TUESDAY'S SCORES
@Murray State 19, Mid-Continent 2
Austin Peay 5, @Middle Tennessee 2
@Jacksonville State 7, UAB 0
Southern Illinois 8,
@UT Martin 4
@Southeast Missouri 12, Harris-Stowe 1
#2 Vanderbilt 9,
@Belmont 3
@Lipscomb 12,
Tennessee Tech 1
MURRAY STATE 19, MID-CONTINENT 2
MURRAY, Ky. - The Murray State offense pounded out 22 hits and drove in 19 runs as the Breds picked up their first victory of the season, 19-2, over Mid-Continent in the 2013 home opener Tuesday afternoon at Johnny Reagan Field.
All nine members of the starting lineup collected at least one hit, with shortstop Noah Zipko leading the way by going 4-for-5 with an RBI and four runs scored. Mike Kozlowski with 3-for-5 with four RBIs and three runs scored, while Brandon Eggenschwiler went 3-for-5 with three RBIs and Paul Ritzheimer 3-for-3 with two RBIs and three runs scored.
In addition to the starters, Ben Lott and Pokey Harris each added RBI base hits.
The Breds (1-3) got on the board in the first inning as Ty Stetson and Brandon Elliott walked to start the inning. After a sacrifice bunt moved both runners, Kozlowski drove in the runner from third with a groundout to third.
The fourth inning saw the lead extend to 5-0 as Dalton West collected his first collegiate hit and RBI with a single off the glove of the first baseman. Later in the inning, Zipko delivered an RBI single through the left side, and when the ball was bobbled in left field, West raced home third with the second run. Ritzheimer followed with a single through the left side, and Elliott came up two batters later and delivered a two-run double to right center.
The Cougars (3-4) got on the board in the fifth as Hunter Bolden hit a solo home run down the right-field line.
The game was broken wide open in the sixth as the Breds loaded the bases with a single, hit by pitch and a walk. Elliott blooped a ball into shallow right field that resulted in an RBI fielder’s choice. With two outs, Kozlowski plated two runs with a double down the right-field line, and was followed by an Eggenschwiler RBI double into the gap in right center.
The seventh inning saw the Breds send 14 hitters to the plate, collecting 10 hits and scoring nine runs. The inning started with a Zipko double and Ritzheimer single with one out. Stetson delivered an RBI single off the leg of the pitcher, and Lott followed with a pinch-hit RBI single to center. Kozlowski drew a bases loaded walk ahead of Eggenschwiler’s two-run single to left. Taylor Mathews finally joined the hit parade with a run-scoring single through the right side. Ritzheimer’s second at-bat of the inning was a two-run double just inside the bag at third, and Harris followed with an RBI single into the hole at short.
MCU was able to scratch another run across in the eighth on a Micah Rainwater RBI single through the right side.
Right hander Tim Vonder Haar (1-0) was impressive in his first start as he allowed just one run on nine hits over six innings. He struck out a career-best seven and did not walk a batter. He was able to get out of a pair of one-out bases-loaded jams by enticing a pair of double-play groundouts. All in all, the Breds defense turned three inning-ending double plays.
Cody Maerz made his Breds debut in the ninth and needed only nine pitches, eight strikes, to get a pair of strikeouts and a groundout to end the game.
Cory Ames (0-1) took the loss for the Cougars after allowing one run on no hits and two walks in just one inning of work.
AUSTIN PEAY 5, MIDDLE TENNESSEE 2
MURFREESBORO, Tenn. - Austin Peay State University's baseball team utilized a big fourth inning en route to a 5-2 victory against Middle Tennessee, Tuesday night, at Reese Smith Jr. Field.
Austin Peay (3-1) had opportunities in each of the first three innings - the leadoff hitter getting on base each frame. However, Middle Tennessee (2-2) worked out of the resulting jam each time - courtesy a double play in the first, back-to-back strikeouts in the second and a pickoff in the third.
