SATURDAY'S SCORES
@Illinois State 7,
Western Illinois 6 (15)
Southeast Missouri 4-6, @Wright State 2-0
Murray State 3,
@Lindenwood 1
@Western Carolina 13,
Morehead State 4
@SIUE 3, Valparaiso 2
The Citadel 22,
@UT Martin 3
@Southern Illinois 7-3 ,
Southern Indiana 4-6
Mercer 10,
@Tennessee Tech 2
Little Rock 5, @Samford 1
Eastern Illinois 12, @Memphis 7
ILLINOIS STATE 7, WESTERN ILLINOIS 6 (15)
NORMAL, Ill. - Western Illinois battled through 15 innings but ultimately fell to Illinois State, 7-6, on Saturday afternoon at Duffy Bass Field.
The Leathernecks jumped out to an early lead, scoring four runs across the second through fourth innings, highlighted by Liam Bushey's solo home run and RBIs from Tyler Large and Krayton Morse. WIU added another run in the fifth on an RBI single from Wandel Campana and briefly regained the lead in the eighth on Isaiah Monge's sacrifice fly.
Illinois State tied the game later in the eighth, sending the contest into extra innings where both teams remained scoreless until the bottom of the 15th, when the Redbirds walked off with the winning run. Bushey and Campana each recorded two hits for Western Illinois in the loss.
SOUTHEAST MISSOURI 4-6, WRIGHT STATE 2-0
DAYTON, Ohio - Redhawks (13-7) secured victories in both games of a doubleheader against Wright State (5-11) at Nischwitz Stadium, winning 4–2 on in game one and 6-0 in game two.
The Redhawks started strong in the first game, securing a 4–2 victory. They jumped to an early lead with three runs in the first inning. Caleb Klein walked, and Cal Sullivan and Joe Hall followed with singles to load the bases. Ryan Lopetegui's single drove in Klein, while Dakot Joggerst and Tank Sims each grounded out to bring in Sullivan and Hall, respectively, giving the Redhawks a 3–0 lead after the first inning.
Wright State responded in the third inning when Butler doubled and scored on a Duncan double, narrowing the gap to 3–1. The Redhawks extended their lead in the eighth inning when Logan Yule walked and advanced to third on Sullivan's double. Hall's fielder's choice allowed Yule to score, pushing the lead to 4–1. Wright State added a run in the ninth with Warren's solo home run, but the Redhawks held on to claim the 4–2 win.
In the second game, the Redhawks secured a decisive 6-0 victory. The pitching staff combined for a three-hit shutout, while the lineup produced eight hits, including a home run.
In the first inning, Caleb Klein was hit by a pitch, and Cal Sullivan walked, setting the stage for Joe Hall, who delivered a three-run homer to left field, putting the Redhawks up 3-0. The fourth inning saw Brooks Kettering walk and later score on a single by Demitri Shakotko, extending the Redhawks' lead to 4-0.
In the sixth inning, Andrew Ramirez singled and advanced to third on a double by Kettering. Shakotko then doubled to left field, driving in both Ramirez and Kettering, increasing the Redhawks' advantage to 6-0. The pitching staff maintained the shutout throughout the game, leading to a final score of 6-0 against the Raiders.
MURRAY STATE 3, LINDENWOOD 1
ST. CHARLES, Mo. - The Lindenwood baseball team (9-10, 0-0 OVC) came out on the wrong end of a pitcher's dual on Saturday, dropping their second game against Murray State (12-7, 0-0 MVC) by a score of 3-1. The two teams combined for just eight hits in the contest with four knocks apiece.
Following a shaky first inning in which he walked four batters and gave up two runs, Lindenwood starter Seth Benes settled into a nice groove for the remainder of his outing, retiring 12 of the remaining 14 batters he faced. He ended the day with seven strikeouts through five innings of work.
Ethan Smith took over in relief, keeping Lindenwood in the game with three solid innings in which he surrendered just two hits with three strikeouts. Easton Rakers recorded Lindenwood's final three outs in the ninth, giving up zero hits with a punchout.
