Tuesday, March 13, 2007

JOHNSON CITY, Tenn. (Mar. 13, 2007) - A five-run Tennessee Tech fifth inning, compounded by costly ETSU errors doomed the Bucs in a 6-4 loss to the Golden Eagles Tuesday night at Cardinal Park.

Tennessee Tech (10-6) trailed 3-1 entering the fifth, but scratched out five runs on four hits, aided by a couple of Buc errors.  Left fielder Scott Dunham started the rally with a one-out bunt single, and advanced to second when starter Matt McGahey's (Jonesborough, Tenn.) failed pick off attempt went into right field.  Shortstop Ryan Wardlow put runners at the corners with a single to center, and a walk loaded the bases.  Second baseman Thomas Nelson's grounder appeared to provide the double play to end the inning, but third baseman Tanner Moore (Chattanooga, Tenn.) failed to field it cleanly, and two run scored.  Right fielder Sean Reilly followed with the go-ahead and eventual winning runs on a single to left field.

The Bucs (12-7) took the lead early on with single runs in each of the first three innings.  Freshman Ryan Self (Mount Juliet, Tenn.) led off the first inning with a double, and scored two batters later on junior Anthony Russell's (Waldorf, Md.) single.  Moore led off the second inning with a double, coming home on freshman Justin Tramble's (Marietta, Ga.) single down the left field line.  Senior C.J. Lee (Bristol, Va.) posted the Bucs' third run with his first home run of the season, a mammoth blast over the right center field wall.

Lee led off the bottom of the fifth with a double, later scoring on a Russell single, but the rally was stamped out when Russell was gunned down at home trying to score from first on freshman Danny Petro's (Atlanta, Ga.) double to center.

McGahey (0-1) went 4 1/3 innings, striking out four and allowing just four hits and three earned runs in taking his first loss of the season.  Tennessee Tech starter Blake Forst pitched five innings, striking out six and evening his record at 1-1.  Jared Dobbs pitched the final four innings, limiting the Bucs to no runs on just two hits for his first save of the season.

The Bucs are back in action Friday, opening Atlantic Sun play at Gardner-Webb.  First pitch is set for 3 p.m. in Boiling Springs, N.C.