The Govs broke through in the fourth as the first six batters reached base. Center fielder Cody Hudson got Austin Peay on the board with an RBI double into right field. The Govs second run came when first baseman Craig Massoni scampered home on a passed ball. Catcher P.J. Torres followed with an RBI single and third baseman Kevin Corey later added an RBI ground out to put Austin Peay up for good, 4-2.
Middle Tennessee threatened in the first inning with a runner on third with one out. However, Corey snagged a hard ground ball and threw home to cut down the run. The Blue Raiders grabbed the early lead courtesy catcher Michael Adkins' second-inning two-run home run.
Austin Peay starter Zach Hall worked out of a jam in the third with a runner on third and no outs, but he induced a pop out and got a double play to end the threat. Hall would have little trouble the game's remainder, retiring five of six after the third inning en route to the win in his Govs debut.
Hall would depart and leave two runners on base for reliever Kacy Kemmer in the sixth inning. Kemmer got out of the inning with a fielder's choice, a foul out to the catcher and a ground out. He would put two runners on in the seventh but escaped without allowing a run before retiring the side in order in the eighth.
Kemmer faced one batter in the ninth before turning the ball over to closer Tyler Rogers, who promptly struck out the first two batters he faced. He had what appeared to be the third out, but shortstop Reed Harper's throw pulled Massoni off the bag. Rogers was unfazed and induced a game-ending ground out for his season's second save.
Hudson led Austin Peay with a 2-for-4, RBI outing. Second baseman Jordan Hankins also was 2-for-4 with a ninth-inning RBI single that pushed the lead to 5-2. Right fielder Rolando Gautier had the Govs other two-hit outing.
Middle Tennessee starter Garrett Ring (0-1) allowed three runs on five hits over three-plus innings. Adkins would lead the Blue Raiders with a 2-for-4, two RBI outing.
JACKSONVILLE STATE 7, UAB 0
JACKSONVILLE, Ala. - The Jacksonville State put seven early runs on the board and never looked back in handing UAB a 7-0 defeat in the Gamecocks home opener at Rudy Abbott Field on Tuesday afternoon.
Junior starter Casey Antley held the Blazers (2-2) to just two hits in an efficient six innings of work, and freshman Graham Officer allowed just one hit in his three innings of relief work to lift the Gamecocks (1-3) to the win.
Antley (1-0), a native of Holtville, Ala., struck out three batters and didn't issue a walk in an appearance that saw him throw just 73 pitches. Officer needed just 28 pitches to earn his first career save. A native of Milton, Ga., he faced the minimum and struck out a pair.
The Gamecock offense racked up 10 hits, with juniors Cal Lambert and Eddie More-Loera providing the big blows from the plate. Lambert was 2-for-4 with a double and a pair of RBI, while Mora-Loera's three-run home run was the highlight of his 1-for-5 day.
Lambert came through with a two-out RBI single in the first that got the Gamecocks on the board after a pair of strikeouts followed a leadoff triple from Michael Bishop. Lambert and Ty Pierce were the only Gamecocks with multiple hits, with his second being a double that drive in junior Coty Blanchard after his leadoff hit.
Griffin Gordon followed Lambert's double with an RBI triple to center and then scored on a balk by UAB starter Alex Luna. Luna (0-1) took the loss after allowing all seven runs, six earned, on eight hits in 3.1 innings of work. He struck out four and walked one.
The Gamecocks chased Luna in the fourth with More-Loera's blast, a rope that cleared the wall down the left field line and scored Pierce and Michael Bishop.
UAB sent four pitchers to the mound and had success after Luna was chased in the fourth. Cory Eller, Sam Kelley and Chase Mallard combined to strike out eight and hold the Gamecocks scoreless on just two hits in the final 4.2 innings.
SOUTHERN ILLINOIS 8, UT MARTIN 4
MARTIN, Tenn. - The University of Tennessee at Martin baseball team fell 8-4 to Southern Illinois this afternoon in non-conference action at Skyhawk Field.
