Tech splits doubleheader with Austin Peay; title tilt set for Saturday

By TTU Sports Information

May 19, 2003

COOKEVILLE, Tenn. --- The Tennessee Tech Golden Eagles and the Austin Peay State University Governors, the two best teams in the Ohio Valley Conference split a doubleheader Friday night to only add more drama to the already exciting race for the OVC regular season crown. Tech, now 27-22 overall and 13-5 in conference play, used five home runs to claim an 11-4 victory in Friday's first game. However, the Governors, now 26-25-1 on the season and 13-5-1 in the OVC, rallied in game two to earn a 7-5 come-from-behind win.

The twinbill split sets up Saturday's series finale as a one-game, winner-take-all battle for the regular season conference crown and the No. 1 seed in next week's OVC Tournament in Paducah, Ky. Saturday's first pitch is set for 1:10 p.m.

The Golden Eagles used the long ball to claim an exciting 11-4 victory in game one Friday afternoon. Tech grabbed the early lead and never looked back as the Golden Eagles took a 3-0 advantage with three runs in the bottom of the third inning. With one out, Cole Helms hit a solo home run over the left field fence. Casey Benjamin followed Helms with a walk and Ryan Hay cleared the bases with a two-run dinger over the wall in left field. Scott Terry made it 4-0 with a solo blast in the fourth inning.

After Austin Peay got one run back in the top of the fifth, the Golden Eagles posted three more runs in the bottom of the sixth inning to extend their lead to 7-1. Britt Clubb opened the action with a single to left and Terry followed with his second home of the day, blasting a fastball well over the right field fence. Chris McLain then followed with a solo homer for the final run of the inning.

Tech's final runs came in the bottom of the seventh inning when the Golden Eagles got four runs on three hits to widen their margin to 11-1. Terry and McLain had RBI singles and later scored on successive wild pitches.

Austin Peay could get no closer than 11-4 with two runs in the eighth inning and a solo run in the top of the ninth.

Ben Downs (9-1) went the distance for the Golden Eagles to pick up his ninth win in 10 decisions. He allowed four runs on seven hits, walking two batters and striking out five.

Dustin Smith (6-5) got the start for Austin Peay and went five full innings, giving up seven runs on eight hits. He was replaced by Matt Taylor, who was followed by Brad Daniel and Matt Dodds.

Things looked pretty good for the Golden Eagles as they posted four quick runs in the second game on Friday to take a commanding 4-1 advantage. Tech got on the board with two runs in the first inning on a two-run single by Britt Clubb. After the Governors scored one in the second inning, the Golden Eagles put two more on the board in the bottom of the stanza when McLain scored on a triple by Ben Shannon, who later scored on a sacrifice bunt by Helms.

Austin Peay came back to take the lead for good in the fifth inning with six big runs to go ahead 7-4. The Governors had four hits and were helped by one Tech error. Matthew Ledbetter led the charge with a two-run homer, while A.J. Ellis added a RBI single and Chris Hyde scored on a fielder's choice by Alfredo Burkeen.

Tech got a solo run in the bottom of the sixth inning to make it 7-5, but that was as close as the Golden Eagles would get. Shannon singled down the left field line to score Justin Mundt from second base.

Doug Vincent (4-4) got the start for the Golden Eagles and went 4 1/3 innings to pick up the loss. Vincent allowed seven runs on eight hits. Helms came on in relief, allowing only one hit in 2 2/3 innings.

Devin Thomas started the second game for Austin Peay and went five innings. He allowed five runs on eight hits to earn the loss. Scott Steinbrecher came on in relief to face two batters and was replaced by Jeff Mault.

The final battle of the three-game series is set for Saturday, May 17, and will decide the OVC regular season champion. The first pitch is set for 1 p.m.