By Mike Lehman, TTU Sports Information
COOKEVILLE, Tenn. – A shutout effort from the pitching staff was the recipe for success for the Tennessee Tech baseball team Saturday afternoon, as the Golden Eagles earned their first clean sheet of the season with a 5-0 victory over Purdue Fort Wayne at Quillen Field and Bush Stadium at the Averitt Express Baseball Complex.
Starter Jared Herzog and relievers Jack Brafa and Reece McDuffie combined for the team's first shut piece, limiting the Mastodons (1-12) to just four hits on the day. Herzog pitched his way out of some trouble in the first, working around a walk, a failed pick-off attempt, and a hit-by-pitch.
The Golden Eagles (12-4) rewarded their starter with a run in the bottom of the first, courtesy of some old-school baseball. Shortstop Owen Lee led off the inning with an infield knock and moved to second following a sac bunt from center fielder Jackson Green.
Catcher Mack Whitcomb produced the first RBI of the day, blistering a single to center field for a 1-0 run. Herzog again worked through some traffic in the second, escaping a bases-loaded jam with a force out at home plate and a strikeout.
Tech again lifted up its pitcher, locking down the second run of the game after first baseman Carter Vrabel reached first on a walk. Two batters later, second baseman Eddie Garza smashed a one-hop double off the Mastodon third baseman, allowing Vrabel to score all the way from first.
Herzog made quick work of Purdue Fort Wayne (1-12) in the third, setting the visitors down in order. Green answered with a lead-off double to put more pressure on the Mastodons and Whitcomb drove him in four pitches later, lacing a base knock to right-center field.
After recording the first two outs of the fourth, Herzog's day came to an end and sophomore Jack Brafa took over on the hill, proceeding to make the team's 3-0 lead work just fine. Over the next 2.1 innings, the right-hander limited the Mastodons to just two base runners, letting the Golden Eagle defense do its job.
Reece McDuffie took his turn on the bump starting with the seventh, working around a base hit and a fielding error to set down the Purdue Fort Wayne side scoreless yet again. He put up another zero in the eighth before the purple and gold provided just a bit more breathing room.
Back-to-back walks to Nicho Jordan and Ryan Lee set Tech up for a sacrifice bunt, putting both in scoring position. Vrabel delivered the first clutch hit of the inning, ripping a single through the right side to plate Jordan. Left fielder Landon Smelser followed with an RBI base knock to center field, lifting the lead to 5-0.
McDuffie locked down his team-leading third save of the season in style in the ninth, striking out the first two batters before inducing a weak fly ball to shallow left field for the Golden Eagle win. Brafa (3-1) picked up his second win of the week out of the bullpen, covering 2.1 frames. McDuffie finished off the final three, scattering two hits.
Whitcomb led the offense in the contest, piling up three hits in four at-bats with two RBI. The Golden Eagles combined for four stolen bases on the day as well, with Green, Whitcomb, Jordan, and Vrabel each swiping one.
The purple and gold will go for the series sweep on Sunday with first pitch scheduled for 1:00 p.m. CT at the Quill. Admission to all Tech baseball games is free of charge. Fans are encouraged to check TTUSports.com and Tennessee Tech social media for any potential updates to this weekend's schedule.
File photo by Jim Dillon
