Box Score COOKEVILLE, Tenn. – Tennessee Tech starter Ty Fisher fired a complete game as Tennessee Tech downed SIUE baseball 9-4 in the first game of a three-game Ohio Valley Conference series Thursday.
The Cougars fell to 23-25 overall and 13-15 in the OVC. The loss eliminated SIUE from contention for next week's OVC Championship. Tennessee Tech improved to 20-25 overall and also is 13-15 in the OVC.
Fisher (6-4) gave up four runs, three earned, on nine hits. He struck out seven and did not walk a hitter.
"Ty Fisher threw tremendous," SIUE Head Coach said of the Tennessee Tech starter. "He kept us off balance. It made for a tough night offensively."
Both teams came out swinging. The Cougars scored twice in the top of the first, sparked by a leadoff triple from Brett Johnson. Johnson scored when Richie Well reached on an error and advanced to second base. He scored on an infield hit from Raul Elguezabal.
The Golden Eagles answered and then some in the bottom of the inning on back-to-back home runs. Golston Gillespie hit a two-run shot and Jason Hinchman followed with a solo shot to put Tennessee Tech on top 3-2.
Ole Arntson connected on his 10th home run of the year, following a Brady Bunten double in the fourth inning put the Cougars back on top 4-3.
Arntson's 10 home runs, along with Bunten's 11, makes just the second time in SIUE's Division I era (2009-present) that two players have hit at least 10 home runs in the same season. Brock Weimer (15) and Keaton Wright (12) were the first pair in 2017.
The home run also was the 54th of the year for the Cougars, establishing a new program high at the Division I level.
The Golden Eagles chased SIUE starter Noah Matheny in the fifth inning.
TTU took advantage of three errors in the inning by SIUE, coupled with six hits to score five times to go ahead 8-4. Gavin Johns capped the inning with a two-run home run.
"We started the inning with two throwing errors and put ourselves behind the eight ball," Lyons said. "We thought Noah was going to get out of it, but the two-run homer was the dagger."
Matheny (5-4) gave up eight runs, four earned, on eight Tech hits in 4 2/3 innings. He struck out six and walked one. Matheny, a true freshman, finished the year as one of the top starters in the OVC. He led SIUE with 11 starts and 72 1/3 innings pitched.
"Noah had a great year," Lyons said. "He took on a lot of responsibility as our first game weekend starter. He answered the bell many times this year. He has a bright future ahead."
Tennessee Tech added a run on three hits against SIUE reliever Rob Parks in the seventh. Parks allowed only the run in two innings. Braydon Bone worked 1 1/3 innings to finish the game.
Elguezabal, Arntson and Bunten each had two hits to lead the Cougars offensively.
SIUE and Tennessee Tech will wrap the 2021 season Friday with a double header. First pitch in the opener is set for 1 p.m.
"Right now, the guys are disappointed with the loss and the ramifications on postseason play," Lyons said. "They'll bounce back and be ready tomorrow and we expect nothing less from this group."
