By Mike Lehman, TTU Sports Information
CHARLESTON, Ill. – It was a tough day at the ball park for the Tennessee Tech baseball team on Thursday, as the Golden Eagles dropped both ends of a doubleheader at Ohio Valley Conference rival Eastern Illinois.
The Panthers (18-17, 8-5) prevailed in the opening contest of the day, outlasting a late Tech push for an 8-6 win. In the second tilt, the purple and gold (24-15, 9-5) fought back from as much as a four-run deficit to square things in the eighth, but EIU delivered a walk-off single in the bottom of the ninth to cap the banner day for the home team with a 7-6 triumph.
The Eastern Illinois offense was on the attack early and often in the first tilt of the day, plating three runs over the first two innings while taking advantage of one of three Tech errors in the contest. The Golden Eagles got on the scoreboard in the third, with catcher Mack Whitcomb ripping an RBI double to left-center field.
In the fifth, the Panthers used another Tech defensive miscue to double its output, pushing out front by a score of 6-1. The Cookeville crew got right back in it in the top of the sixth, with the reigning OVC Player of the Week, Eddie Garza, opening the scoring with an RBI double.
Two batters later, designated hitter Ryan Lee collected an RBI with a bases-loaded walk. Shortstop Owen Lee plated one more marker for the purple and gold with an RBI ground out to first base, making it a 6-4 contest.
EIU answered with another unearned run in the bottom of the sixth and moved out to an 8-4 lead with a final tally in the seventh. Tech scored once in the eighth behind an RBI base knock through the right side off the bat of Owen Lee.
The Golden Eagles got one last chance in the ninth, with center fielder Nicho Jordan belting a lead-off long ball to right-center field. His fifth round-tripper of the year pulled Tech to within 8-6, but the Panthers turned a double-play later in the frame to finish off the win.
In game two of the day, the purple and gold scored first, with Jordan taking an unusual trip around the base paths. The senior drew a five-pitch walk and promptly stole second. A balk by the EIU hurler led him to third base before a wild offering allowed him to dent the dish for the first run of the game.
The Panthers answered immediately, piling up five hits for four runs to take a 4-1 lead. The Golden Eagles got one back in the third, with Whitcomb ripping an RBI single to left field.
In the sixth and seventh innings, the home squad continued to apply pressure, scoring once in each inning for a 6-2 lead. The Cookeville crew mounted one final comeback in the eighth, rallying for a thrilling tie.
With runners on first and second and two outs in the inning, Jordan clutched up with a base knock to left field, plating a run to get the spark lit. Garza followed by peppering an RBI single to center field, cutting the deficit to just two.
With a new pitcher on the hill for the Panthers, Tech head coach Matt Bragga went to his bench for pinch-hitter Riley Black. The senior delivered with a two-run, game-tying double to right-center field.
Eastern Illinois played small ball in the ninth to capture the walk-off win after the lead-off batter was plunked by a Juan Vargas offering. The Panthers used sac bunt to advance him to second, and a ground out to first moved the winning run to third.
On the first pitch, EIU pinch-hitter Sam Wiese laced the game-winning knock just past Black at first base, plating the winning run to complete the 7-6 win.
The third and final game of the weekend series in Charleston will feature a 1:00 p.m. CT first pitch, with the start time being pushed back one hour from the scheduled noon start.
File photo by Betty Myers
