SATURDAY'S SCORES
Eastern Kentucky 8, Army 6 (Rock Hill, S.C.)
Eastern Illinois 2, Alcorn State 0 (Hattiesburg, Miss.)
@Gardner-Webb 7-3,
Morehead State 0-2
@Georgia 2-10,
Belmont 1-11
@Arkansas-Little Rock 2-2,
SIUE 1-0
@Austin Peay 9, Illinois State 6
Southern Illinois 12,
@Jacksonville State 4
@Murray State 2, Bowling Green 1
North Dakota State 9,
@Southeast Missouri 6
@Tennessee Tech 9, Niagara 0
@UT Martin 5, IPFW 4
EASTERN KENTUCKY 8, ARMY 6
ROCK HILL, S.C. - Eastern Kentucky jumped out to a 3-0 lead in an 8-6 victory over Army today at the Coca-Cola Classic hosted by Winthrop.
The Colonels (2-3) were also scheduled to face Delaware State today, but that game was cancelled because delays in starting today’s games.
Alex Hughes got Eastern on the board in the bottom of the first with a two-out, two-run double to left field. Sean Hagen followed with a run scoring single to left for a 3-0 Colonel lead.
After Army (0-3) scored a run in the second and third innings, EKU added to its lead in the fifth and sixth innings. Kyle Nowlin’s RBI single made it 4-2. An Army error in the sixth allowed two more runs to come home for a 6-2 lead.
Army mounted a comeback bid in the seventh and eighth innings, but the Colonels answered each time. After Army shaved two runs off the lead in the top of the seventh, Luke Wurzelbacher drove in a run in the bottom half. Two more Army runners crossed the plate in the eighth, but Shaun Ball hit his first home run of the season in the bottom half. The solo shot kept Eastern Kentucky in front by two, 8-6.
Army got the tying run on base in the top of the ninth, but Myles Scott induced a double play to end the rally and the game.
Starter Anthony Bazzani (1-1) allowed just one earned run over five innings. He walked two and struck out five. Scott came on in the bottom of the eighth and earned the save after holding Army scoreless over the final one and one-third innings. He allowed one hit and struck out one.
Demetrius Moorer went 2-for-2 with three walks, a stolen base and two runs scored in the lead-off spot. Hagen finished 3-for-5 with a run, a stolen base and an RBI.
Patrick Mescher finished 2-for-5 for Army. Jon Crucitti went 2-for-3 with a run scored.
Army had a 41-15 record last season and advanced to the NCAA Tournament.
EASTERN ILLINOIS 2, ALCORN STATE 0
HATTIESBURG, Miss. - Junior Joe Greenfield threw a complete-game shutout to lead the Panthers baseball team over Alcorn State, 2-0, on Saturday afternoon at the Southern Miss Tournament. EIU improves to 2-4 on the year.
Greenfield (1-0) threw six strikeouts and only allowed one walk and six hits on the afternoon. In two starts this season, the Orland Park, Ill., native has posted a 0.66 ERA with 12 strikeouts through 13.2 innings of action.
The game was scoreless until the bottom of the sixth inning when sophomore Brant Valach hit a sacrifice fly to right field, scoring Treysen Vavra and putting the Panthers up 1-0. EIU added an insurance run in the eighth inning on a Demetre Taylor RBI single up the middle.
Alcorn State (0-8) had one more hit (6-5) than EIU and left one less runner on base (7-6). EIU had one error on the day while the Braves did not have any miscues.
Caleb Howell, Trey Russell, Nathan Sopena, Taylor and Vavra all had one hit in the contest. Alcorn State had six players who all had one hit.
Mike Peters (0-2) took the loss for the Braves, surrendering four hits and two runs in seven innings. He also walked five batters and had two strikeouts.
GARDNER-WEBB 7-3, MOREHEAD STATE 0-2
BOILING SPRINGS, N.C. - Junior left-hander Noah Smallwood only allowed one hit in his eight innings of work, but the Morehead State baseball team allowed a late Gardner-Webb rally in game two and dropped both contests of a doubleheader Saturday evening at Bill Masters Field.
The Eagles (3-4) dropped the afternoon game to the Runnin’ Bulldogs (4-0-1), 7-0, before squandering a 2-1 lead in the bottom of the ninth to let go of the night game, 3-2.
