By Mike Lehman, TTU Sports Information
COOKEVILLE, Tenn. – Waiting out a nearly two-hour weather delay was well worth it for the Tennessee Tech baseball team on Tuesday evening, as the Golden Eagles outlasted in-state rival Middle Tennessee in a 5-2 battle at Quillen Field and Bush Stadium at the Averitt Express Baseball Complex.
In its final home tilt of the 2025 season, the Cookeville Crew (35-18) completed the season series sweep of its long-time foe, topping the Blue Raiders (23-29) for its 35th victory of the season. It marks the sixth time the purple and gold have won at least 35 games in a season under the direction of head coach Matt Bragga.
The offense had it going early, as the Golden Eagles jumped out to a 3-0 lead through three frames. Third baseman Preston Steele did the heavy lifting to get things started, belting a solo blast to left-center field in the bottom of the second. It marked the senior's fifth home run of the season.
Left fielder Landon Smelser made it a 2-0 advantage in the bottom of the third, leading off the inning with a no-doubter to right-center field, the first of the rookie's collegiate career. With a pair of runners on and two outs, center fielder Jackson Green tacked on a run with an RBI single down the left-field line.
In the top of the fourth, Middle Tennessee picked up a pair of runs on a base knock through the left side with two outs, pulling the visitors to within a run. The Blue Raiders continued the momentum with a scoreless fourth before lightning was detected in the area.
The strike kicked off a weather delay involving rain and more lightning that lasted an hour and 53 minutes. Tech picked up a big insurance run in the bottom of the sixth to get back after it, with designated hitter and reigning Ohio Valley Conference Player of the Week Mack Whitcomb ripping an RBI single through the left side.
The Golden Eagles tacked on one more run for good measure in the seventh, with catcher Ryan Lee setting the tone with a ground-rule double to left field to lead off the frame. Steele drove in his second run of the game with a ground out to first base, making it a 5-2 Tech lead.
A combination of five Tech hurlers limited the Blue Raiders to just five hits on the night, all singles and only two in the same inning. Sophomore Drew Mattox opened the contest with 3.0 scoreless frames, allowing just a single baserunner on an error while striking out a pair.
Lucas Vega (6-1) notched the win after covering the next 2.0 innings on the hill, allowing just the two earned runs on three hits. Right-handers Carter Casabella and Lawson Stricklin kept the Blue Raiders from adding anything to the scoreboard over the next two innings.
Closing out the final 2.0 frames to earn his first save of the season, righty Garrett Holpuch scattered a hit and a walk over the eighth and ninth. He became the sixth different Golden Eagle to record a save this year.
Smelser led the offense with a career day at the dish, racking up four of the team's 12 hits. Whitcomb and right fielder Jorsixt Jimenez each tallied two hits apiece. Seven different Golden Eagles recorded a hit in the affair.
Tech will now head to Morehead, Ky., for its final series of the regular season, a three-game slate at Morehead State starting Thursday evening at 5:00 p.m. CT. Game two will feature a 1:00 p.m. first pitch on Friday, while Saturday's finale will start at noon.
Photo by Jim Dillon
