By Mike Lehman, TTU Sports Information
COOKEVILLE, Tenn. – It was a wild day at Quillen Field and Bush Stadium at the Averitt Express Baseball Complex Saturday, with delays, an incredible pitching performance, a comeback, and a walk-off all in play as the Tennessee Tech baseball time delivered a thrilling, 8-7 victory over Queens University of Charlotte in 10 innings.
Before the contest could even get started, a pop-up rain storm caused first pitch to be pushed back by two hours, delaying what would become an instant classic in Cookeville. When the rain finally departed, the Golden Eagles (9-5) were off to the races, building off a spectacular start from senior Peyton Calitri to take a hefty lead.
It took just 11 pitches for the right-hander to set down the Royals (4-11) in order in the first, providing the Tech bats the chance to light up the scoreboard first. After a quick out, second baseman Troy Baunsgard, catcher Hayden Gilliland, and center fielder Nicho Jordan drew three straight walks to load the bases.
Queens gathered the second out of the frame, looking to avoid any damage, but the Golden Eagles had other plans. Third baseman Tanner Shiver ripped a screaming line drive to left field just out of reach of the diving left fielder. The junior was off to the races, landing safely at third base with a three-run, bases-clearing triple.
Tech got back after it in the second with first baseman Preston Ford leading things off with a double to left field. A walk to right fielder Jackson Green and a subsequent double steal put a pair in scoring position. Gilliland blooped an infield single to shortstop to plate Ford for a 4-0 lead before a wild pitch brought Green home for the 5-0 Tech advantage.
Calitri cruised through the opening four frames, including an impressive fourth inning that saw all three Royals go down swinging in order. Queens broke through a bit in the fifth, plating its first run with a single and a double before Calitri ended further threats.
The Golden Eagles took back the run in the sixth, moving out front 6-1 with Green flashing the wheels again along the way. The junior beat out an infield single to third base and stole second base to get into scoring position. A wild pitch allowed him to reach third without a throw before Gilliland brought him home with a single to a diving second baseman deep in the hole on the right side.
Back out for the seventh, Calitri once again struck out the side swinging, growing his punch-out total to nine for the night. The senior returned to the hill in the eighth, but was replaced after surrendering a lead-off double. He took a tough-luck, no-decision in the contest, tossing 7.0 inning with just two runs allowed, nine punchies, and zero walks.
The Royals went on to score four runs in the eighth, taking advantage of a pair of defensive miscues by the Golden Eagles. Tech shortstop Preston Steele collected a bases-loaded walk and RBI in the bottom half to put his squad back up by a pair at 7-5, but Queens wasn't finished.
In the ninth, the Royals took advantage of another Golden Eagle error and the one mistake made by hurler Andrew Guardino, smacking a game-tying, two-run home run to right field with nobody out. Guardino, who entered in the eighth and helped Tech escape the frame with minimal damage, struck out the next three batters to give his offense a chance at a walk-off.
It was nothing doing in the ninth for the Cookeville crew, but Guardino showed his clutch genes again in the 10th, working around a pair of hits to hold the Royals off the scoreboard. This time around, his offense would reward his effort.
Baunsgard led off the bottom half with a beautiful double down the right-field line. Back-to-back fly-outs to left field left the purple and gold in a precarious position, but not an impossible one. Steele took advantage of the Royals' lone defensive mistake of the night, a throwing error from third base after the rain returned to the Quill.
That little bit of life was all Tech needed, as Shiver came to the dish and watched the first offering miss its mark. He waited for the right pitch to attack and ripped a base hit to right field. Baunsgard took off from second base and never hesitated while rounding third, sliding into home plate safely just ahead of the throw from the outfield for the walk-off win.
Guardino earned his first win of the season after completing the final 2.2 innings of the contest, fanning five along the way. The Golden Eagle pitching staff did not issue a single walk in the affair while punching out 14.
Shiver not only delivered the game-winning hit, but finished with team-highs of three knocks and four RBI. Gilliland tallied a 2-for-3 day with three walks and a pair of ribbies while both Ford and Green recorded two-hits days. Green dented the dish twice and stole three bases.
The series finale between the Golden Eagles and Royals is set for a 1:00 p.m. CT first pitch Sunday afternoon at the Quill.
Photo by Jim Dillon
