By Mike Lehman, TTU Sports Information
COOKEVILLE, Tenn. – Good pitching and productive offense was more than enough for the Tennessee Tech baseball team to pick up a series victory over Davidson Sunday afternoon, as the Golden Eagles topped the visiting Wildcats 9-4 at Quillen Field and Bush Stadium at the Averitt Express Baseball Complex.
The purple and gold didn't wait long to light up the scoreboard, tallying the first run of the ball game with some small ball. Center fielder Nicho Jordan drew a lead-off walk before stealing second base. First baseman Preston Ford followed two batters later, ripping an RBI double to center field.
The Golden Eagles (12-8) got back after it in the third, with Jordan providing the big swing after right fielder Theo Bryant IV singled and second baseman Troy Baunsgard smacked a double to right field. Jordan then laced a two-run knock to right field to make it a 3-0 ball game.
The Wildcats (7-12) answered in the fourth, plating one run on three hits before taking their first lead of the ball game in the fifth behind three more markers. Trailing 4-3 all of the sudden, the Cookeville crew never deterred from its approach, immediately kicking off the bottom of the fifth with a pair of base hits.
Shortstop Preston Steele laid down a sacrifice bunt to move the runners over and Ford drove in the tying score with a sac fly to right field. Freshman designated hitter Mack Whitcomb put the Golden Eagles back on top for good later in the inning blistering an RBI single to shortstop.
Tech continued the push in the sixth when left fielder Austin Turner led things off with a double down the right-field line. Following a fly ball that allowed him to advance to third, Turner dented the dish behind a wild pitch by the Wildcats. The purple and gold loaded the bags later in the frame, setting up Ford for his second sac fly of the ball game.
In the seventh, the Golden Eagles provided a little more security on the lead. Third baseman Eddie Garza doubled to right field to open the frame and moved over to the third on a passed ball. A fielder's choice provided Baunsgard with an RBI as Garza slid in safely to the plate ahead of the throw from third base.
Catcher Hayden Gilliland made it a 9-4 advantage for the Golden Eagles behind an RBI base hit to center field, plating Turner, who had stolen third base just prior to the knock. It marked the senior's team-leading 11th theft of the season.
On the day, Ford led Tech with three RBI while Jordan delivered three hits with two ribbies and two runs. Gilliland and Garza each tallied multiple hits as well.
Rookie hurler Jack Brafa struck out a season-high five batters while tossing 4.2 innings and allowing four runs. Jaxson Pease and Eli Huddleston each tacked on three punch-outs, joining Jack Erdman to complete the final 4.1 innings without allowing a run to the Wildcats.
The Golden Eagles will return to action Tuesday evening, playing host to North Alabama in a 6:00 p.m. CT tilt at the Quill.
Photo by Jim Dillon