The Skyhawks faced a 5-0 deficit after three innings of play but gave a valiant effort in the ninth inning. Trailing by six runs against one of the best closers in the Missouri Valley Conference, UT Martin tallied a pair of runs on three hits and had the tying run in the on-deck circle. However, time ran out on the Skyhawk comeback attempt.
On the mound, the Skyhawks set a season-high in strikeouts for the second straight game, as five pitchers piled up 11 strikeouts against three walks. That came after UT Martin fanned 10 batters in the series finale against Southeastern Louisiana on Feb. 17.
Starting pitcher John Houston was hit with the loss today, allowing four runs in two innings. John Skubina tossed a career-high four innings in relief, conceding just two runs while not issuing a walk. Stu Jones did not allow a hit while fanning four over two scoreless innings, while Trevor Lundgrin (0.1 innings) also chalked up a shutout appearance. Jacob Gansert (0.2 innings, two runs) also made his Skyhawk debut today.
Sophomore Nico Zych had a pair of hits today for UT Martin (0-4), also driving in a run at the plate. Wade Collins, Phil Sorensen and Luis Paublini-Campos also picked up RBI’s today, while Grant Glasser, Brent Morris, Byron Johann and Kyle Bargery accounted for runs scored.
Southern Illinois (2-2) scored the first five runs of the game, plating one run in each of the first two innings before a three-run frame in the third.
Skubina then held the Salukis scoreless in the fourth, paving the way for UT Martin’s offense to get on the scoreboard in the fourth. Glasser led things off with a single through the right side and advanced to third on a single up the middle by Morris. After Morris took second on a wild pitch, Kenny King was hit by a pitch to load the bases with one out. Collins then drew a walk and Morris scored on a fielder’s choice to make the score 5-2 after four innings.
The Salukis got one run back in the top of the fifth but the Skyhawk bullpen kept Southern Illinois off the scoreboard over the next three frames. Skubina needed only eight pitches to retire the side in order in the sixth. Jones posted another shutout inning in the seventh and followed that by striking out the side in a perfect eighth.
Southern Illinois would add two more runs in the ninth but the Skyhawks were still very much alive in the bottom half. Johann – who entered the game in the seventh inning – ripped a double to the left field wall to lead off the inning. Bargery was then hit by a pitch and Zych followed with an RBI single through the left side. With two outs, Paublini-Campos guided a 1-2 pitch into right field for a pinch-hit single, scoring Bargery. However, UT Martin’s rally was cut short in its next at-bat.
SOUTHEAST MISSOURI 12, HARRIS-STOWE 1
CAPE GIRARDEAU, Mo. - The Southeast Missouri baseball team scattered 15 hits in a 12-1 seven inning victory over Harris-Stowe on Tuesday afternoon at Capaha Field. The win by the Redhawks makes them 4-0 for the first time since 1995.
Cole Bieser led the Redhawks with three hits on the afternoon as he also added three RBI and a run scored. Andy Lennington added a pair of hits and three RBI.
Freshman Alex Winkelman (2-0) earned the win going three innings with seven strikeouts allowing two hits and one earned run.
Harris-Stowe got on the board in the first inning after an error by Redhawk third baseman Jason Blum, but Winkelman got out of the inning with a strikeout to hold the Hornets advantage to 1-0.
Southeast responded in the bottom of the first frame with a pair of runs. Lennington got the Redhawks on the board with a sacrifice fly to centerfield. Dalton Hewitt followed with an RBI single to make it 2-1 Redhawks.
The Redhawks added four more runs in the second inning on three hits and an error by Harris-Stowe. Bieser added a run on an RBI single up the middle follwed by a Derek Gibson RBI hit to shortstop.
Lennington followed Gibson with a two-run triple down the right field line. Lennington's second triple of the season made it 6-1 Southeast.
Southeast added two runs in the sixth inning to make it 8-1. Bieser added a two-run single to highlight the frame.
