SUNDAY'S SCORES
Missouri State 5,
Eastern Illinois 4 (Hattiesburg, Miss.)
Morehead State 5, @Gardner-Webb 3
@Austin Peay 6, Illinois State 4
Belmont 5, @Georgia 4 (11)
@Jacksonville State 5, Southern Illinois 4
@Murray State 8, Bowling Green 6
@Southeast Missouri 13, North Dakota State 7
@Arkansas-Little Rock 13,
SIUE 1
@Tennessee Tech 10, Niagara 9 (11)
@UT Martin 1-4, IPFW 0-3
Eastern Kentucky 7, @Winthrop 6
MISSOURI STATE 5, EASTERN ILLINOIS 4
HATTIESBURG, Miss. - The Panther baseball team dropped its final game of the Southern Miss Tournament, 5-4, against Missouri State on Sunday afternoon at Pete Taylor Park. EIU falls to 2-5 on the year.
Tied at four heading into the bottom of the ninth inning, Koby Peebles hit a walk-off RBI double to give Missouri State the win. The Bears improved to 5-1 on the year.
EIU took a 2-0 advantage in the top of the fourth inning on back-to-back RBI singles by Trey Russell and Tyler Schweigert. Missouri State responded by scoring three runs on three hits in the bottom of the frame, taking a 3-2 lead.
Dylan Becker hit a two-out RBI single in the sixth inning to give the Bears a 4-2 lead before EIU added one run in each of the next two innings to tie the game at four. Nathan Sopena scored in the seventh inning on Caleb Howell fielder’s choice while Demetre Taylor drove in the tying run in the eighth inning on a sacrifice fly to centerfield.
Missouri State had three more hits (11-8) than EIU and left five more runners on base (12-7). Neither team committed an error in the contest.
Treysen Vavra led the Panthers at the plate, going 2-for-4 with a run scored. Seven EIU batters had at least one hit on the day.
Jaden Widdersheim (1-2) took the loss for EIU, surrendering five hits and one run in one inning. He also threw three strikeouts and walked one batter.
Tyler Burgess (2-0) earned the win for the Bears, surrendering one hit and no runs in 0.2 innings. Tyler Thompson made the start and went 5.1 innings with six strikeouts. Eric Cheray led the team offensively, going 3-for-4 at the plate with two RBI and a run.
MOREHEAD STATE 5, GARDNER-WEBB 3
BOILING SPRINGS, N.C. - Freshman third baseman Alan Mocahbee knocked in three runs on two hits to help the Morehead State baseball team to a 5-3 victory over Gardner-Webb on Sunday afternoon at Bill Masters Field.
The Eagles (4-4) were able to avoid the sweep by the Runnin Bulldogs (5-1-1), and stopped their four-game skid after starting the season 3-0.
MSU freshman right-hander Tyler Keele picked up the first win of his career, while GWU senior righty Brock Wilson was charged with the loss. Senior hurler Austin Haney picked up his first save of the season for the Eagles.
Three different Eagles racked up multiple hits on the afternoon as sophomore first baseman Kane Sweeney (3-for-5) and senior shortstop Chase Greenwell (2-for-4) joined Mocahbee with that distinction.
MSU plated three runs in the first inning, with sophomore center fielder Duran Elmore scoring the first on an error by GWU sophomore second baseman Scott Johnson. Later in the inning, with the bases loaded and two outs, Mocahbee smacked a line-drive single to right field that sent home Sweeney and Greenwell.
GWU battled back in the bottom of the fifth inning, scoring three runs to tie the game.
The Eagles answered in the top of the sixth, plating two runs to push the score to 5-3. Sweeney started the inning with an infield single and Greenwell followed with a double. Junior designated hitter Bobby Burns plated Sweeney with an RBI single. Mocahbee then knocked in his third run on the contest with a RBI fielder’s choice that scored Greenwell.
AUSTIN PEAY 6, ILLINOIS STATE 4
CLARKSVILLE, Tenn. - Junior first baseman Craig Massoni's big day at the plate propelled Austin Peay State University's baseball team to a 6-4 victory against Illinois State, Sunday, and a sweep of the three-game series at Raymond C. Hand Park.
Massoni finished the day 2-for-2 with three RBI, a walk and was hit by a pitch. He walked and scored the Govs first run when center fielder Cody Hudson doubled high off the wall in center. Massoni posted the Govs third run with his solo home run to left center in the fourth. However, he saved his biggest hit when the Govs were trailing, his two-run double putting the Govs back ahead 5-4.
Prior to Massoni's heroics, Austin Peay (6-1) struggled to take advantage of opportunities provided by the Illinois State pitching staff. While the Govs posted just six hits in the game, Illinois State walked nine batters and added two hit batsmen. The Govs turned only three of those walks into runs - Massoni's in the second and two eighth-inning walks that preceded Masson's go-ahead single.
Austin Peay starter A.J. Gaura kept Illinois State in check through three-plus innings, retiring 10 of the first 12 batters he faced, including six by strikeout. He ran into trouble in the fourth when he surrendered three straight two-out singles, including a RBI single, before escaping the inning with his seventh strikeout.
