By Mike Lehman, TTU Sports Information
COOKEVILLE, Tenn. – A fast start wasn't enough for the Tennessee Tech baseball team to pull out the win Tuesday evening, as the Golden Eagles fell to No. 12 Vanderbilt at Hawkins Field in Nashville, 16-3, in seven innings.
The purple and gold (6-3) burst out of the gates with the bats, producing a two-out rally in the first to plate a pair for a 2-0 lead. Catcher Mack Whitcomb led the charge, ripping a base knock to left field to keep the innings alive.
Right fielder Jorsixt Jimenez followed by methodically drawing an eight-pitch walk. Delivering the big swing of the night for the Cookeville crew was designated hitter Riley Black, who laced a two-run double down the left-field line on a full count.
Vanderbilt (8-1) promptly responded to kick off a dominant offensive showing on the night, scoring four times on two hits in the bottom of the first for a 4-2 lead. The Commodores' patience was on full display all game, with the Vandy Boys piling up 13 free passes.
The measured approach at the plate allowed the Dores to score once in the second, five times in the third, four times in the fourth, and twice more in the fifth. For the night, Vandy scored 16 times with nine hits.
Tech got back on the scoreboard in the top of the seventh, thanks to first baseman Carter Vrabel and his lead-off free pass. The senior moved over to second on a wild pitch before second baseman Eddie Garza's fly out to center field advanced him to third. One more offering that missed the catcher and provided Vrabel the opportunity to plate the Golden Eagles' final run of the game.
On the mound, sophomore hurler Drew Mattox tossed up a frame of work without allowing a hit or an earned run. Rookie Jaxon Pridgen covered the final two outs of the fifth inning, striking out a pair. Senior right-hander Houston High delivered a scoreless sixth for the Cookeville crew, facing the minimum with a punch-out.
The Golden Eagles will head back to Cookeville for another weekend series at Quillen Field and Bush Stadium at the Averitt Express Baseball Complex, kicking things off Friday afternoon with a 3:00 p.m. CT affair against UIC. The visitors from Chicago will square off with Tech on Saturday in a 2:00 p.m. showdown before the series concludes on Sunday with a 1:00 p.m. tilt.
Admission to all Tech home baseball games is free of charge.
File photo by Jim Dillon
