Eubanks strikes out 11 as Tech downs EKU, 13-4 to complete weekend sweep

By TTU Sports Information

May 05, 2003

COOKEVILLE, Tenn. -- Senior hurler Dusty Eubanks struck out 11 batters Sunday to lead the Tennessee Tech Golden Eagles to a 13-4 victory over visiting Eastern Kentucky University. Eubanks went the distance to pick up his fifth win of the season. He allowed four runs on 11 hits, with no walks.

The victory improved the Golden Eagles' overall record to 23-20 and kept Tech solidly in first in the Ohio Valley Conference with a 10-4 record. Eastern Kentucky dropped to 19-22 on the season and 6-8 in conference play.

Eastern Kentucky took an early 1-0 lead before the Golden Eagles came back with three runs in the bottom of the second inning to take the lead for good. With one out, Britt Clubb singled and Scott Terry lined out to left field. Brent Bilodeau worked a base on balls to move Clubb to second base. That's when Chris McLain cleared the bases with a home run over the right field fence, his first dinger of the season.

The two teams then alternated runs with Eastern Kentucky earning solo tallies in the top of the fourth and sixth innings, while Tech plated one run in the bottom of the fifth inning.

The Golden Eagles put any Eastern Kentucky hopes to rest with four big runs in the bottom of the sixth inning to widen their margin to 8-3. With the bases loaded, Ben Shannon worked a walk to score Terry. Cole Helms reached on a fielder's choice to score Bilodeau and McLain scored on a single by Casey Benjamin. Helms came around to score on a sacrifice fly from Ryan Hay.

EKU came back with a solo run in the top of the eighth to cut the Tech margin to 8-4. However, the Golden Eagles weren't done as the Purple and Gold posted five big runs in the bottom of the inning. Shannon opened the inning with a single to left field and advanced to third on a single by Benjamin. He then scored on a sacrifice fly by Hay. Carlos Martin was then hit by a pitch to move Benjamin to second and a single by Clubb scored Benjamin with Tech's second run of the inning. However, that brought Terry to the plate and the big left-handed slugger rifled a fastball over the right field fence for a three-run homer and to provide the final 13-4 margin.

Chris Clark got the start for Eastern Kentucky and was tagged with his second loss of the season. Clark went five innings, allowing eight runs on eight hits. Greg Harper came on in relief and was later replaced by Brian Engle.

Benjamin led the Golden Eagles with three hits in five trips to the plate to up his batting average to an amazing .443. Helms, Clubb, Terry and Bilodeau added two hits each.

Tech gets back on the field on Tuesday, May 6, when the Golden Eagles host East Tennessee State University. The first pitch is set for 6 p.m.