By Mike Lehman, TTU Sports Information
CAPE GIRARDEAU, Mo. – It was a bend, don't break sort of day for the Tennessee Tech baseball team on Sunday, as the Golden Eagles completed a pivotal Ohio Valley Conference weekend sweep at Southeast Missouri with a gutsy 3-2 win at Capaha Field.
Five Tech hurlers combined to hold a constantly threatening Redhawk offense to just two runs on 10 hits and four walks. The Golden Eagles (32-17, 14-7) used one big inning with the bats to provide the lead and the pitching held up the rest of the way to complete the team's first three-game sweep of the Redhawks (27-21, 13-8) since 2013, also in Cape Girardeau, Mo.
SEMO took the initial lead in the first, looking to right the ship with early momentum behind a solo home run. Tech starter Logan Moller settled in after surrendering the long ball, going on to finish off 3.1 innings with just the one run allowed.
The Golden Eagle offense backed the freshman hurler in the second, scoring all three runs for the day in the frame behind four hits. Second baseman Eddie Garza got the party started with a single to left field, and first baseman Carter Vrabel followed with a double down the left-field line on the very next pitch.
Garza squared the contest on the wild pitch while Vrabel moved up a base before the Redhawks secured the second out of the frame. Shortstop Owen Lee came up with the clutch swing, ripping an RBI double down the right-field line to push the Golden Eagles out front, 2-1.
Left fielder Landon Smelser helped keep the momentum rolling, slashing a spinning single to the pitcher. An errant throw by the SEMO hurler allowed Lee to round third and score a massive insurance run.
In the fourth, Tech head coach Matt Bragga used his first call to the bullpen, bringing in junior Reece McDuffie with one out and one on. After walking the first batter, the Golden Eagle veteran rebounded with a big strikeout on three pitches before escaping the jam with a fielder's choice.
Southeast Missouri tried to mount a two-out rally in the fifth, using a double and a base hit to put runners in scoring position. McDuffie worked out of trouble again, inducing a ground ball to Lee at shortstop for an inning-ending fielder's choice at second.
The Redhawks doubled to lead off the sixth, prompting Bragga to turn to the Tech pen again, calling on rookie Carter Casabella. After the runner advanced to third on a passed ball, the Golden Eagle defense came through for their hurler, as Lee snagged a sharp line drive just before it hit the turf and ran to the third base bag for a massive double play.
Moving on to the seventh, Casabella picked up a couple of quick outs before SEMO cut the deficit to just one run, belting a solo home run to right field. Sophomore Jack Brafa took over on the hill for the purple and gold, securing the final out via a six-pitch punch-out.
He opened the top of the eighth with another strikeout as well, before giving way to closer Juan Vargas. The incoming sophomore reliever worked around a walk to the first batter he faced, forcing a fly out to right field and a ground out to shortstop to end the inning.
Vargas fought off a strong start to the ninth by the Redhawks as well, as SEMO opened its last chance with a walk and a base knock to center field, putting runners on the corners with nobody out. The youngster bounced back, inducing a weak fly ball to shallow right field for the first out.
The Panama City, Panama native locked down his seventh save of the season with back-to-back strikeouts to close out the ball game, stranding both runners in their place. McDuffie (4-0) earned his fourth win of the season following 1.2 innings out of the pen, holding the Redhawks scoreless in that span.
The Golden Eagles return to Cookeville for their final four home games of the season over the next 10 days, starting with their final OVC series at Quillen Field and Bush Stadium at the Averitt Express Baseball Complex of the year. Tech will host Lindenwood in a three-game set starting Friday evening at 6:00 p.m. CT.
File photo by Betty Myers
