May 27, 2011
Season comes to a close with 6-1 OVC Tourney loss to SEMO
The Golden Eagles were limited to one run Friday by Southeast Missouri and dropped a 6-1 decision in the Ohio Valley Conference Tournament to end Tech's 2011 season.
JACKSON, Tenn. - A steady performance from Southeast Missouri starter Brad Labruyere Friday, ended the Tennessee Tech baseball season as the Golden Eagles fell 6-1.
"I tip my hat to their guy (Labruyere)," head coach Matt Bragga said. "He pitched a whale of a game. He spotted up and changed speeds and did very well."
Labruyere entered the day with eight wins on the season and did everything he could to make sure he would exit with his ninth, as he worked out of several jams, and stranded 12 Tech base runners.
"When ever we got base runners he just dug deep and got out of the pickle he was in," Bragga said. "We got plenty of hits, we just didn't get those timely hits."
TTU had another early chance in the first inning as Austin Wulf walked and Casanova Donaldson singled to get two on with one out. A balk moved both runners up a base, but Donaldson was picked off and Ben Burgess struck out as SEMO got out of the jam.
Tech starter Jake McWhirter looked strong through the first three innings as he gave up just two hits and struck out five as the both teams entered the fourth inning scoreless.
The Redhawk bats came alive in the fourth as they drove in four runs, on four hits, including a two-run homer run Ky Burgess. McWhirter was lifted for Cullen Park who forced a groundout to end the inning.
SEMO added another pair of runs in the top of the six with a two-run dinger from Tim Rupp to increase its lead to 6-0.
The Redhawks kept up the pressure in the seventh inning as Garrett Baugh walked two and hit one to load the bases with nobody out. Jared Dobbs was called to the mound and got out of the jam as he struck out the first two batters he faced and forced a fly out to end the inning.
Entering the bottom of the ninth, Labryere still held the 6-0 lead, but the Golden Eagles were finally able to get to him, as Wulf and Chad Oberacker each worked their way on base with a pair of singles, which set the stage for Burgess' RBI-double to get Tech on the board at 6-1.
Labryere was lifted for Trent Wise, who got Zach Stephens to pop out to the first baseman to end the game.
Labryer improved to 9-2 on the season as he went 8.2 innings while striking out nine batters. McWhirter took the loss as he gave up four runs, while striking out five.
With the loss, Tech finishes its 2011 season with a 25-29 record.
