By Mike Lehman, TTU Sports Information
MACOMB, Ill. – Another solid day at the plate and timely pitching led the Tennessee Tech baseball team to its second Ohio Valley Conference series win of the year, as the Golden Eagles topped Western Illinois at Alfred D. Boyer Baseball Stadium on Sunday, 10-5.
Capturing its 12th straight win over the Leathernecks (6-20, 1-7), Tech (21-11, 6-2) also recorded double figures in both the hits and runs column for the fourth time in the past five games. Unlike Saturday's contest, when the visiting purple and gold took an early lead and never looked back on its way to a 14-2 win, Sunday's affair required a couple of comebacks.
In the second inning, the Golden Eagles plated the first run of the ball game, leading things off with a base hit up the middle by designated hitter Ryan Lee. Delivering a two-out rally, second baseman Eddie Garza kept the frame alive with a single of his own up the middle before left fielder Jackson Green plated Lee with an RBI single through the left side.
The Leathernecks answered back in the bottom half, scoring twice on a double down the left-field line to take their first lead of the series. Tech responded to tie the game in the third as third baseman Preston Steele ripped a lead-off double down the left-field line to set up right fielder Jorsixt Jimenez for an RBI knock up the middle.
Western Illinois moved back in front in the bottom of the third, taking a 3-2 advantage with a double down the right-field line. The Leathernecks doubled their lead in the fourth, picking up a single, stealing second, and scoring on an ensuing base hit. WIU went on to load the bases with one out, but Tech's Jack Brafa escaped the jam behind a strikeout and ground out.
The Cookeville crew wasted little time in resetting the scoreboard, scoring twice in the top of the fifth with a relentless attack. Steele led off the frame with a walk before catcher Mack Whitcomb was plunked by the third pitch he saw in the at-bat.
A pitching change provided little relief for the home team, as a walk to Jimenez loaded the bags before Ryan Lee sent a sacrifice fly ball to left field. After a wild pitch allowed Tech's runners to move up a base, shortstop Owen Lee tied the ball game with an RBI fielder's choice.
Following a scoreless sixth, Tech took control of the ball game for good in the seventh, with Whitcomb getting hit for a second time to lead things off. Jimenez singled through the right side to put a pair on, and pinch-hitter Jackson Rooker followed by laying down a sac bunt to move the runners over.
The play did so much more, as a throwing error allowed Rooker to reach safely and Whitcomb to score the go-ahead, unearned run from second base. Owen Lee made it a 6-4 Tech lead with a sac fly to left field.
With one final rally attempt in their system, the Leathernecks mounted a counterattack in the bottom of the seventh. A one-out error by the Cookeville crew provided a baserunner for WIU before a pair of wild pitches advanced him to third base.
A two-out base knock to center field pulled the home team within a run, but that would be it as Tech closer Juan Vargas escaped the inning without further damage. He worked a scoreless eighth for the Golden Eagles before his offense rewarded his efforts with a big ninth inning.
Whitcomb and Jimenez produced back-to-back hits to lead off the inning before Rooker drove in the team's first run with an RBI single to center field. First baseman Carter Vrabel reached on a fielder's choice to plate another Tech marker and move the lead to 8-5.
Green beat out an infield hit to first base to drive in the third run of the frame before center fielder Nicho Jordan upped the ante to 10 runs with a sac fly to right field. The new five-run lead was plenty to give Vargas some breathing room, as the right-hander struck out the first two batters of the frame. He finished off the final out with a fly ball to left field, securing his team-leading sixth save of the season.
Vargas covered the final 2.2 innings of the contest for the visiting purple and gold, scattering one hit and three walks while striking out four Leatherneck batters. Brafa earned his team-best sixth win of the season, moving to 6-2 overall, after providing 3.0 frames of work out of the bullpen with just a single unearned run allowed.
Jimenez led the offense with a 3-for-4 day, one walk, one RBI, and one run scored. Green and Steele each produced multiple hits, with Green driving in a pair and Steele scoring twice. Seven different Golden Eagles tallied at least one hit on the day.
Tech will go for the series sweep of Western Illinois on Monday afternoon, squaring off in the finale at 1:00 p.m. CT at Boyer Baseball Stadium.
File photo by Betty Myers
