessee Tech social media for any potential updates/changes to this weekend's schedule.
Photo by Jim Dillon