Lindenwood's offense struggled to find its footing throughout the afternoon, not finding a way on base until the fourth inning, and not recording a hit until the fifth.
The Racers loaded the bases in the top of the first following a pair of walks and a Connor Chisholm single before a third walk plated the ball game's first run. Park Airhart would drive in another run with a sacrifice fly in the subsequent at-bat, but after issuing another base on balls, Seth Benes was able to record his first strikeout of the game to escape the inning without any further damage.
Neither team threatened again until the bottom of the fourth when back-to-back walks and a balk put runners on second and third for Lindenwood with two outs, but the Lions were unable to cash in on the scoring opportunity and left bother runners stranded.
Lindenwood loaded the bases with no outs in the sixth but were only able to scratch one run across on a Will Geary RBI groundout, eventually leaving three runners on base to end the frame.
After Murray State scored on a two-out error in the bottom of the ninth to add an insurance run, Lindenwood moved a runner into scoring position and brought the winning run to the plate with two outs following a William Zareh walk and Tyler Ellis base hit, but Murray State closer Dylan Zentko was able to record the third out with a strikeout and secure the save without any runs coming across.
WESTERN CAROLINA 13, MOREHEAD STATE 4
CULLOWHEE, N.C. - Western Carolina scored six runs in the bottom of the fourth inning and four more in the eighth and took the third game of the series 13-4 at Childress Field in Hennon Stadium in Cullowhee, N.C., Saturday.
Morehead State (10-10) got on the board in the fourth inning. Kyle Krupp and Davis Germann led off with bunt singles down the third base line. Designated hitter Aubrey Kearns scored Krupp with an RBI double to right field. Alex Kean lifted a sacrifice fly to center field to give the Eagles a 2-0 lead.
Western Carolina (13-7) answered in the bottom of the fourth inning. After a leadoff walk and single through the left side, a sacrifice bunt moved the runners up to second and third. WCU catcher Noah Quarless singled through the right side to plate both runners.
The Catamounts added another three runs on an infield single and a home run by WCU first baseman Marshall McGowan. A sixth run scored on a Catamount walk with the bases loaded.
Krupp lined an RBI single to left to score Griffin Olson, who led of the fifth inning with a liner to center for a single and advanced to second on a fielding error by WCU third baseman Mason Holton. MSU threatened a bigger inning with runners on first and second and one out, but back-to-back strikeouts ended the rally.
WCU extended the lead to 7-3 on a one-out walk and an RBI double by McGowan in the bottom of the fifth. The Catamounts tacked on two more runs in the sixth on a leadoff home run by left fielder Stanley Wyatt and a two-out RBI single by Trent Turner to extend the lead to 9-3.
Morehead State posted a run in the eighth when Germann drove a one-out double down the left field line and scored on Kean's double into the right field corner.
The Catamounts plated four runs in the bottom of the eighth inning on two hits.
MSU starter Kamden Hawks (1-2) took the loss. Hawks threw 3.1 innings allowing six runs (five earned), on four hits. He walked three batters and struck out two.
WCU starter Davis Wright (1-1) earned the win. He threw five innings, allowing three runs on five hits. He struck out four Eagle batters and did not issue a walk.
SIUE 3, VALPARAISO 2
EDWARDSVILLE, Ill. - SIUE picked up its first weekend series win thanks to a 3-2 win over Valparaiso Saturday at Roy E. Lee Field.
The Cougars will look for the sweep in Sunday's finale. First pitch has been moved up to 11 a.m. to avoid weather concerns later in the day.
The Cougars improved to 8-11 with the win. Valparaiso dropped to 5-10 with the loss.
The Cougars got on top with a pair of runs in the first inning against Valpo starter Connor Lockwood (2-3). Ryan Niedzwiedz hit his league-leading eighth home run of the year, and Ethan Willoughby added an RBI-single later in the inning.
SIUE starter Spencer Stearns (1-2) kept the Beacons at bay for his outing. Stearns tossed five scoreless innings, allowing three hits. He struck out four and did not walk a batter.
