By Mike Lehman, TTU Sports Information
MACON, Ga. – A quick start couldn't hold up for the Tennessee Tech baseball team on Friday, as the Golden Eagles dropped a 9-1 decision in their series-opening contest with Mercer at OrthoGeorgia Park in Macon, Ga.
The purple and gold (14-5) were quick to strike first in the match-up, with shortstop Owen Lee ripping a lead-off single to right field. Two batters later, catcher Mack Whitcomb followed with a base knock to left field. Working a nine-pitch at-bat, right fielder Jorsixt Jimenez delivered the big swing for the Golden Eagles, lacing a double down the left-field line to plate Lee for an early 1-0 lead.
Mercer (13-6) bounced back immediately in the bottom of the first, loading the bases with the first three batters before Tech starter Jaxson Pease picked up a huge strikeout. Seemingly just a ground-ball double play away from coming away with nothing, the Bears dug in and went to work
The home squad answered the punch-out with a two-run single, moving on top for good at 2-1. The Bears followed that effort with three straight RBI base knocks, one to each part of the outfield, to take a 5-1 lead and force an early Tech pitching change.
Expounding on its advantage, Mercer tallied one more run in the second before blowing the doors open in the third with a three-run homer to left field. The Tech bullpen shut the scoring down from there, but it was too little too late, as the Bears' pitching staff allowed just three hits and a walk over the final eight innings of the night.
Entering the contest in the third inning with just one out, freshman Logan Moller kept the Mercer bats relatively quiet through the sixth. The right-hander ended the day with 3.1 innings of work and a season-high four strikeouts, spreading four hits out across the way.
Making his Golden Eagle debut, Kevin Matos finished off the final out of the sixth with just one pitch before turning in a 1-2-3 seventh. He picked up his first strikeout in the purple and gold along the way. Finishing off the night with a scoreless eighth was Garrett Holpuch.
Game two of the weekend series is slated for a 1:00 p.m. CT first pitch on Saturday at OrthoGeorgia Park.
File photo by Betty Myers
