Tennessee Tech defeated Missouri State 6-4 in a barn burner in the first game of the Oxford Regional on Saturday afternoon.
Tennessee Tech’s (49-9) offense got rolling early in the game, at the start of the second inning, Tennessee Tech opened the frame with a double by John Ham. A base knock by David Garza plated the first run. Garza scores on a sac fly of the bat of Brennon Kaleiwahea
Chase Chambers smoked a ball into the bullpen out in right field to lead off the bottom of the third.
The Golden Eagles added another run in the fifth as Chambers hit a single down the left field line by Ham.
Tennessee Tech’s ace, Travis Moth, was electric on the hill. He kept the Missouri State bats quiet through the first five innings only allowing one hit in the fourth on a single to left by Jeremy Eierman. Moth worked 5.2 innings allowing four runs on two hits while retiring eight sluggers to strikeout and giving up two walks.
Missouri State scratched across four runs in the sixth inning that all began with a two-out double by Landan Ruff. Then, Hunter Steinmetz got aboard on a hit by pitch. Bases were loaded when a walk was given to Eierman. The first run scored when a walk went to Drew Millas.
Tennessee Tech brought their closer out of the bullpen. Ethan Roberts gave up a single to center field that scored two runs and the final run came across on a wild pitch. The game was then knotted up at 4-4.
The Golden Eagles took control of the game in the eighth, scoring two runs on a throwing error by the pitcher on a sacrifice bunt.
Missouri State falls into the loser’s bracket and will await the loser of Ole Miss and Saint Louis at Noon on Sunday. Tennessee Tech awaits the winner of the second game today. First pitch for the second game is 4 p.m.
Adam Brown is the sports editor of HottyToddy.com. He can be reached at adam.brown@hottytoddy.com.