Joshua Heyder singled home Chase Bloomer in the sixth to extend the SIUE lead to 3-0.
Lockwood allowed all three runs over 7.2 innings. He allowed seven hits and struck out five.
Valpo got on the board in the seventh with a pair of hits against reliever Porter Conn, who worked 1.1 innings in relief for the Cougars.
Thomas Cooper hit his first home run of the year leading off the ninth for the final run. It came against Joseph Martin who pitched two innings in relief.
Easton Harris worked to the final two batters of the game to earn his fourth save of the season.
Niedzwiedz, Heyder and Willoughby all finished with two hits for the Cougars.
THE CITADEL 22, UT MARTIN 3
MARTIN, Tenn. - The University of Tennessee at Martin baseball team fell in its Saturday afternoon contest against The Citadel 22-3 at Skyhawk Field.
TJ Dunsford (three RBIs) recorded a home run and a double while TJ Grines (stolen base), Andrew Davis, JT Popick and Bo Strickland tallied hits for UT Martin (9-9). Colten Payton and Cameron Greene reached base safely on walks.
The Skyhawks used seven arms in the contest including Brandon King (one inning pitched), Dean McCalla (one inning), Drake Bayles (1.1 innings), Will Turner (2.2 innings, three strikeouts), JP Nunn, Connor McCaslin (0.1 innings), Aidan Karns and Zach Wager (0.2 innings, no runs allowed).
The Citadel (7-9) grabbed the early lead, but UT Martin was able to cut its deficit down to three on Dunsford’s three-run shot over the left center field wall in the third. In the fourth, Turner took the mound and closed things out to keep the Skyhawks within striking distance.
The lefty retired the Bulldogs in order during the fifth with back-to-back punchouts and a flyout to his centerfielder Strickland. Turner posted two straight scoreless frames after getting a flyout to Grines in rightfield, a runner caught stealing and his third strikeout of the game. However, The Citadel was able to gain momentum back and pull away to even the series at a game apiece.
SOUTHERN ILLINOIS 7-3, SOUTHERN INDIANA 4-6
CARBONDALE, Ill. - University of Southern Indiana Baseball earned a doubleheader split by winning the nightcap at Southern Illinois University Saturday at Itchy Jones Stadium in Carbondale, Illinois. USI, which lost the opener, 7-4, and won the nightcap, 6-3, is 13-7 this season, while SIU goes to 8-10.
USI had the lead three times in the opening game, but a five-run eighth by SIU propelled the Salukis to a 7-4 win. USI posted its first lead, 1-0, in the third, regained the lead, 2-1, in the sixth, and recorded its final lead of the game, 4-2, in the eighth.
USI graduate designated hitter Jesse Velders led the Screaming Eagles with two hits and three RBIs in the opener, while graduate centerfielder Khi Holiday had two hits and two runs scored.
On the mound, junior right-hander Ryan Skwarek took the loss in relief. Skwarek (1-2) allowed three runs on one hit and a walk in the eighth.
USI junior right-hander Ryan Weller started and picked up a tough no-decision. Weller went 5.1 innings, allowing two unearned runs on three hits and one walk. He also struck out three.
USI sophomore right-hander Ean DiPasquale threw seven-plus strong innings in leading the Screaming Eagles to a 6-3 victory. DiPasquale went 7.2 innings, allowing two runs on two hits and two walks, while striking out a season-high seven batters.
USI took command in the second inning with a tally, before extending it to 3-0 with a pair of runs in the fifth. The Screaming Eagles sealed the victory by pushing three runs across in the eighth to extend the lead to 6-0. The Salukis chipped away at the lead with two runs in the eighth and one
Offensively, senior first baseman Patrick McLellan drove in two of USI's first three runs. McLellan and graduate rightfielder Jesse Velders also tied for a team-high with two hits each.
MERCER 10, TENNESSEE TECH 2
COOKEVILLE, Tenn. - Tennessee Tech scored early but could not keep pace with Mercer, falling 10-2 Saturday afternoon in Game 2 of a three-game series at Quillen Field at Bush Stadium at the Averitt Sports Complex.