The Redhawks ended the contest with four runs in the seventh inning to make it 12-1 as a mutual 10-run rule by both head coaches was made before the contest. Ryan Barnes and Tyler Mikrut added pinch-hit two-run singles to highlight the inning.
Blum, Hewitt and Branden Boggetto added a pair of hits apiece for the Redhawks.
Tony Zerrusen and Skylar Cobb each recorded two scoreless innings out of the Southeast bullpen.
Caleb Hosey was tagged with the loss for Harris-Stowe going six innings allowing 10 hits and eight runs, five of those runs being earned.
#2 VANDERBILT 9, BELMONT 3
NASHVILLE - Belmont fell to No. 2 Vanderbilt, 9-3, Tuesday at Rose Park.
In the third inning, left handed starter Dan Ludwig struck out back-to-back batters as he pitched out of a jam, holding the Commodores to two runs in the inning.
Vanderbilt's Mike Yastrzemski hit a solo home run out to right center to give the Dores a 3-0 lead. Vanderbilt plated two more runs in the fouth inning, leading the Bruins 5-0.
Ludwig saw four innings on the hill, giving up seven hits, five runs and struck out four. Blake Harvey relieved Ludwig in the fifth and faced six batters as the Commodores added three more runs in the inning. Harvey allowed five hits and three hits during his outing.
Drew Turner hit a solo shot to right field to start the scoring for BU in the bottom of the fifth. That was Turner's first home run of the season and the second Belmont homer.
In the seventh, Belmont had runners on the corners with two outs and Jared Breen at the plate, however, Breen flied out to center, ending the inning with Vanderbilt leading 8-1.
Matt Beaty got the scoring going in the eighth with a single to right field, as he brought home Scott Moses, advancing Judah Akers to third. Turner hit a sacrifice fly to center field to score Akers.
Turner led the Bruins with two hits, he finished the day 2-for-3 at the plate and had two RBI.
LIPSCOMB 12, TENNESSEE TECH 1
NASHVILLE - The Lipscomb Bisons proved baseball is a game where anything can happen Tuesday evening, as the Tennessee Tech baseball team played eight strong innings but still fell to the Nashville squad, 12-1.
The Bisons used one inning to do all their damage, scoring 10 runs on seven hits in the inning. Fourteen Lipscomb batters stepped to the plate in the fifth inning, using clutch two-strike hitting on several occassions to extend a one-run lead to 11.
Left fielder Chad Shannon led the Bisons with four RBI on two hits in four at bats. Right-handed pitcher Jacob Knott pitched six innings, allowing five hits, three walks, and one earned run.
The Golden Eagles played a close game, save for the one inning, actually outhitting Lipscomb 6-4 throughout the rest of the contest. Junior designated hitter Brandon Thomasson led the Tech hitters on the evening, grabbing two hits in four trips to the plate. He scored the lone Golden Eagle run after being driven in by senior center fielder Austin Wulf in the third inning.
James Abraham, a senior left fielder, continued his hot start to the season with two hits in four plate appearances. The Diamondhead, Miss., native is now batting .533 for the year with eight hits, two RBI, and three runs scored.
Two Tech pitchers made their Golden Eagle debuts in the contest, as junior JUCO righty Ross Spurgeon and redshirt sophomore right hander Byron Skinner combined for 3.2 innings of relief. Spurgeon recorded four strikeouts in just 1.2 innings pitched. He allowed just one earned run on two hits.
Skinner was a big plus for Tech, striking out four of seven batters faced over two innings. The righty allowed just one hit and one walk over the final two scoreless innings.
For the first time in three seasons, outfielder David Allen returned to the diamond for the Golden Eagles. After missing the previous two seasons due to injury, the redshirt sophomore entered the game in the seventh inning, replacing Austin Wulf in center field.
Also making his Tech debut was walk-on freshman catcher Tim Graham. The rookie backstop pinch hit for lead-off man in the ninth inning, drilling a hard grounder to the shortstop who made a good play to end the contest.