Senior pitcher Matt Duncan entered in the bottom of the ninth of game two with the one-run lead but was charged with his first blown save of the season after loading the bases and walking in the tying run. He gave up a walk-off single to sophomore third baseman Henry Rundio.
MSU got off to a quick start in the back end of the doubleheader, when sophomore centerfielder Duran Elmore reached second on a line-drive double in the first. Elmore advanced to third on a balk before scoring the first run of the day on a wild pitch.
A triple to the center field wall by senior catcher Drew Williams tacked on another run in the top of the second, bringing freshman third baseman Alan Mocahbee home. Rundio closed the gap to 2-1 in the bottom half of the second with a solo home run to left field.
That solo homer was the only blemish in Smallwood’s start, as he rung up eight strikeouts on the night while only walking one batter. The hosts' freshman right-hander, Brad Haymes, picked up the win in relief.
The Eagles struggled in game one, as they were held to just three hits, while GWU racked up 11.
MSU sophomore righty Aaron Goe was saddled with his first loss of the season, allowing seven hits and three runs in his six innings of work. GWU sophomore right-hander Matt Fraudin improved to 2-0 on the season with his two-hit performance.
GEORGIA 2-10, BELMONT 1-11
ATHENS, Ga. - Belmont split a doubleheader with Georgia on Saturday, falling in 10 innings in the first game before holding off a bottom of the ninth rally from Georgia to take game two of Saturday's doubleheader, 11-10.
In game one Georgia got on the board first in the bottom of the second, but third baseman Matt Beaty (Dresden, Tenn.) responded with a solo home run over the right field wall in the top of the third to tie the ball game at 1-1. That was Beaty's first homer of the season and the third for the Bruins on the young season.
Jared Breen (Marietta, Ga.) drew a leadoff walk in the eighth inning, followed by a groundout from Jamie Ritchie (Buford, Ga.) to advance Breen to second, and then Joseph Stovall (Collierville, Tenn.) grounded out to second base to move Breen to third. With two outs Drew Ferguson (Knoxville, Tenn.) struck out unable to score Breen.
Chase Brookshire (Chattanooga, Tenn.) pitched seven innings for the Bruins in the first game of the doubleheader. The left hander allowed four hits, one run and struck out five.
Josh Davis (Fayetteville, Ga.) took the loss after relieving Brookshire in the eighth. The right hander went 2.1 innings giving up one hit and one run.
In the bottom of the tenth, Georgia's Curt Powell hit a triple to right field, followed by a sacrifice fly from Kyle Farmer to score Powell and give the Bulldogs a 2-1 win. This was the first extra-inning game of the season for the Bruins.
In game two, the Bulldogs got on the board first again. Neil Hickman (Hermitage, Tenn.) singled to left with two outs. The designated hitter advanced to second on a pass ball before Breen singled up the middle to bring Hickman home, tying the game at 1-1.
Georgia starter Patrick Boling walked Jamie Ritchie (Buford, Ga.) then he hit Joseph Stovall (Colliervile, Tenn.) to load the bases for Drew Ferguson (Knoxville, Tenn.), but Ferguson grounded out to the shortstop, stranding three runners.
Behind a double from Georgia's Jared Walsh, the Bulldogs were able to plate three more runs in the bottom of the second, taking a 4-1 lead.
The Bruins responded with a six run third inning. Scott Moses (Englewood, Tenn.) hit a leadoff single to center field, followed by singles from Judah Akers (Cookeville, Tenn.) and Matt Beaty (Dresden, Tenn.). Beaty's single scored Moses. Drew Turner (Shelbyville, Tenn.) flied out to right putting runners on the corners.
Hickman singled followed by a walk from Jared Breen (Marietta, Ga.) to load the bases with one out, forcing Georgia to go to the bullpen bringing in Bryan Benzor. Singles from Ritchie and Stovall added two more runs. With two outs, Moses hit his second single of the inning to score Ritchie and give BU a 7-4 lead.
Moses hit his second leadoff single in the top of the sixth and advanced to second on an error by the Georgia third baseman. Akers flied out to right field, moving Moses over to third. Turner flied out to left to plate Moses, giving Belmont an 8-4 lead over Georgia.
