Golden Eagles stopped by top-seeded Govs at OVC Tournament
May 26, 2011

Golden Eagles stopped by top-seeded Govs at OVC Tournament

Tennessee Tech was halted by top-seeded Austin Peay Thursday night in the OVC Baseball Tournament, falling 2-1 despite a strong effort on the hill by Golden Eagle starter Matthew Shepherd. Tech will face the winner of the UT Martin/Southeast Missouri game Friday, at 3 p.m.

Box Score

JACKSON, Tenn. -- Thursday evening’s game featured a pitcher’s duel that ultimately favored the Austin Peay Govs, as they took the 2-1 decision in front of 740 fans at Pringles Park.

The Ohio Valley Conference Pitcher of the Year Jeremy Dobbs lived up to his award as he won his ninth contest of the season striking out five batters in eight innings. Dobbs was nearly matched by Tech starter Matthew Shepherd and Nick Price, who gave up a combined two runs, while striking out eight batters.  
 
“It was a great college baseball game,” head coach Matt Bragga said. “Both teams played hard and there was great pitching on both sides. I really tip my hat to Dobbs, who was dominant and phenomenal.”
 
As in their game against Eastern Kentucky, the Golden Eagles loaded the bases in the first inning, but were unable to capitalize on the early opportunity as Dobbs got out of the jam.
 
Evan Frazier led off the top of the second inning with a walk, but Dobbs recovered quickly as he proceeded to set down the next 14 Tech batters, a streak that was finally broken by Casanova Donaldson’s walk with two outs in the sixth inning.
 
While Golden bats were struggling against Dobbs, the APSU bats were finding it equally difficult against Shepherd. Shepherd allowed a pair of base runners to reach in the first two innings, but managed to get out of both predicaments.
 
The Govs finally broke through offensively as they tagged Shepherd with a run in both the third and fourth innings to take the lead at 2-0.
 
With two on and two out in the bottom of the fifth, Shepherd was lifted for Nick Price who struck out Tyler Childress to end the threat.
 
In the top of the seventh the Golden Eagles finally broke through, as Ben Burgess led off the inning with a double to left field, and was driven in by an RBI-double off the bat of Zach Stephens to bring the Golden Eagles within one at 2-1.
 
Zephen Guyer was sent in to pinch run for Stephens and advanced to third off a sacrifice bunt from a pinch hitting Trice Powers. The Golden Eagles then put on the squeeze play as Devin Rivers laid down the bunt, but a heads-up play by Dobbs caught Guyer at the plate to keep the score locked at 2-1.
 
The score remained 2-1 into the top of the ninth, as Dobbs was lifted after giving up a lead-off single to Chad Oberacker, for Austin Peay closer Ryne Harper. Oberacker advanced to second on a groundout from Burgess, but Harper got the final two outs to complete his eighth save of the season.
 
Shepherd was saddled with the loss as he fell to 4-7 on the season, while Dobbs improved to 9-2.
 
Tech will square off against the winner of the UT Martin/Southeast Missouri game Friday, at 3 p.m.
 
Cookeville Country 1600 AM will broadcast the games, and those broadcasts can also be heard via Free Teamline on the Internet or the telephone. If Tech plays any night games, the broadcasts will be on B Rock 93.7 FM. Brandon Goodwin and Grant Swallows will be calling the action.

To listen via Teamline, click on the link here or on TTUsport.com and select baseball. To listen on the telephone, call 800-846-4700 and select team code 0654.

A live webstream of all of the OVC Tournament games will also be available through OVCsports.TV. The webcast of Tech's opening round game Wednesday against Eastern Kentucky will feature the Tech radio broadcast for it's audio.

To view livestats click here
 
To view webstream click here
 
Members of the TTU athletic department will be tailgating outside Pringles Park beginning at 1 p.m. BBQ chicken will be served along with drinks and snacks free of charge and fans are encouraged to come on out and partake in the fun.