OUT OF THE ORDINARY – Senior third baseman Josh Pankratz delivers a pitch from the mound during the third game of the Purple and Gold series. Pankratz picked up the win in his relief effort. Photo by: Jim Dillon
The Tennessee Tech baseball team hit the diamond for its annual Purple and Gold series last week with the Purple team taking the series.
The first game Oct. 27 saw the Gold team win the matchup 15-6. The Gold team was led by first baseman Chase Chambers. The sophomore was 2-4 at the dish with five RBIs, including a grand slam. Catcher Chris Brown also had a productive day at the plate going 2-5 with four RBIs. One bright spot of the day for the Purple team was Connor Goodspeed. The senior was 3-3 with four RBIs including a solo home run.
The Gold team took game two of the series with a score of 7-6. Chambers was 3-4 at the plate, including a three-run home run and a double, and swiped a bag in the game. Goodspeed was hot again for the Purple team, going 3-4 with five RBIs, including two doubles.
The Purple team bounced back in game three Friday. Matt Jones knocked in two runs to help the Purple team win the game 5-4, and senior Josh Pankratz got the win coming on in relief.
Pankratz said the fall series is beneficial.
“I think the Purple and Gold series is a great way to gain game-like experience that nothing else can replace because there is a lot of incentives to win, and also creates a very competitive atmosphere that we will not feel again until the season,” Pankratz said.
The Purple team wasn’t quite ready for the series to end. They held on and won the game 5-4 to force a game 5. Ryan Flick had a big day for the Purple squad; the sophomore went 3-4 and recorded four RBIs. Flick had two doubles and a two-run dinger. For the Gold team, Tyler Brazelton and David Garza were each 2-4 at the plate.
The final game of the series didn’t disappoint. Kevin Strohschein put the Purple team on his back. The freshman blasted a two-run home run to help his team get the game win and the take the series title.
Pankratz also had a good day for the Purple squad. The senior went 2-3 and scored two runs. Brazelton led the Gold team with 3-4 and two RBIs.
Pankratz said he is looking forward to the upcoming season.
“I think the season ahead of us this year is extremely bright,” Pankratz said. “I am very confident with the players and coaches we have going in.”
The Golden Eagles begin the regular season in February.
