Cookeville, Tenn. – The Tennessee Tech University Golden Eagles scored in four consecutive innings to erase a 2-0 deficit and claim a 6-3 victory over the Le Moyne College baseball team in game three of a four-game series at TTU's Bush Stadium Saturday afternoon.
Senior outfielder
Wyatt Patchett (Geneva, N.Y./Geneva) and freshman
Tim Denet (West Harrison, N.Y./Iona Prep), who made his collegiate debut in the designated hitter spot, recorded two hits and one RBI each, with Denet launching a solo home run in his first career at-bat.
Redshirt-sophomore right-hander
AJ Petraitis (Kings Park, N.Y./Kings Park) started on the mound for the Dolphins and limited the Golden Eagles to three runs in 5.0 innings of work.
TTU shortstop Owen Lee recorded a game-high three hits, while six different Golden Eagles recorded an RBI during the win.
The Dolphins took a 1-0 lead in the top of the first as Patchett recorded a two-out single with nobody on base, and senior catcher
Benji Ries (Buffalo Grove, Ill./Adlai E. Stevenson) drove him in with a double to center field.
Denet smashed a 3-2 pitch over the left field wall in the top of the second to double Le Moyne's lead.
TTU got a run back in the third as catcher Mack Whitcomb lifted a sacrifice fly to left center field to drive in second baseman Jackson Rooker. First baseman Riley Black tied the score at 2-2 with a solo home run to lead off the bottom of the fourth.
Freshman
Robert Wegrzyn (North Tonawanda, N.Y./Niagara-Wheatfield), making his Le Moyne debut behind the plate, drew a leadoff walk in the top of the fifth.
Right-hander Lucas Vega entered the game in relief of starting pitcher Garrett Holpuch following the walk, and he struck out the next two Le Moyne hitters.
Freshman shortstop
Dominick Russ (Horseheads, N.Y./Horseheads) drew a four-pitch walk to give Le Moyne runners on first and second, then Patchett ripped a single up the middle to drive in Wegrzyn and put the 'Phins back in front, 3-2.
TTU tied the game once again in the bottom of the fifth following an RBI single from center fielder Nicho Jordan.
The Golden Eagles threatened to score another with one out and runners on first and second, but Petraitis got a ground ball and Russ,
Mike Whelehan (Hilton, N.Y./Hilton) and Ries spun a 6-4-3 double play to end the inning and keep the score tied 3-3.
Le Moyne put a runner on second with one out in the top of the sixth, but Vega recorded a strikeout and a groundout to end the threat.
Redshirt-senior right-hander
Billy Hoffacker (Erial, N.J./Timber Creek/Rowan College of South Jersey) took the mound to begin the bottom of the sixth to make his first appearance of the season.
A triple from left fielder Jackson Green drove in Black and gave the Golden Eagles their first lead of the game, 4-3. Rooker lifted a sacrifice fly to left field to drive in Green, then Lee extended TTU's lead to 6-3 with a double to left field.
Hoffacker stranded a runner on third in the seventh, then recorded two strikeouts during a scoreless bottom of the eighth.
Denet ripped a single through the left side to lead off the top of the ninth. Freshman
Derek Diaz (White Plains, N.Y./Iona Prep) stepped to the plate as a pinch hitter and ripped a single through the right side in his first career at-bat. Center fielder
Paulie Goodness (Palmyra, N.Y./Palmyra-Macedon/Finger Lakes Community College) hit a ground ball to the left side and reached base to load the bases with zero outs and bring the go-ahead run to the plate.
TTU reliever Reece McDuffie retired the next three Le Moyne hitters with the help of two strikeouts to close out the win and earn his first save of the season.
After taking both games of the season-opening doubleheader on Friday, the Golden Eagles secured the series victory with Saturday's win. Le Moyne and Tennessee Tech will play the final contest of the four-game series Sunday at 12:00 PM ET / 11:00 AM CT.