The Golden Eagles collected nine hits in the contest, highlighted by a fourth-inning two-run home run from Jorsixt Jimenez that accounted for both of Tech's runs.
Mercer broke a scoreless tie in the third inning with three runs, using a two-run double and a sacrifice fly to take the early lead. Tennessee Tech responded in the bottom of the fourth when Owen Lee led off the frame with a single before Jimenez launched a home run down the right-field line to cut the deficit to 3-2.
Connor Crowson and Manny Garza added back-to-back singles later in the inning as Tech threatened to do more damage, but Mercer escaped the jam to maintain the lead.
The Bears extended the advantage with four runs in the fifth inning and added insurance in the seventh and ninth to secure the win. Mercer finished with 13 hits while Tennessee Tech totaled nine.
Lee led the Golden Eagles with two hits and scored a run, while Crowson and Garza also recorded two-hit performances. Jimenez drove in both Tech runs with his fifth home run of the season.
LITTLE ROCK 5, SAMFORD 1
BIRMINGHAM, Ala. - After watching Samford celebrate a walk-off win in Friday's series opener, Little Rock made sure there would be no repeat Saturday.
Ty Rhoades and Nico Baumbach hit back-to-back home runs in the sixth inning, and Brigden Parker earned his first win of the season as the Trojans evened the series with a 5-1 victory at J.L. Griffin Field.
Parker (1-2) injured his ankle during the game but shook it off to complete six innings of one-run ball. He allowed just four hits while striking out four. In his first appearance in nearly a month, Tag Andrews tossed three scoreless innings to earn the save as the duo combined to allow just five hits.
Rhoades, Easton Roe, and Angel Cano each recorded two hits for the Trojans (9-9), with Rhoades also drawing a walk to reach base three times.
Kade Smith led off the game with a double and later scored the first run on an RBI groundout by Roe. The 1-0 lead held until the sixth inning when Rhoades launched a three-run homer to right field. Baumbach followed immediately with a solo shot to left.
Baumbach's home run was the 24th of his Little Rock career, leaving him six shy of tying the program's all-time record of 30.
Samford (7-10) scored its lone run in the bottom of the sixth, but Andrews closed the door from there to secure the win.
EASTERN ILLINOIS 12, MEMPHIS 7
MEMPHIS, Tenn. - Eastern Illinois's offense exploded for 12 runs and 20 hits to even the weekend series 1-1 heading into Sunday. EIU improves to 7-8, while the Tigers drop to 5-13.
The Panthers scored seven out of the nine innings played, including two runs in five of the innings. EIU kicked off the afternoon with Brett Stanley smashing a home run to deep left field; however, the Tigers quickly quieted the early momentum with a three-run first inning.
On the mound for EIU, Bryce Riggs threw 5.0 complete innings, only giving up those three first-inning runs. Riggs also totaled five strikeouts and allowed just three hits.
For the Tigers, David Case struggled to slow down Eastern Illinois, throwing 4.0 innings while allowing five earned runs and eight hits.
Panthers took control of the game in the 4th inning, with Stanley once again collecting an RBI, scoring Mike O'Conor. Shortly after, EIU's aggressive offense continued, scoring one more run before the end of the inning. Chris Worcester singled through left field, driving in Luke Melton.
One inning later, the Panthers extended their advantage with two runs on four hits. Peyton Wilson singled to left field, scoring Worcester and Kyree Alexander, collecting two of his four RBIs in today's game.
The Tigers went down swinging, scoring four runs on three hits in the bottom of the 7th inning to energize the crowd. James Smith IV hit a deep left home run to clear the bases to cut the deficit to one.
However, EIU did not panic and once again found home plate. Ethan Rossi hit an RBI double, scoring Alexander after Kyree hit a double to left center, scoring Worcester.
In relief for the Panthers, James Geshel pitched 2.2 innings, allowing only one run and three hits to earn the save in a 12-7 decision.