ALGOOD, Tenn. (Interstat) — The North Alabama Lions pounded out 17 hits and weathered a late rally to defeat the Tennessee Tech Golden Eagles 10-7 in a non-conference baseball game Wednesday evening at Bush Stadium at Averitt Express Baseball Complex.

The Lions (20-20) avenged a one-run loss to the Golden Eagles (14-28) from earlier in the season by building a large early lead and relying on a string of relievers to secure the win after Tennessee Tech’s offense came alive in the middle innings.

North Alabama seized control with a five-run outburst in the top of the second inning, sending 11 batters to the plate. Cayden Sheffield started the scoring with a solo home run to left field, his first of the season. Later in the frame, with two runners on, Jackson Westmoreland delivered a two-run single to left. Two wild pitches allowed another run to score, and Dylan Coleman capped the rally with an RBI single through the left side, chasing Tennessee Tech starter Barnett from the game.

Reliever Braxton Lewis entered for the Golden Eagles and provided critical stability, working 4 1/3 innings and allowing just one earned run on five hits to keep his team within striking distance. His effort allowed Tennessee Tech to mount a comeback.

The Golden Eagles scratched out a run in the second on an RBI single from Luke Bragga. The game then turned into a duel between bullpens, with North Alabama’s Jordan Touhey, Jake Boynar and Landon Scruggs combining for 6 1/3 innings of scoreless, one-hit relief through the sixth inning.

Tennessee Tech finally broke through against the Lions’ bullpen in the sixth, scoring three times. Bragga drove in another run with a double, and a groundout and another RBI groundout brought the Golden Eagles within 10-4.

The most pivotal moment of the game came in the bottom of the seventh inning. With two runners on and one out, Tennessee Tech shortstop Cade Fuller connected for a three-run homer, his third of the season, pulling the Golden Eagles to within 10-7 and bringing the potential tying run to the plate. The homer energized the home crowd and threatened to completely undo North Alabama’s early work.

North Alabama manager