The Bulldogs added a run in the sixth and pair of runs in the seventh inning to make it an 8-7 ball game.
Austin Coley (Murfreesboro, Tenn.) went 6.1 innings on the hill. The right hander allowed 10 hits, a pair of walks and struck out five. Dan Ludwig (Naperville, Ill.) came on to relieve Coley in the bottom of the seventh.
Ferguson led off the eighth inning with a double down the left field line and a sac bunt from Moses advanced him to third. The centerfielder scored on a wild pitch. Singles from Akers and Josh Davis (Fayetteville, Ga.) followed by a double steal put them both in scoring position with Turner, who drew a walk, loaded the bases.
Hickman's single over the shortstop's head plated Akers, keeping the bases loaded with one out. Breen singled scoring one more for the Bruins. Belmont scored three runs in the top of the eighth to take an 11-7 lead over the Bulldogs.
Georgia added three runs in the bottom of the ninth, making it a one-run ball game, 11-10. Jessie Snodgrass (Lebanon, Tenn.) came to the mound in the bottom of the ninth to close the game for the Bruins.
BU had 17 hits, 16 of those were singles. Hickman and Moses led the team with three hits each. Akers, Breen and Beaty each had two hits
ARKANSAS-LITTLE ROCK 2-2, SIUE 1-0
LITTLE ROCK, Ark. - A good day from the pitchers wasn't enough to overcome a slow day at the plate for SIUE baseball Saturday. Cougar pitchers allowed just four runs, but SIUE scored just a single run over the course of the day. The University of Arkansas-Little Rock swept a doubleheader, defeating SIUE 2-1 and 2-0.
SIUE fell to 1-5 with the pair of losses. UALR is now 4-2.
The Cougars dropped the opener 2-1. SIUE took a lead in the first inning, generating a run with two outs in the inning. The Cougars' run came thanks to a miscue on defense. Matt Highland was hit by a pitch and moved to second on a wild pitch. Joel Greatting hit a ball to third, which was misplayed, allowing Greatting to reach, and Highland to score to make it 1-0. Ryan Mansfield followed with a double to left but was left at second base.
Kaleb Jobe doubled to left to start the fourth inning for the Trojans, and then went to third on a liner to right field. Jobe scored the game-tying run when he came home on a sacrifice fly by Ryan Scott. UALR shortstop Austin Pfeiffer waked to start the bottom of the sixth, stole second base, and then scored on an RBI-single by Ben Crumpton.
Freshmen Sam Hopkins and P.J. Schuster each allowed a run over four innings of work. Hopkins, making his first career start, allowed a run on four hits and struck out two. Schuster allowed a run on three hits and struck out five. He fell to 0-1 with the loss.
Zach Little had a pair of hits in the opener. Greatting and Mansfield had the only other hits against UALR starter Chance Cleveland, who struck out hitters in eight innings of work.
Drew Staples allowed a run on three hits over 5 2/3 innings in the second game.
Jake Stauffenberg allowed a run over the final 2 1/3 innings. He struck out two.
UALR came up with single runs in the fourth and eighth innings to earn the sweep.
The Cougars managed eight hits against UALR starter Blake Huffman, but stranded eight runners on base for the game. Huffman (1-0) earned the win. He struck out six.
Jake Michalak, making his first start at second base, went 3 for 4 to lead SIUE. Highland was 2 for 4.
AUSTIN PEAY 9, ILLINOIS STATE 6
CLARKSVILLE, Tenn. - A wild eight-run fifth inning propelled Austin Peay State University’s baseball team to a 9-6 non-conference victory against Illinois State, Saturday, at Raymond C. Hand Park.
Trailing 4-0, Austin Peay (5-1) sent 14 men to the plate in the fifth inning, scoring eight runs on six hits while Illinois State’s defense chipped in five errors. The Govs began the inning with three straight singles, catcher P.J. Torres driving home APSU’s first run. Illinois State starter Dylan Craig then sandwiched a walk to left fielder Dylan Riner, loading the bases, between a pair of outs and looked poised to escape the threat.
