Golden Eagles Explode for 21-6 Run-Rule Victory Over Eastern Illinois
Tennessee Tech turned in one of its most dominant offensive performances of the season Friday evening, rolling past Eastern Illinois, 21-6, in seven innings at Quillen Field at Bush Stadium.
Game 1
Game 1
| Final | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | R | H | E |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
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4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 6 | 11 | 1 |
|
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4 | 5 | 3 | 3 | 0 | 6 | X | 21 | 22 | 0 |
By Jeff Bowe, TTU Athletics Media Relations
COOKEVILLE, Tenn. — Tennessee Tech turned in one of its most dominant offensive performances of the season Friday evening, rolling past Eastern Illinois, 21-6, in seven innings at Quillen Field at Bush Stadium.
The Golden Eagles racked up season highs with 21 runs, 23 hits, and five home runs, overwhelming the Panthers from the outset and never looking back. Tech improves to 10-20 (1-6 OVC) on the season and EIU falls to 15-11 (5-2 OVC) overall. The Golden Eagles secure their first OVC win of the campaign. It marked the first run-rule victory of the season for the Golden Eagles.
GOLDEN BATS
- Landon Smelser launched two home runs to finish 3-for-5 with five RBI. It marked his second multi-HR game of the season.
- Golden Eagles scored a season-high 21 runs on a season-high 23 hits.
- Eight of the nine batters in the order recorded an RBI.
- All nine batters recorded a hit for the first time this season.
- Jackson Rooker went 3-for-5 with two RBI.
- Nash Crowell hit his third HR of the season, finishing with three hits in 5 at-bats.
- Connor Crowson tied a season-high with three RBI, going 2-for-5 with a triple and a HR.
- Manny Garza finished 3-for-5 with two runs scored, one double, and one RBI.
- Luke Bragga notched a season-high three hits in four at-bats with two runs scored and one double.
- Owen Lee finished 2-for-4 with one HR (7th of season0, and three RBI.
EAGLES WINGS
- Jaxson Pease tossed 5.0 innings with one strikeout to earn his fourth (4-3) win of the season.
- Drew Mattox tossed one scoreless frame with two strikeouts.
- Lawson Stricklin delivered the seventh inning scoreless with three strikeouts.
After Eastern Illinois struck for four runs in the top of the first, Tech immediately answered with a four-run frame of its own, highlighted by RBI knocks from Nash Crowell, Manny Garza, and Ty Denton to even the game at 4-4.
From there, the Golden Eagles took control.
Tech plated five runs in the second inning, powered by a three-run blast from Landon Smelser, and added three more in the third on a Connor Crowson home run to push the lead to 12-4. The offensive surge continued throughout the middle innings, with the Golden Eagles scoring in five of their six at-bats.
Smelser finished with a monster day at the plate, launching two home runs and driving in five runs, while Crowson added a homer and three RBI. Owen Lee and Nash Crowell also went deep as part of the team's five-homer barrage.
another SMELLY BOMB!! ��
— Tennessee Tech ⚾️⚾️ (@TNTech_Baseball) April 3, 2026
5th of season, 2nd of GAME!
��: ESPN+ #WingsUp pic.twitter.com/u65saYUoVW
Lee delivered one of the biggest swings of the night in the sixth inning, crushing a three-run home run to extend the Tech lead, while Crowell followed later in the frame with a solo shot. The Golden Eagles scored six runs in the sixth to put the run-rule into effect.
Tennessee Tech's lineup produced contributions throughout, with nine starters recording at least one hit and eight players tallying multi-hit performances.
On the mound, Jaxson Pease earned the win, working five innings while allowing six runs on nine hits with three strikeouts. Drew Mattox and Lawson Stricklin combined to close out the final two innings and secure the run-rule victory.
Eastern Illinois finished with six runs on 11 hits but could not keep pace with the Golden Eagles' relentless offensive attack.
NEXT UP
Game 2 of the three-game series is scheduled for tomorrow at 6 p.m., at Quillen Field at Bush Stadium.
