Wednesday, March 08, 2006

(March 8, 2006) - The ETSU Bucs jumped out to an early lead and sophomore pitcher Joey McCown (Alcoa, Tenn.) threw five strong innings as the Baseball Bucs held off the Tennessee Tech rally for a 9-7 victory in non-conference action at Cardinal Park Wednesday night.

The Bucs jumped to a 3-0 first inning lead courtesy of a triple from Justin Aughey (Davie, Fla.).  With the bases loaded and two outs in the frame, Aughey lifted a fly ball to right field that Josh Goodwin overran, clearing the bases.

Senior first baseman Blake Church (Roswell, Ga.) blasted his second home run of the season, a solo shot to left, to start the second inning giving the Bucs a 4-0 lead.  ETSU added another run in the inning, and one in the third for a 6-0 lead.

The Golden Eagles (5-8) finally got to McCown in the fifth, rattling the starter for three runs to cut the deficit in half at 6-3.  Tennessee Tech opened the inning with three consecutive hits, a double from third baseman Stuart Meinhart and a pair of singles from pinch hitter Brantley Kilgore and center fielder Brian Sprowl to push their first run across.  A balk and a groundout score the other two Golden Eagle runs in the frame.

Leading 6-5 in the seventh, reliever Trey Sheffield (Alpharetta, Ga.) pitched out of a bases loaded, nobody out jam to preserve the lead.  With the bases juiced, Sheffield first struck out clean up hitting catcher Steve Soper, and then induced a 4-6-3 double play from first baseman Clint Alexander to escape unscathed.

McCown improved to 3-0 on the season, scattering nine hits and striking out one in his five innings of work.  Sophomore Jake New (0-1) gave up six runs in two innings, absorbing his first loss of the season.

Aughey delivered a two-RBI single in the bottom of the eighth to give the Bucs a four-run cushion and finish with five RBI on the day.

The Bucs next hit the road, opening conference play at Lipscomb this weekend.  First pitch of game one is set for 5 p.m. eastern time Friday evening.