Tech’s ninth-inning rally spoiled by Lindenwood’s second straight walk-off
ST. CHARLES, Mo. – A thrilling, ninth-inning rally wasn’t enough for the Tennessee Tech baseball team to square up its Ohio Valley Conference series at Lindenwood Saturday afternoon, as the Lions earned their second straight walk-off victory with a 4-3 decision over the Golden Eagles.
| Final | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | R | H | E |
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1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 3 | 10 | 0 |
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0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 4 | 10 | 0 |
By Mike Lehman
ST. CHARLES, Mo. – A thrilling, ninth-inning rally wasn't enough for the Tennessee Tech baseball team to square up its Ohio Valley Conference series at Lindenwood Saturday afternoon, as the Lions earned their second straight walk-off victory with a 4-3 decision over the Golden Eagles.
Similar to Friday afternoon's affair, the purple and gold lit up the scoreboard first, taking a 1-0 lead in the opening frame. Center fielder Landon Smelser led things off with a single up the middle, followed by a base knock through the right side by right fielder Jorsixt Jimenez. Smelser scored the first run on a double play ball for the early Tech advantage.
Lindenwood tied things in the bottom of the fourth, using a two-out, RBI single to right field to start things over at 1-1. One inning later, the Lions jumped out front, collecting another RBI base hit to right field after a lead-off triple. A solo home run with two outs in the frame made it a 3-1 lead for the home squad.
It took until the ninth for the Golden Eagles to make more noise, but they delivered when it counted, trying to send the contest to extra innings for the second straight day. Pinch-hitting to lead things off in the frame, Luke Bragga laced a double to left-center field and moved to third on a base hit up the middle off the bat of left fielder Jackson Rooker.
Smelser drove in Bragga on the first pitch he saw, sending a fly ball to center field for a sacrifice fly. After a double down the right-field line off the bat of Jimenez put a pair of runners in scoring position, shortstop Owen Lee tied the ball game with a sac fly of his own to center field.
Despite leading off the bottom of the ninth with a double and moving the runner over to third with a sac bunt, it was patience that proved most powerful for the Lions. Lindenwood drew a free pass to put runners on the corners before the purple and gold elected to intentionally walk Friday's hero, Will Geary, to load the bases and set up a force play at each bag.
Jake Radosevich made sure it didn't matter, battling back from a 1-2 count to draw the game-winning, RBI walk to provide the 4-3 win for the home team.
Jimenez and third baseman Connor Crowson led the Golden Eagles with two hits each in the contest. Eli Huddleston took the tough loss after scattering four hits over 3.2 innings of work out of the bullpen. He exited the contest following the sac bunt in the ninth.
The weekend's series finale is scheduled for a 1:00 p.m. CT first pitch Sunday afternoon at Lou Brock Sports Complex in St. Charles.
Photo by Jim Dillon
