By Mike Lehman, TTU Sports Information
COOKEVILLE, Tenn. – More elite pitching and a stellar showing by the bats provide the Tennessee Tech baseball team all it needed to even its Ohio Valley Conference series against Lindenwood, as the Golden Eagles rolled to a 9-1 victory over the Lions on Saturday afternoon at Quillen Field and Bush Stadium at the Averitt Express Baseball Complex.
The purple and gold (33-18, 15-8) received an encore performance from the league's reigning Pitcher of the Week, with southpaw Jared Herzog tossing 6.0 shutout frames while striking out seven and scattering four hits and four walks. A week after turning in Tech's first complete game of the year in a 7-1 win at Southeast Missouri, the senior hurler was masterful once again to move to 3-0 on the season.
Junior reliever Reece McDuffie knocked out the final 3.0 frames for the Cookeville crew, allowing just one run on four hits while piling up three punch-outs against the Lions (26-25, 13-9). The right-hander earned his fifth save of the season while continuing Tech's impressive run on the mound.
The Golden Eagles have now allowed just five runs over their last four contests, including a 1-0 loss in Friday's series opener with the Lions.
Herzog and McDuffie received plenty of run support in the ball game, with the purple and gold wasting little time in providing some breathing room for the pitching staff. Tech put together a little two-out rally in the bottom of the first after a couple of groundouts to open the day.
Catcher Mack Whitcomb patiently drew a seven-pitch walk to keep the inning alive, setting things up for the day's hero at the plate. Designated hitter Jorsixt Jimenez enjoyed a banner day, kicking things off with an RBI double the other way down the right-field line.
The two-bagger marked one of three extra-base hits for the junior slugger, who finished 4-for-5 at the dish with five RBI and three runs scored. Later in the frame, Jimenez took off towards third on a wild pitch and scampered home after Lindenwood backstop Jake Radosevich's attempt at nabbing him glanced off his helmet and into left field.
Trading zeroes over the next three frames, the Golden Eagle offense provided some valuable insurance in the bottom of the fifth, none other than Jimenez at the forefront of the attack. The Puerto Plata, Dominican Republic native came to the plate in a familiar setting, with two outs and Whitcomb at first base.
He proceeded to absolutely demolish the first pitch he saw from reliever Michael Walsh, who plunked Whitcomb on the prior offering to keep Tech's window open in the frame. Clearing the wall in left-center field without a shadow of a doubt, Jimenez clubbed his sixth round-tripper of the season for a 4-0 lead.
Right fielder Jackson Green continued to apply pressure by drawing a walk and stealing second base for the second time in the contest, setting up one last scoring opportunity in the frame. Second baseman Eddie Garza plated his teammate after working a full count, slapping a RBI single through the left side.
After the Lions finally got on the scoreboard in the seventh with an RBI double, Tech had an immediate response following the stretch. Jimenez singled to third base before Green drew a four-pitch free pass to prompt another change on the mound for the visitors.
Garza greeted the new Lion arm by poking the second pitch he threw to the exact same place in the infield as the fifth, driving in his second run of the day with a base knock through the left side. The Cookeville crew poured it on in the eighth for good measure, scoring three more times to leave no doubt in the result.
Whitcomb kick-started the production with an RBI single through the left side, following the model constructed by Garza. Putting a bow on a career day, Jimenez pounded his second double of the contest to left-center field, driving in two more runs.
The rubber match for the series will kick off at 10:00 a.m. CT on Sunday morning at the Quill, with the start to the contest moved up due to expected inclement weather in the Cookeville area later in the afternoon. Admission to all Tech home baseball games is free of charge.
The contest will represent Senior Day for the purple and gold, with 11 members of the Golden Eagle program set to be recognized prior to first pitch. Among those slated to be honored are Riley Black, Jackson Green, Jared Herzog, Houston High, Nicho Jordan, Ryan Lee, Preston Steele, Nick Vaccaro, Lucas Vega, Carter Vrabel, and Emery Wright.
Photo by Jim Dillon
