By Mike Lehman, TTU Sports Information
KNOXVILLE, Tenn. – In a battle of in-state foes, the Tennessee Tech baseball team dropped a 7-1 decision to No. 1-nationally ranked Tennessee on Tuesday evening at Lindsey Nelson Stadium in Knoxville.
The Golden Eagles (19-11) tallied eight hits in the contest but struggled to string them together against a deep Volunteer squad (27-2). On the flip side, Tennessee racked up 11 hits on the night, plating seven runs on the power of three long balls and a wild pitch.
The top-ranked Vols scored in each of the first three frames to build a 5-0 lead, starting in the first with a two-run long ball to right-center field following an error by the purple and gold. In the bottom of the second, UT went deep again, smacking a two-run shot to left-center field to double its advantage.
A base hit and three wild pitches in the third allowed the fifth run to score before the Golden Eagles put a halt to the scoring with three straight innings of zeroes. Tech's offense got its lick in at the top of the fifth, with left fielder Jackson Green opening the offense with a one-out double to left field.
Two batters later, Preston Steele kept the frame alive with a two-out, infield single to shortstop. Catcher Mack Whitcomb delivered the key swing for the Cookeville crew, ripping an RBI knock to center field on the first pitch he saw to get the Golden Eagles on the board.
Tennessee added a pair of insurance runs to its total in the seventh, swatting its third, two-run blast of the contest to left field for a 7-1 lead.
Leading the purple and gold with two hits apiece were Whitcomb, Green, and shortstop Owen Lee. Whitcomb also drew a walk in the contest, finishing 2-for-3.
A total of nine Golden Eagles saw the mound on the night, with four delivering scoreless frames along the way. Freshman Logan Moller worked a strong fourth frame, inducing a double-play ball to face the minimum.
Making his collegiate debut in his hometown of Knoxville, rookie Braxton Lewis covered the fifth inning for the purple and gold, striking out a pair. Right-hander Lawson Stricklin followed with another scoreless frame in the sixth.
Finishing things off for the pitching staff in the eighth, Lucas Vega needed just 12 pitches to work through three batters, picking up a punch-out along the way.
Tech will continue its road stretch with a trek north to Macomb, Ill. for a three-game, Ohio Valley Conference series at Western Illinois this weekend, opening the slate on Friday with a 2:00 p.m. CT match-up. The series continues on Saturday with a 1:00 p.m. tilt while Sunday's finale will also feature a 1:00 p.m. first pitch.
File photo by Betty Myers