Austin Peay turned to reserve infielder Brett Carlson as a pinch hitter and he fell behind 1-2 before working a bases-loaded walk to keep the inning alive. Second baseman Jordan Hankins followed with a two-run double, tying the game, and Carlson scampered home on a throwing error from the outfield to give APSU a 5-4 lead.
The Govs kept the pressure on as shortstop Reed Harper followed with an RBI single and first baseman Craig Massoni posted his second hit of the inning. Illinois State’s defense followed with consecutive errors, allowing one more run to score and keeping the inning going. Designated hitter Kyle Schlatter wrapped up the scoring with a bases-loaded walk, giving APSU an 8-4 lead.
The late Austin Peay rally made a winner of starter Casey Delgado (1-1), who notched his season’s first victory despite Illinois State scoring a run in four of the first five innings. Redbirds center fielder Chad Hinshaw was a thorn in Delgado’s side, leading off the game with a single and scoring, hitting a solo home run in the third and reaching on an infield error and scoring in the fifth.
Austin Peay’s relief corps would surrender two runs over the next three innings – on shortstop Brett Kay’s two-run eighth-inning double – before closer Tyler Rogers entered the game to start the ninth. He would face the tying run at the plate with two runners in scoring position and two outs, but induced a ground out to record his season’s third save.
Center fielder Cody Hudson went 3-for-4 at the plate to lead Austin Peay’s 10-hit attack. Hankins was 2-for-5 with two RBI and Massoni chipped in a 2-for-3 outing.
Craig (0-1) had the Govs stymied through four innings before the disastrous fifth inning. He struck out the Govs in order in the first and allowed only three base runners, including one hit, through four innings. Ultimately, Craig was responsible for six runs on five hits and three walks while striking out six over 4.2 innings in the losing effort.
Hinshaw led the Redbirds offense with a 3-for-4, four run scored outing. Kay and right fielder Eric Aguilera each had two RBI.
SOUTHERN ILLINOIS 12, JACKSONVILLE STATE 4
JACKSONVILLE, Ala. - The Jacksonville State baseball team fell to Southern Illinois 12-4 on Saturday at Rudy Abbott Field in game two of the three-game series.
Cody Forsythe scattered six hits over six innings while striking out five batters to earn the win in his first start for the Salukis (4-2). Kurt Lipscomb gave up six runs in 3.2 innings of work to take the loss for the Gamecocks (2-5).
Junior Griff Gordon and freshman Paschal Petrongolo led the Gamecocks with two hits apiece with Gordon driving in one run. For the game, JSU finished with nine hits and left nine batters stranded on base.
The Salukis were led by four batters with multiple hits, including senior Austin Montgomery's 4-for-6, four-RBI effort at the plate. SIU finished with 17 hits and stranded 12 men on base in the game.
The Salukis picked up two runs in the first inning after leadoff man Jack Welch was walked on four pitches to start the game. He would later score after back-to-back singles by Matt Jones and Ryan Rosthenhausler. SIU picked up the game's second run after Rosthenhausler scored on a grounder to short.
SIU also picked up one run apiece in the second and third innings. Welch would add a RBI double in the second that scored Nick Johnson. In the third, Luke Mottashed singled up the middle to score Cody Daily. Taylor Sparks then took the mound for JSU with two outs in the inning to force a groundout to strand one man on base. Sparks finished the day pitching 2.2 innings, allowing four hits while giving up two runs and striking out three batters.
The Gamecocks finally got on the board with a two-run third inning. Ty Pierce led the frame off with a single and scored on Coty Blanchard's triple down the right field line. Blanchard would then score on Eddie Mora-Loera's single past the shortstop.
SIU would answer in the fourth inning, picking up two more runs. Leadoff hitter Rennie Troggio was hit by a pitch and promptly stole second base. With two outs in the inning, Jones singled to left field to drive in Troggio. Montgomery would then add a single to drive in Jones to push the Salukis' lead to 6-2 heading into the bottom half of the inning.
Petrongolo led off the fourth inning for JSU with a triple down the right field line. Junior Andrew Bishop would then ground out to short stop, scoring Petrongolo in the process.
The Salukis added two more runs in the fifth inning after Jones hit a two-out single that drove in two runs to extend the deficit to 8-3. The Gamecocks then stranded two runners on first and second in the bottom half of the inning.
