Bucs easily handle Tennessee Tech

from staff reports

   JOHNSON CITY -- The East Tennessee State baseball team avenged a loss to Tennessee Tech from May 5 with a 10-1 victory over the Golden Eagles Tuesday night at Cardinal Park.
   Sophomore first baseman Blake Church and freshman right fielder Stephen Douglas each hit grand slams in the win, while the pitching staff, led by junior starter Trevor Smith turned in a sparkling performance on the mound.
   East Tennessee State (27-25) got on the board first, with two runs on five hits in the bottom of the second. Sophomore designated hitter Steven Calicutt (Spartanburg, S.C.) led off the inning with a single, then moved to third on a subsequent single by sophomore second baseman Josiah Glafenhein (Knoxville, Tenn.). Sophomore third baseman Greg Roberts (Douglas, Ga.) scored Calicutt with a sacrifice fly to center, as Glafenhein moved to second. Senior center fielder Tim Turner (Marietta, Ga.) would then single up the middle to score Glafenhein.
   Tennessee Tech (15-29) cut the Buccaneer lead in half with a run in the top of the third. Brandon Selvog led off the inning with a single to right and advanced to third as Josh Eye singled to center with one out. Selvog would later cross the plate on a filed pickoff attempt at first.
   The Bucs put the game out of reach in the bottom of the fifth, plating four runs to make the score 6-1. With one out, sophomore right fielder Shane Byrne (Johnson City, Tenn.) walked, followed by a single to center by junior catcher Caleb Moore (Knoxville, Tenn.). After Church reached on an error, Douglas hammered a 2-0 pitch over the left field wall for the second grand slam of his young career. Douglas also hit a grand slam on Apr. 9 against Wofford.
   With his single, Moore extended his current hitting streak to 15 games, tying Howdeshell for the team-best streak this season.
   ETSU tacked on four more runs in the bottom of the eighth to provide the final margin of victory. The Bucs loaded the bases on a walk by Turner, a single by senior shortstop Andy Howdeshell (Maryville, Tenn.) and a walk by Moore. Church then took a 1-0 pitch to the opposite field, hitting it over the right field wall for a grand slam.
   In his first start since his freshman year at ETSU, Smith (2-0) pitched 5.1 strong innings, allowing one run (none earned) on five hits while walking three and striking out two. Freshman Caleb Glafenhein (Knoxville, Tenn.), junior Michael Bauer (Kingsport, Tenn.) and freshman David Yates (Douglasville, Ga.) were all very effective in relief for the Bucs, allowing just one baserunner over the final 3.2 innings.
   Justin Fields was charged with the loss for Tennessee Tech, allowing six runs (five earned) on eight hits over 4.1 innings. Fields also walked two and struck out four.
   At the plate, the Bucs were led by Howdeshell, Byrne and Josiah Glafenhein, who each had two hits on the evening. Moore and Church each scored two runs while Church and Douglas both drive in four.
   Selvog paced the Golden Eagles, going 2-for-4 with a run scored against the Bucs.
   ETSU returns to the diamond tomorrow night as they face Virginia Tech at 7 p.m. from Cardinal Park in Johnson City, Tenn.