Tennessee Tech Claims Two Over SIUE

COOKEVILLE, Tenn. – SIUE and Tennessee Tech combined for 17 runs, 20 hits and six home runs Friday as the Cougars outlasted the Golden Eagles 9-8 to open the Ohio Valley Conference baseball season.

The Cougars have won three straight games and four of their last five and improved to 4-5 overall.

The Golden Eagles dipped to 7-5. The loss was the first at home this year for Tennessee Tech.

The Cougars got on the board in a big way in the second inning. Brock Weimer led off the inning with his second home run of the year to get the score started. The home run was the 25th of Weimer's career, which is tied for fifth all-time at SIUE.

Peyton Cordova-Smith walked and Raul Elguezabal singled ahead of a three-run homer from Garrett Carmicheal to put SIUE up 4-0. The Cougars never trailed in the game.

"It was a good, close ballgame," SIUE Head Coach Sean Lyons said. "To get four early runs helps the offense get that confidence going."

John Dyer got the Golden Eagles on the board when he connected for a two-run double to right center in the bottom of the inning to cut the Cougars' lead in half.

SIUE tacked on three two-out runs in the fourth. Justin Perkins walked and then scored on a triple by Carmichael. Brady Bunten followed with a two-run homer to extend the Cougars' lead to 7-2.

TTU answered again with Dyer. The Golden Eagles' designated hitter added a two-run home run of his own in the bottom of the fourth to trim the advantage to 7-4. Jason Hogan drilled a two-run home run for Tennessee Tech in the sixth to make it 7-6.

The Cougars added a pair of two-out insurance runs on three hits in the eighth inning. Elguezabal picked up an RBI-double and Perkins singled to add an RBI in the inning. The runs proved necessary for SIUE.

Tennessee Tech first baseman Jason Hinchman cut the lead to 9-8 with a two-run ninth-inning home run.

"Those were really big two-out runs in the ninth," Lyons said. "We needed every one of them."

Five of SIUE's nine runs came with two outs.

"We did some good things offensively," Lyons said. "I am pleased with the fact that we continued to add on throughout the game. But those two-out runs are the kinds of things that give you the opportunity to win."

Carmichael finished 2 for 4 with the four RBIs. Elguezabal was 3 for 4 with an RBI and two runs. Bunten finished with two hits and two RBIs. Dustin Woodcock also added two hits.

"(Carmichael) came up with some big hits," Lyons said. "Once again (the offense) is coming from different guys. That's a real positive."

Dyer finished 2 for 5 with four RBIs for TTU.

SIUE starter Collin Baumgartner worked four innings allowing four runs on just three hits. He struck out a career-best nine hitters. Effingham graduate Braydon Bone picked up the save going 2.1 innings, allowing three hits, two runs, both earned, two walks and four strikeouts.

Golden Eagles' starter Caleb Morgan also worked four innings. He allowed seven runs on five hits. He struck out six.

Lyons cited changing weather conditions for presenting a challenge. The game was originally scheduled for 6 p.m. First pitch was delayed several times until 7:45.

"It was tough for both starters," he said. "Both guys were ready and we get a pop-up storm which caused another delay. Eventually it caught with both of them."

Tennessee Tech swept an Ohio Valley Conference doubleheader from SIUE baseball Sunday to complete a series win. The Golden Eagles won 12-6 in the opener and 7-6 in seven innings in the later game.

The Cougars fell to 4-7 overall and 1-2 on OVC play. Tennessee Tech is 9-5 overall and 2-1 in league play.

"The story of the whole weekend is that we gave away too many free passes," SIUE Head Coach Sean Lyons said. "Too many free passes and you find yourself behind the eight ball."

SIUE pitchers walked or hit 10 batters in both games of the doubleheader.

In the opener, Tennessee Tech's Jason Hinchman and John Dyer each collected five RBIs en route to a 12-6 win. Hinchman was 4 for 5 with a pair of home runs. Dyer was 2 for 3 with a home run and a double.

Raul Elguezabal was 1 for 4 with a home run and three RBIs in the opener. Peyton Cordova-Smith was 3 for 4 with an RBI and two runs scored.

After the Cougars took a 3-0 lead in the second, the Golden Eagles answered in the bottom of the inning, tying the game with three runs. TTU added three runs in the third to go up 6-3.

SIUE scored single runs in the fourth and the fifth innings to cut the lead back to 6-5, but Tennessee Tech scored two runs in the bottom of the fifth and tacked on four in the bottom of the seventh.

"The guys kept chipping away and we got it to 6-5, but we were unable to capitalize on the momentum and gave it right back (in the bottom of the fifth)," Lyons said. "The in the seventh it became a game that was out of reach."

SIUE freshman starter Cameron Prayer (0-1) allowed six runs on three hits in just two innings. He walked four. Ryan Byrd worked four innings allowing two runs. He walked two. Adam Drewry allowed four runs in two innings.

The two teams traded blows in game two with the Cougars striking first. SIUE scored three times in the second inning to go up 3-0.

The Golden Eagles added a run in the second and four in the third to go up 5-3, before SIUE regained the lead with a run in the fourth and two in the top of the sixth.

TTU scored twice in the bottom of the sixth to go up 7-6. The Cougars put runners at second and third in the seventh, but left both runners on, coming up just short.

Brady Bunten was 1 for 3 with a sacrifice fly and a two-run home run, his second in the series, in the loss. Bunten was for 4-9 in the series with two homers and five RBIs.

"It took him some time," Lyons said of Bunten. "He is starting to get more comfortable in his at-bats."

Dustin Woodcock and Peyton Cordova-Smith each had two hits for the Cougars.

Starter David Llorens allowed five runs, three earned, on four hits in two innings. Chris Robinson, Cole Milam and Tyler Hutchinson each pitched an inning of scoreless relief.

Braydon Bone allowed two runs and walked two in an inning of work. He took the loss to fall to 0-1.

The Cougars are scheduled to play a pair of midweek games, at Kentucky Tuesday and at home against Illinois State Wednesday. SIUE will return to OVC play with a home series next weekend against Southeast Missouri.

"There is no better way to get better than to play games," Lyons said. "It will be a fun few days of baseball and we'll get better before we play SEMO next week."