March 26, 2010

COOKEVILLE, Tenn. - Tennessee Tech opened a three-game weekend baseball series against Southern Illinois University Edwardsville with a two-hit shutout.

Tennessee Tech, 11-11, defeated SIUE 5-0. The Cougars dropped to 5-16 for the season.

TTU's Adam Liberatore gave up two hits and fanned 10 batters through 7 2/3 innings to help carry Tennessee Tech Friday at the Averitt Express Baseball Complex.

Friday's game was the first of a three-game series between the future Ohio Valley Conference rivals. The second contest slated for 2 p.m. Saturday with the finale Sunday at 1 p.m.

SIUE starter Luke Vine, 1-2, took the loss, leaving after the second inning due to an injury trailing just 1-0.

SIUE catcher Brett Keeler singled to center field with two outs in the sixth, the first hit allowed by Liberatore. Adam Eggemeyer collected the only other hit for the Cougars in the seventh, a single up the middle.

Chad Hayes and Chad Oberacker had three hits each for the Golden Eagles, who finished with 12 hits in the contest. The Cougars kept the game close until the sixth when the Golden Eagles rallied for three runs off RBI singles from Hayes, Michael Morris and Oberacker.

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