Adam Miller led off the bottom half of the seventh with a single to right field and advanced to second off of Blanchard's groundout. He would then score on a single to right field by Gordon to score the Gamecocks' last run of the game and cut the lead to 8-4.
SIU picked up four runs over the final two innings, including three in the top of the ninth to secure the 12-4 victory.
MURRAY STATE 2, BOWLING GREEN 1
MURRAY, Ky. - Murray State starting pitcher Cameron Finch and reliever Brock Downey combined to limit Bowling Green to just one run as the Breds defeated the Falcons, 2-1, in one hour and 46 minutes Saturday afternoon at Reagan Field.
Finch (1-1) earned his first victory of the season as he allowed seven hits and struck out three over 6.2 innings. Downey (1) earned his first career save by retiring all seven hitters he faced on just 22 pitches.
BGSU starter Mike Frank (0-1) was the tough-luck loser as he allowed two runs, one earned, on just two hits and six strikeouts over seven innings. He allowed a leadoff double in the first inning, and did not give up his second hit until the seventh inning.
With the Breds holding the one-run lead in the sixth, the Falcons put together their best scoring chance as an infield single and an error on a sacrifice bunt put two runners on with no outs. A passed ball moved both runners into scoring position with no outs. Finch settled down as the heart of the Falcons lineup came up he got the three-hole hitter on a slow comebacker to the mound, and got the cleanup hitter to line into a double play on a great play by Dylan Wheeler behind the bag at second.
The Breds (3-3) wasted little time in getting on the board as Ty Stetson started the first inning with a double to left center. Brandon Elliott put down a sacrifice bunt that was thrown away, allowing Stetson to score and Elliott to reach second. After a wild pitch, Wheeler plated a run with a groundout to first.
The Falcons (2-3) got a run back in the fifth as Logan Walker doubled into the corner in right field and scored on a Jake Thomas single to left field.
SOUTHEAST MISSOURI 9, NORTH DAKOTA STATE 6
CAPE GIRARDEAU, Mo. - The Southeast Missouri baseball team fell to North Dakota State 9-6 on Saturday afternoon at Capaha Field. The Bison (3-2) outhit the Redhawks (5-2) 16 to 12 in the contest.
Alex Winkelman was tagged with the loss for the Redhawks allowing two earned runs in 1.1 innings of work out of the Redhawk bullpen.
Junior Matt Tellor led the Redhawks going 2-for-5 with two RBI and a run scored including his first home run at Southeast.
The Bison got on the board first with a run in the bottom of the first inning on three straight singles.
Southeast tied the contest in the bottom of the first inning as Andy Lennington extended his hitting streak to nine games dating back to last season with an RBI infield single.
NDSU added a run in the second inning and held a 2-1 lead until the fourth inning as Southeast recorded three runs to take their first lead of the contest at 4-2. Sophomore Ryan Barnes highlighted the inning with a two-run single as Cole Bieser added an RBI single later in the frame.
North Dakota State added six runs to take an 8-4 lead on the Redhawks as NDSU used three runs in their charge to take the lead.
Southeast responded with a brief rally in the bottom of the seventh inning after Tellor hit his first home run as a Redhawk to right field to cut the NDSU lead to 8-6.
But the Bison responded with an insurance run in the eighth on their way to a 9-6 win.
David Ernst (1-1) earned the win going six innings allowing eight hits and three earned runs. Kyle Kingsley picked up the save throwing the final 1.2 innings.
Lennington and Bieser finished the day with 2-for-5 with an RBI as Bieser added a run scored.
Starter Zack Smith went four innings allowing four runs with four walks and four strikeouts. Tony Zerrusen and Alex Siddle also made appearances.
Jon Hechtner led the Bison going 3-for-5 with a run socred. Seven Bison players had multi-hit performances.
TENNESSEE TECH 9, NIAGARA 0
COOKEVILLE, Tenn. - Brandon Thomasson hit two home runs and David Hess struck out eight batters in six strong innings as the Tennessee Tech baseball team cruised to a 9-0 victory over the Niagara Purple Eagles Saturday afternoon.
