ALGOOD, Tenn. (Interstat) — The Tennessee Tech Golden Eagles erupted for seven runs in the seventh inning Tuesday night, turning a tight contest into a rout and defeating the Middle Tennessee Blue Raiders 12-6 at Bush Stadium at Averitt Express Baseball Complex.

The game’s decisive moment came in the bottom of the seventh with the Golden Eagles trailing 6-5. Tennessee Tech sent 12 batters to the plate, pounding out seven hits to seize control. The inning began with a double by Jackson Rooker, who scored on a Manny Garza single to tie the game. Nash Crowell followed with a run-scoring triple to give Tennessee Tech its first lead.

After a pitching change, Connor Crowson delivered a key single to drive in another run, part of his standout 4-for-5, four-RBI performance. Eddie Garza added an RBI double, Tyler Bennett chipped in a run-scoring single, and Jorsixt Jimenez capped the offensive explosion with a two-run homer, his 16th of the season, to make it 12-6.

The late outburst overshadowed a strong start by Middle Tennessee (21-20), which built an early lead. Brett Vondohlen hit a solo home run in the third inning, and Owen Nowak followed with a two-run shot later in the frame to put the Blue Raiders ahead. Cooper Clapp added a solo homer in the sixth, and Dean O’Neill’s RBI single in the seventh briefly restored Middle Tennessee’s lead at 6-5 before the bottom of the inning.

Tennessee Tech (14-27) chipped away at the deficit before the seventh-inning breakout. The Golden Eagles scored two in the first on RBI singles from Manny Garza and Crowson. They added three in the fifth, highlighted by Crowson’s two-run, ground-rule double that scored two runs after a series of walks and a wild pitch.

Middle Tennessee’s bullpen could not contain the Tennessee Tech lineup, which amassed 17 hits. The Golden Eagles also grounded into two double plays, which helped the Blue Raiders escape earlier jams. Joseph Cates provided a bright spot for Middle Tennessee with a scoreless inning of relief, striking out two.

Cooper Casteel earned the win for Tennessee Tech with 1 1/3 innings of scoreless relief. The Golden Eagles’ offensive showcase defied the Interstat game simulator, which had projected a narrow 6-5 Tennessee Tech victory.

Crowson, the Tennessee Tech third baseman, was the top star, collecting four hits and driving in four runs to lead the Golden Eagles’ offensive charge. For Middle Tennessee, Nowak finished with a home run and two RBIs, while Clapp had two hits, including a homer.

The win improves Tennessee Tech to 14-27 overall, while Middle Tennessee falls to 21-20. The Golden Eagles host North Alabama on Wednesday. The Blue Raiders travel to face Sam Houston for a three-game series starting Friday.