By Mike Lehman, TTU Sports Information
COOKEVILLE, Tenn. – The Tennessee Tech baseball team fell in its final two contests of the regular season Friday, dropping a doubleheader with Ohio Valley Conference rival Little Rock at Quillen Field and Bush Stadium at the Averitt Express Baseball Complex.
The Trojans (32-22, 19-8) earned victories of 16-4 and 10-7 on the day, completing the series sweep and claiming their first OVC regular season championship. The Golden Eagles (29-25, 13-14) struggled to contain a potent Little Rock attack that racked up 35 hits on the day and 53 for the series.
Senior Preston Ford drove in Tech's first run of the day, dropping an RBI knock into right-center field in the fifth on Senior Day. The purple and gold plated three more in the ninth, with fellow senior Austin Turner cracking a two-run double to center field. Another senior, Troy Baunsgard got in on the action, ripping an RBI single up the middle.
Little Rock scored 16 runs in the contest, denting the dish at least once in every frame after the second inning on the power of 19 hits. Turner finished the contest 2-for-2 with a pair of walks.
In game two, the Trojans burst out to a 6-0 lead with six runs on six hits in the second inning alone. Tech battled back, with senior Nicho Jordan driving in a run on a fielder's choice. One more scored on the play thanks to a throwing error by the visitors.
The lead for Little Rock grew to 9-2 in the third, but the Golden Eagles started to fight back in the fifth. After Jordan was hit by a pitch, Turner singled to center field to put a pair on board. Ford then delivered the big swing of the day for purple and gold, slugging a three-run blast to left field for his eighth round-tripper of the year.
Tech cut the deficit to three in the eighth thanks to an RBI double to dead center field off the bat of Baunsgard. Little Rock traded runs with the purple and gold in the ninth, as senior Hayden Gilliland plated a run on a fielder's choice to make it a 10-7 ball game.
Freshman hurler Jack Brafa delivered an impressive 5.0 innings out of the bullpen, allowing just two runs on four hits. Sophomore Brody Lanham covered the final 2.0 frames, scattering three hits and one unearned run.
Ford led the team with three RBI in the game while Baunsgard racked up a team-high three hits. Turner secured his 57th walk of the season during the day, the second-most in a single season in school history, just one back of the record held by A.J. Kirby-Jones in 2010.
Prior to the second contest of the day, Tech's 12 senior members (pictured below) were recognized in a special ceremony, including: Austin Turner, Troy Baunsgard, Peyton Calitri, Preston Ford, Andrew Guardino, Daniel Walter, Matt Gelorme, Hayden Gilliland, Nicho Jordan, Tanner Shiver, Landon Smiddy, and Theo Bryant IV.
Next up for the Golden Eagles is a trip to the 2024 OVC Baseball Championship presented by SERVPRO in Marion, Ill. next week. Seeding will be finalized Saturday afternoon following the conclusion of the regular season for other teams in the league.
Tech will play on Wednesday, May 22 at Marion Stadium in a contest time yet to be determined. Details on game time and opponent will be announced soon.
Photos by Jim Dillon