After three and half innings, it seemed as if fans were destined to see their second-straight pitcher's duel, as the teams recorded just two hits each and combined for nine early strike outs.
Thomasson changed all of that in the bottom of the fourth, smacking a solo shot to left center field to get the Golden Eagles on the board.
Tech followed up that kick-start from the junior's bat, putting up a five-run fifth inning. Three of those runs came courtesy of Thomasson, as the designated hitter launched his second homer of the game (and third of the season) deep over the left field wall.
The inning didn't start out so great as Tech immediatley recorded two outs and looked on its way to a third when the Niagara shortstop bobbled a Zach Zarzour shot. Zarzour reached on an error and began an onslaught by the Golden Eagle offense.
Center fielder Austin Wulf, who finished four-for-five, collected a single and Zach Stephens drove in Zarzour with a double. Thomasson then entered the contest and socked his three-run dinger, giving him a perfect three-for-three day.
With a new pitcher on the hill for the Purple Eagles, left fielder James Abraham immediately drew a four-pitch walk. The senior followed the walk with a theft of second base. Sophomore Dylan Bosheers cranked a fly-ball double down the right field line to drive in Abraham and rack up the fifth run of the inning.
The Golden Eagles added runs in the seventh and eighth inning off the bats of Thomasson, Zarzour, and junior Tevis Sherfield.
A sophomore right-hander, Hess pitched a gem for the Golden Eagles, striking out a season-high eight batters in six innings. He allowed just five hits, shutting down the Purple Eagle bats whenever they looked close to a scoring chance.
A trio of seniors and a junior combined with Hess to shut out Niagara. Nick Price, Zane Morton, and Josh Bryant combined to down Niagara in the seventh and eighth innings while local Cookeville product Ross Spurgeon wrapped up the win with a scoreless ninth inning.
UT MARTIN 5, IPFW 4
MARTIN, Tenn. - The University of Tennessee at Martin pitching staff racked up a season-high dozen strikeouts this afternoon and a trio of seniors accounted for four RBI as UT Martin downed IPFW 5-4 at Skyhawk Field.
Right-handers Dan Tobik, Chris Ross and Stu Jones limited the Mastodons to eight hits and just three earned runs today. Tobik did not factor in the decision but fanned seven while allowing only two runs over five innings. Ross (1-0) picked up the victory after striking out three and conceding one earned run over three frames. Jones earned his first career save after registering two punchouts in a scoreless ninth.
Wade Collins continued his hot streak to start the 2013 season, going 2-for-4 with a pair of RBI’s. Grant Glasser (2-for-4) also produced his third multi-hit game of the season while scoring and driving in a run. Byron Johann added an RBI while Brent Morris, Matt Haynes and Wes Piersall each crossed the plate for the Skyhawks (1-5).
UT Martin head coach Bubba Cates was impressed with the composure of his pitching staff, who produced double-digit strikeouts for the third time in the last four games.
The UT Martin offense also produced several timely hits, three of which went for extra-bases.
Tobik set the tone early, closing out a perfect top of the first with back-to-back strikeouts. The Skyhawks struck for two runs in the bottom-half of the inning. Matt Young singled and Brent Morris followed with a walk. Collins then laced a double to center, plating Young. The next batter – Johann – grounded out to second, scoring Morris.
The Mastodons pushed across a run in both the second and third innings to tie the game at 2-all. The Skyhawks answered with a run of their own in the bottom of the third. Glasser led things off with a single then advanced into scoring position by stealing second base. Collins then singled to right to push UT Martin ahead 3-2.
After Tobik kept IPFW off the scoreboard in the fourth, the Skyhawks added an insurance run in the bottom-half of the inning. Piersall singled up the middle with one out, then came around to score when Glasser smacked a double off the right field wall.
However, IPFW scored a pair of runs in the top of the sixth to knot the score at 4-all. Haynes ignited a rally in the bottom half, leading off with a double to right center. He advanced to third on a fielder’s choice then crossed the plate on a wild pitch to make the score 5-4.
Ross and Jones would make that score hold up. Ross retired seven straight – including back-to-back three-up, three-down innings in the seventh and eighth. Jones began the ninth with a pair of strikeouts before closing out the game by inducing a foulout to second.