STATESBORO, Ga. (Interstat) — A dominant early offensive outburst and a combined two-hit effort from its pitching staff carried Tennessee Tech to a 5-2 victory over Georgia Southern on Friday night at J.I. Clements Stadium.

The Golden Eagles (7-6) scored all five of their runs in the first two innings, capitalizing on control issues from Georgia Southern starter Carter DeGondea and timely hitting against reliever Brady Pendley. The visiting Eagles from Tennessee Tech then relied on starter Garrett Holpuch and reliever Jaxson Pease to silence the Georgia Southern bats over the final seven frames.

The most important part of the game unfolded in the top of the second inning, turning a narrow lead into a commanding advantage. Tennessee Tech led 1-0 after Jorsixt Jimenez’s first-inning RBI double scored Jackson Rooker, who had walked and stolen second. In the second, the Golden Eagles loaded the bases with no outs via a walk to Connor Crowson and a double by Manny Garza. A groundout and a pitching change brought Pendley into the game for Georgia Southern (2-11).

Pendley was immediately met with consecutive run-scoring singles by Aaron Moffitt and Rooker, pushing the lead to 3-1. With two runners still on, Jimenez delivered the decisive blow, lacing a triple to right field to clear the bases and extend the Tennessee Tech lead to 5-1. Pendley would settle in brilliantly from there, but the damage was done.

Holpuch earned the win for Tennessee Tech, navigating 6 2/3 innings while allowing two earned runs on eight hits with three strikeouts. Despite surrendering more hits, he worked out of trouble effectively, stranding multiple Georgia Southern runners. His performance built on a strong recent stretch, including seven scoreless innings against Ohio on Feb. 21.

Georgia Southern’s two runs came in the first and seventh innings. In the first, Jack Myers singled and scored on an RBI double by Sean White. In the seventh, a two-out RBI single by Mason Gazaway scored Nico Senese, who had doubled, to cut the deficit to 5-2. That hit prompted Tennessee Tech to bring in Pease, who ended the threat with a strikeout.

Pease was flawless in relief, recording the final seven outs without allowing a hit and striking out three to earn the save.

Pendley’s relief outing for Georgia Southern was a standout in defeat. After entering in the second, he pitched 6 1/3 innings, allowing just two hits and no earned runs while striking out six. Will Robbins added a perfect ninth inning.

Jimenez led the Tennessee Tech offense, going 2-for-5 with a double, a triple and three RBIs. Rooker reached base three times, scoring twice and driving in a run.

The result defied the pregame projection from Interstat’s ELO system, which gave Georgia Southern a 60.6% probability to win. The simulator had predicted a 6-2 Tennessee Tech victory.

The teams continue their three-game series on Saturday.