By Mike Lehman, TTU Sports Information
COOKEVILLE, Tenn. – A couple of big innings interrupted an otherwise competitive ball game for the Tennessee Tech baseball team Monday evening, as the Golden Eagles fell to visiting Western Kentucky University in a 15-4, 8-inning contest at Quillen Field and Bush Stadium at the Averitt Express Baseball Complex.
WKU (11-1) and its striking offense came out swinging in the top of the first, rallying to plate five runs after recording two outs over the first six pitches. The Hilltoppers piled up five hits in the frame, including a triple and home run.
Tech (9-4) responded immediately in the bottom half, with third baseman Jackson Rooker ripping a lead-off single up the middle. Providing the big swing for the purple and gold was shortstop Owen Lee, who crushed a 1-0 offering well over the wall in right-center field for his first career long ball.
Trailing just 5-2 now, the Golden Eagle bullpen went to work after finishing off the final out of the first, completing back-to-back scoreless frames behind freshman Logan Moller. The rookie finished the day with 3.1 innings of work and two runs allowed.
The Hilltoppers finally broke through against Moller in the fourth, plating a pair to move back out front by five. WKU added two more in the fifth for a 9-2 lead before the Tech offense put forth its final push.
In the bottom of the fifth, center fielder Jackson Green and Owen Lee each drew walks to bring up designated hitter Mack Whitcomb with one out. The sophomore slugger delivered with an RBI base knock to center field.
On to the next frame, it was catcher Ryan Lee taking his turn with the bat to produce some scoring for the purple and gold. The senior backstop smashed his first round-tripper as a Golden Eagle to left field, cutting the deficit to 9-4.
Rookie hurler Micah Summar cruised through eight consecutive outs and nearly had the purple and gold through the eighth before a Tech miscue lengthened the frame. The Golden Eagles appeared to have the third and final out to move to the bottom half, but an error provided the WKU bats new life.
The visitors made the Cookeville crew pay for the mistake, loading the bases quickly before putting an exclamation point on the day with a grand slam to left-center field for four, unearned runs. A pitching change couldn't stop the attack, as the Hilltoppers turned in two more runs on a double later in the inning to move out front 15-4.
The Golden Eagles couldn't get anything going in the bottom half to extend the contest into the ninth. The game was called after a predetermined run rule of 10 runs after seven innings. Leading Tech at the plate were the two Lees, with Owen and Ryan each tallying a pair of hits.
The purple and gold hit the road for just the second time this season on Wednesday, heading west to Nashville for a 4:00 p.m. CT battle with in-state rival Belmont at E.S. Rose Park.
Photo by Jim Dillon
