Vikings Fall at Tennessee Tech, 10-8, in Second Game of Series
    Johnson, Shaffer and Suitca Have Three Hits Each
    Kyle Shaffer had three hits on Saturday.

    Kyle Shaffer had three hits on Saturday.

    Feb. 27, 2010

    Final Stats

     

    Contact: Greg Murphy

    COOKEVILLE, Tenn. - Tennessee Tech scored seven runs in the seventh inning to rally for a 10-8 victory over Cleveland State in the second game of the series on Saturday afternoon at Bush Stadium.

    The loss drops CSU to 1-4 overall, while TTU improves to 3-2.

    "We have been doing a great job of jumping out to leads early this season, but have not been able to hold leads," head coach Kevin Kocks said. "We need to find a way to fix that problem because we should be 4-1 at worst right now. It is disappointing to have such a good game offensively, play well in the field and have a decent starting performance, but not hold the lead. We need to get better in the bullpen."

    TTU used a pair of runs in the bottom of the first two take a 2-0 lead.

    However, a three run second inning put the Vikings ahead, 3-2. Brent Casto delivered a one out single to start the rally and Jason Haditsch followed by getting hit by a pitch. After a stikeout for the second out of the inning, Alex Johnson delivered an RBI double, while Kyle Shaffer followed with a two run single.

    "We have had some timely hitting this season and today was no different," Kocks said. "And that is a good sign to see early in the season."

    The Vikings pushed the lead to 8-2 in the fifth, using four hits to plate five runs. Haditsch led off with a single and moved to second when Vince Marquard was walked. An Alex Johnson infield single loaded the bases and Shaffer cleared the bases with a double, coming around to score later in the inning on a Ryan Franks groundout.

     

     

    Tyler Wynn followed with a walk, stole second and came in to score on a Suitca single, giving CSU its 8-2 lead.

    After holding TTU scoreless in the fifth and sixth innings, they broke out for seven runs in the seventh, taking a 10-8 lead, before retiring the final six batters with a hit batter in between.

    Shaffer, Johnson and Suitca all went 3-for-5, while Shaffer drove in five runs. Johnson, Franks and Wynn added an RBI each.

    Coty Bates started for CSU, working six innings and giving up four runs on seven hits with eight strikeouts. He walked five and hit two batters.

    "Coty didn't have his best stuff today, but grinded it out," Kocks said. "We need to get the walks and hit batters down because that's giving them free runners.

    In all, CSU pitchers walked seven batters and hit three.

    The Vikings conclude their three-game series at TTU on Sunday with a 2:00 p.m. EST contest.