COOKESVILLE, Tenn. | Zak Rice drove in three runs and
Jesus Riera belted a solo homer as the Alabama A&M University baseball team dropped its midweek game, 20-9 in seven innings, to Tennessee Tech, on Tuesday afternoon at Quillen Field at Bush Stadium at the Averitt Express Baseball Complex.
Alabama A&M (2-10) fell behind 16-3 through five innings but used a six-run sixth to close the gap. However, Tennessee Tech (7-5) answered in the bottom with four run to cruise to the victory.
HOW IT HAPPENED
Alabama A&M jumped out to a quick 2-0 lead in the top of the first inning.
Brycen Hammonds opened the game with a walk and came around to score on a one-out down to right center by
Jared Tribett.
Zak Rice followed with a single to center, scoring Tribett from second.
The lead was short-lived as Tennessee Tech took advantage of five walks and one error in the bottom of frame as the Golden Eagles exploded for eight runs on four hits to grab an 8-2 lead.
TTU added three runs in the third and one more in the fourth for a 12-2 advantage.
The Bulldogs closed the gap to 12-3 with a run in the top of the fifth.
Alex Diaz began the frame with a base hit up the middle and with one down, stole second. Diaz moved to third on a wild pitch and scored on a Rice ground out.
The Golden Eagles stretched their lead to 16-3 with a four-run fifth.
Alabama A&M answered and exploded for six runs in the top of the sixth.
Jesus Riera opened the inning with a solo homer.
Jose Puig and
Christian Soto drew back-to-back walks. Malik Jackson followed with a single down the line in left as Puig scored. After a pitching change, both runners advanced a base on a wild pitch. Diaz reached on an infield hit as Soto scored. Tribett followed and reached on an error as Jackson came across to score. Rice brought Diaz across on a ground out and
Blake Martin plated Tribett with a ground out as the Bulldogs trimmed the deficit to 16-9.
The Golden Eagles responded in the bottom of the inning with four runs to put the game away.
GAME NOTES
- Alabama A&M finished with nine runs on eight hits, committed a pair of errors and stranded eight on base
- Alex Diaz went 2-for-5, with two runs scored and one RBI
- Zak Rice went 1-for-4, with three runs driven in
- Ryan Sorrell (0-2) started and lasted 0.2 of an inning as he surrendered four runs on three hits, with one walk and one strikeout
- Charlie Lazo, Jose Valerio, Austin McCready and Trey Scott worked in relief
- Tennessee Tech finished with 20 runs on 17 hits, recorded three errors and left 10 on base
- Kayne Jinks went 3-for-4, with three runs scored and two RBI
- Jack Erdman got the start for the Golden Eagles, pitching two innings as he gave up two runs on three hits, fanned four and walked one
- Juan Vargas (2-0), Drew Mattox, Daniel Walter, Reece McDuffie
UP NEXT
Alabama A&M continues its road swing with the start of a three-game series at Louisiana-Monroe (ULM). First pitch is set for 6 p.m. from Lou St. Amant Field and streamed on ESPN+.
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