By Mike Lehman, TTU Sports Information
COOKEVILLE, Tenn. – It was near déjà vu for the Tennessee Tech baseball team Sunday afternoon, as the Golden Eagles delivered their second walk-off victory in as many days at Quillen Field and Bush Stadium at the Averitt Express Baseball Complex, topping Queens University of Charlotte 3-2.
Not only did the purple and gold complete the series sweep over the visiting Royals (4-12), it also provided Tech fans consecutive walk-off wins for the first time since the historic 2018 campaign. During that season, the Golden Eagles (10-5) provided walk-offs of 9-8 and 8-7 over Jacksonville State as part of the team's record-setting, 28-game winning streak.
Pitching was the key to Tech's thrilling victory on Sunday, with freshman Jack Brafa turning in a gem of a start. The rookie right-hander took a no-decision on the day after tossing a season-best 7.0 innings with just a pair of unearned runs allowed.
Scattering six hits and a single walk, Brafa punched out four Royals while using 102 pitches to keep his team in the fight. With both Queens runs scored on Golden Eagle errors, it seemed only fitting that a mistake for the Royals would pay dividends for Tech.
In the fourth inning, Tech appeared to have something trending with a little two-out rally, kicked off with a single through the left side by first baseman Preston Ford. Third baseman Eddie Garza followed with a base knock of his own to center field, sending Ford to third on a hit-and-run.
Center fielder Jackson Green delivered what would be the big blow in the frame, sending a fly ball to right field that appeared to end the inning. The Royals couldn't hold on to the ball while battling the sun a little bit, allowing both Ford and Garza to score and give Tech a 2-1 lead.
Queens squared things in the sixth and looked to take a lead of its own with a line drive down the left-field line with a runner on third. Left fielder Austin Turner made a spectacular sliding grab to end the inning and preserve the tie.
Junior Jack Erdman took over on the hill for Brafa in the eighth and worked out of a small jam after allowing a walk and a hit in the frame. He tossed up a zero in the ninth, setting down the side in order with a big strikeout as the exclamation point on the inning.
Rewinding to Saturday night's walk-off thriller, it was second baseman Troy Baunsgard setting the table with a double to left-center field. With two outs in the 10th, right fielder Tanner Shiver provided the signature moment with a base hit to right field for the winning RBI.
Fast forward back to Sunday's affair, it was Baunsgard once again leading the way, smashing a double to left-center field with one out. It marked the first and only extra-base hit in the contest for either team.
Again facing two outs as he entered the box, Shiver never shied away from the moment. The junior ripped the first pitch he saw just over a leaping Royal second baseman and into center field to plate Baunsgard and deliver his second walk-off hit in as many days.
Baunsgard was the big bright spot for the Tech offense during the contest, finishing 2-for-2 with three walks and the game-winning run.
The Golden Eagles will hit the road for just the second time this season, visiting USC Upstate for a pair of midweek tilts in Spartanburg, S.C. The two sides will square off at 2:00 p.m. CT Tuesday afternoon and again on Wednesday with another 2:00 p.m. start.
Photo by Jordan Ratti
