By Mike Lehman, TTU Sports Information
MACON, Ga. – The Tennessee Tech baseball team's second comeback attempt in as many days fell just short Sunday afternoon, as the Golden Eagles dropped a 6-3 decision against Mercer at OrthoGeorgia Park in Macon, Ga.
After rallying from a five-run deficit on Saturday to square the weekend series with the Bears (14-7), the purple and gold (15-6) tried to double down on the effort on Sunday. Mercer opened the scoring in the bottom of the second, using small ball to take a 1-0 lead with a walk, a sacrifice bunt, a ground out to move the runner to third, and a two-out base knock.
Tech's bats struggled to string together traditional offense on the day, managing just three hits for the ball game. The bats made the best of the difficult situation, coaxing out seven walks and two hit-by-pitches during the contest to still find a way to apply pressure.
This was evident in the third inning, as the Golden Eagles tied the contest at 1-1 without the benefit of a hit. Center fielder Nicho Jordan opened the frame by reaching on a fielding error and moved to second thanks to a sac bunt by right fielder Jackson Green.
Two batters later, Mercer opted to intentionally walk catcher Mack Whitcomb, but the decision essentially backfired when the next pitch plunked designated hitter Ryan Lee to load the bases. Control was a continued issue for the Bears when third baseman Preston Steele took to the plate, as the senior was hit by the second pitch he saw to drive in the tying run.
In the bottom half, the home team went back on top after a lead-off double, a fly ball to the outfield to advance the runner, and a ground out to second base plated the team's second run. The Bears got back after it in the fourth, advancing its lead to 4-1 with an RBI double and run-scoring single.
Both sides traded zeroes on the scoreboard in the fifth and sixth before the Golden Eagles made their move. Whitcomb drew another free pass to open the top of the seventh to set things up. Two batters later, Steele unloaded on an 0-1 offering and smashed a two-run blast to left field, trimming the deficit to just a single run.
The Bears got both runs back in the eighth, scoring the first run on back-to-back, one-out doubles. A hit-by-pitch and walk loaded the bases before a sac fly to left field plated the second run. Tech escaped further damage with a timely strikeout before Mercer closed things down with a 1-2-3 ninth.
Tech returns to Cookeville on Tuesday to play host to in-state rival Austin Peay in a 6:00 p.m. CT contest at Quillen Field and Bush Stadium at the Averitt Express Baseball Complex. The Golden Eagles will then return to the road to open Ohio Valley Conference play with a weekend series at Little Rock.
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 upcoming week's schedule.
File photo by Betty Myers
