By Mike Lehman, TTU Sports Information
COOKEVILLE, Tenn. – Willingness to wait and work was the way to a wonderful win for the Tennessee Tech baseball team Tuesday evening, as the Golden Eagles rallied past in-state rival Belmont in a 10-8 thriller at Quillen Field and Bush Stadium at the Averitt Express Baseball Complex.
The Bruins (0-4) used some old-school small ball to take early command of the ball game, scoring once in the first with a walk, ground out, stolen base, and another ground out. Belmont then turned up the heat on a frigid day, plating four runs in the second to take a 5-0 lead.
A sacrifice fly and RBI single opened the scoring for the visitors in the second frame, but a Golden Eagle error doubled the damage. Two unearned runs eventually crossed the plate, putting the purple and gold in a five-run hole.
Without even blinking an eye, the Golden Eagles (5-0) simply went back to work and played their game, even after making a couple of quick outs to open the bottom half of the second. It seemed destined to be a swift frame, as freshman Landon Smelser sent a routine fly ball through the air towards the Bruin left fielder without number three stamped all over it.
Chaos ensued instead, as the left fielder dropped the ball and allowed Smelser to keep the inning alive while standing on second base. Tech immediately took advantage of its new life, as third baseman Jackson Rooker flared an RBI single to right-center field to get his team on the board.
After loading the bases with another base knock and a walk, the Golden Eagles kept the pressure on with back-to-back free passes drawn by center fielder Nicho Jordan and right fielder Jorsixt Jimenez. With each picking up an RBI, the outfielders made it a 5-3 ball game.
Belmont tried to flip the momentum back to its side in the third, loading the bags before picking up a two-run single. Trailing 7-3 now, the Cookeville crew turned the page again and allowed its lineup to keep chipping away.
In the bottom of the third, first baseman Carter Vrabel went yard, blasting a solo shot down the left-field line for his first home run as a Golden Eagle. Tech picked up another run in the fourth, this time behind an RBI single through the left side courtesy of second baseman Eddie Garza.
Still unfinished, the purple and gold stayed on the attack in the fifth, putting runners on first and second with one out. Catcher Mack Whitcomb came through with an RBI ground out to second base, plating Tech's sixth run of the day. Two pitches later, shortstop Owen Lee, who doubled earlier in the frame, tied the contest by scoring on a wild pitch.
Both sides traded zeroes in the sixth before the Golden Eagles made quick work of the Belmont lineup in the seventh, picking up a clutch double play from Lee, Garza, and Vrabel to end the frame. With the momentum, Smelser and Rooker opened the bottom half with a pair of infield knocks.
Lee and Whitcomb each reached base on back-to-back fielders' choices, with Whitcomb's driving in the go-ahead run and providing Tech its first lead of the ball game at 8-7. The Bruins had one last protest in their pocket, leading off the eighth with a solo homer to left-center field.
Even after kicking off the bottom half of the frame with two quick outs, the Golden Eagles refused to falter, rallying behind designated hitter Riley Black. The slugger battled through a seven-pitch at-bat, fouling off three pitches before breaking through with a clutch single through the right side.
Vrabel followed by watching four of the next five offerings miss their mark for a walk. With the pressure mounting, Smelser took his turn in the box and treated it like a seasoned veteran. After working a 2-1 count in his favor, the rookie delivered the top highlight of the day by lacing a two-run double down the left-field line with a beautiful, opposite-field approach to the outside pitch.
Backed by a 10-8 lead, sophomore hurler Juan Vargas finished off the contest in style for his first win of the year. Despite surrendering a lead-off single, the right-hander calmly struck out the next batter on four pitches before squeezing out another double-play ball for Lee, Garza, and Vrabel to end the tilt.
Vargas covered the final 3.1 innings to claim the victory, scattering three hits and allowing just a single run while striking out five batters. Junior Patrick Johnson tossed 3.0 innings out of the bullpen prior to Vargas, holding the Bruins scoreless over the stretch with four punch-outs.
Seven different Golden Eagles turned in a hit in the contest, led by a 3-for-5 day from Smelser. He also led the way with three runs scored and a pair of RBI. Rooker and Lee each snagged a pair of hits while Whitcomb drove in two runs. Jordan paced the squad by securing three of the team's nine walks on the day.
Tech will continue its eight-game homestand to open the season on Friday, kicking off a three-game series against Southern Illinois at the Quill at 3:00 p.m. CT. Game two is set for a 2:00 p.m. start on Saturday while Sunday's series finale will feature a 1:00 p.m. first pitch.
Admission to all Tech baseball games is free of charge. With inclement weather expected in the Cookeville and Upper Cumberland regions throughout the week, 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
