By Mike Lehman, TTU Sports Information
COOKEVILLE, Tenn. – It would be hard to draw up a much better start to the 2025 campaign than what the Tennessee Tech baseball team enjoyed on Friday, as the Golden Eagles swept their season-opening doubleheader against Le Moyne at Quillen Field and Bush Stadium at the Averitt Express Baseball Complex.
Tech (2-0) produced wins of 6-2 and 4-2 behind stellar pitching, solid defense, and timely hitting, simply outplaying the visiting Dolphins (0-2) in the three key areas of the game. Originally slated to only play one game on Friday, the purple and gold gladly took advantage of the double dip rearranged thanks to expected inclement weather in the Cookeville area on Saturday and Sunday.
Both teams made swift work of the opening inning, with neither starting pitcher needing more than seven pitches to get through a scoreless frame. The two offensive units settled in as the game wore on, with the Phins striking a cord first in the top of the third.
Le Moyne dialed up a lead-off walk before back-to-back base knocks drove in the first runner of the day. After a sacrifice bunt put runners on second and third with just one out, the Tech defense showed off, with right fielder Jorsixt Jimenez providing the highlight.
The Golden Eagle newbie caught a fly ball in normal territory before unleashing a perfect, one-hop dart to catcher Ryan Lee to nab the Dolphin runner at the plate for an inning-ending double play. Le Moyne's lead didn't last for long either, as the Tech offense took its turn impressing the home faithful.
After shortstop Owen Lee and center field Nicho Jordan drew one-out walks, designated hitter Mack Whitcomb brought everyone home with classic ambush tactics. The sophomore crushed the first offering he saw over the wall down the right-field line, securing the first Golden Eagle home run of the season and providing a 3-1 lead.
The purple and gold added to the mix in the fourth with a solo run before the Dolphins answered back in the top of the sixth. Le Moyne used Tech's lone defensive miscue of the contest to eventually plate an unearned run and trim the deficit to just 4-2.
In response, the Golden Eagles kicked off the bottom half of the frame with a lead-off double from Ryan Lee and a bunt single off the bat of left fielder Jackson Green. After Green swiped his second bag of the day to get into scoring position, Owen Lee delivered the big swing, peppering a two-run single through the right side.
Sophomore hurler Jack Brafa took the win in the opening contest, tossing 5.0 innings while scattering four hits and a walk and surrendering just one earned run. Newcomer Patrick Johnson produced well in his first appearance out of the bullpen, covering the next three frames with three strikeouts, no runs allowed, and just three baserunners. Sophomore Drew Mattox covered the final inning to secure the win, allowing just one hit.
Competing in a scheduled seven-inning affair for game two, the Cookeville crew didn't waver after a pair of first-inning mistakes left a quick, 2-0 hole to climb out of. Junior starter Jaxson Pease seemed to be cruising towards a seven-pitch inning to open the tilt, but a defensive error on a strikeout to the last batter of the frame left the door open.
With new life, Le Moyne quickly made Tech pay for the mistake, smashing a first-pitch fastball over the wall in left-center field for a quick 2-0 lead. Pease escaped the inning without further damage and the Tech crew turned the page.
Using a patient approach, the Golden Eagles regained their momentum in the second inning with a sacrifice fly to left-center field off the bat of first baseman Kayne Jinks. With the deficit trimmed in half, Tech got back after it again in the third.
Second baseman Eddie Garza drove in the tying marker with an RBI groundout to second base with the bases loaded. A wild pitch to the next Golden Eagle batter allowed Whitcomb to dent the dish and put the purple and gold on top for good.
Pease cruised through the second, third, and fourth frames, racking up five punch-outs along the way while limiting the Dolphins to just one baserunner. Le Moyne did chase the Golden Eagle hurler in the fifth after recording the first out, but sophomore right-hander Juan Vargas and the Tech defense cleaned things up.
With one out and a runner on second, Whitcomb made a great block on a ball in the turf and unleashed a laser to nab the Dolphin runner attempting to advance to third. Following a two-out free pass to the next Le Moyne batter, Whitcomb struck again, firing a frozen rope to second base to hose an attempting base stealer and end the frame.
Tech added an insurance run in the bottom of the fifth, with Whitcomb ripping a one-out double down the third-base line. Jordan followed immediately by lacing the next offering to left-center field to plate his teammate for a 4-2 lead.
Vargas shut down the Dolphin offense over the final two frames, piling up five strikeouts while scattering a pair of doubles. The youngster secured his first save of the season in the process, giving Pease the win with his six punch-outs.
Third baseman Jackson Rooker led the team with a pair of hits in the second contest while playing stellar defense at the hot corner. Garza paced the Golden Eagles in game one with a pair hits while Owen Lee tallied a knock, two RBI, and two doubles.
Game three of the weekend's four-tilt series is slated for a 12:00 p.m. CT first pitch at the Quill on Saturday. With inclement weather expected in the Cookeville and Upper Cumberland regions throughout the weekend, fans are encouraged to check TTUSports.com and Tennessee Tech social media for any potential updates to this weekend's schedule.
Photo by Jim Dillon