Illinois State (2-4) kept battling in the fifth, capitalizing when Gaura surrendered a single and a hit batsman with one out. Third baseman Zac Johnson brought home a run with a single and right fielder Eric Aguilera tied the game, 3-3, with a RBI double.
The Redbirds took their only lead of the contest in the seventh when reliever Ryan Quick allowed three consecutive hitters to reach base safely with two outs. Aguilera was the last of the trio and his RBI single put Illinois State up 4-3.
That lead lasted until the seventh when the first three Govs hitters reached base and Massoni capitalized on the opportunity with his two-run single. Catcher P.J. Torres would add a run with a sacrifice fly, for the 6-4 advantage.
Quick retired the Redbirds in order in the eighth and closer Tyler Rogers struck out two of the four batters he faced in the ninth to clinch the win. Quick (1-0) notched his first win after striking out five over three innings, allowing one run on two hits. Rogers record his fourth save in as many opportunities this season.
Massoni led an Austin Peay offense that scored six runs on six hits. Second baseman Jordan Hankins went 2-for-4 in the series finale.
Illinois State's Joe Claver (1-1) suffered the loss in relief, allowing two runs on a hit and four walks over 2.1 innings. ISU starter Dan Savas lasted just 3.2 innings, allowing three runs on three this and four walks.
Aguilera led Illinois State's offense with a 4-for-4, two RBI performance as the Redbirds posted 11 hits against Govs pitching.
BELMONT 5, GEORGIA 4 (11)
ATHENS, Ga. - A rally in the eleventh inning pushed Belmont Baseball (5-2) past Georgia Sunday afternoon in the series finale, 5-4. The Bruins were able to hold off a late rally from the Bulldogs in the bottom of the eleventh as UGA scored a pair of runs to make it a one-run ball game.
Judah Akers (Cookeville, Tenn.) blasted his second home run of the season over the left field wall in the top of the first to put the Bruins on top, 1-0.
In the bottom of the second, Georgia's Hunter Cole hit a solo homer out to right, tying the game at 1-1.
James Buckelew (Lawrenceville, Ga.) got out of a bases loaded jam in the bottom of the third, when Cole lined into a double play at second base.
Georgia's Brett DeLoach hit the Bulldogs' second homer of the day out to left center, putting UGA up 2-1 in the bottom of the fourth.
Drew Ferguson (Knoxville, Tenn.) doubled down the left field line in the sixth and a single from Jared Breen (Marietta, Ga.) scored the tying run.
Buckelew had a season long outing of 6.2 innings. The left hander allowed eight hits and struck out three before he was relieved by Jessie Snodgrass (Lebanon, Tenn.). Snodgrass went faced six batters, striking out one and giving up a hit.
Jamie Ritchie (Buford, Ga.) hit a leadoff single and advanced two bases on a pair of wild pitches. With Ritchie in scoring position, Alec Diamond (Kennesaw, Ga.) drew a walk before Ferguson was hit by a pitch to load the bases. Breen grounded into a double player to the catcher.
Scott Moses (Englewood, Tenn.) came to the hill in the ninth. He gave up one hit and struck out one.
The final game of the series was the second extra innings game of the series between the Bruins and the Bulldogs. It was also the second extra innings game of the season for BU.
Dom Veltri (Clarksville, Tenn.) drew a leadoff walk in the tenth. Ritchie reached on a fielder's choice and Veltri was out at second. Alec Diamond flied out to center, ending the top half of the inning.
In the bottom of the tenth, Josh Davis (Fayetteville, Ga.) went to the mound after starting the game at third base. Davis saw an inning of work giving up one hit and striking out one.
Ferguson and Breen both drew walks in the eleventh before both advanced on a balk. Akers drew a walk, loading the bases with no outs. Ferguson scored on a wild pitch and Davis drew a walk keeping the bases loaded.
The runners advanced on another wild pitch from Georgia reliever Jared Walsh, but Breen was out at home. Veltri singled through the left side to score Akers and Davis to give BU a 5-2 lead.
A double from Ritchie put Veltri on third before Moses was walked to load the bases again, but Diamond grounded out to the short stop leaving three left on.
Veltri relieved Davis on the mound to close the game. The right hander gave up four hits in his inning of work.
In the bottom of the eleventh, UGA scored a pair of runs to make it a one-run game, but the Bruins held them off to take win the game.
JACKSONVILLE STATE 5, SOUTHERN ILLINOIS 4
JACKSONVILLE, Ala. - Griff Gordon had a pair of hits and drove in a run to lead Jacksonville State to a 5-4 win over Southern Illinois in the series finale on Sunday.
Casey Antley (2-0) scattered six hits and allowed four runs to earn his second win of the season. Travis Stout retired the final five outs to pick up his second save of the year for the Gamecocks. Aaron Snyder (1-1) gave up two unearned runs, but got stuck with the loss for the Salukis.
Jacksonville State (3-5) took a 1-0 lead in the first inning after Coty Blanchard led the game off with a double to left center and moved to third after Eddie Mora-Loera hit a deep fly to right field. Blanchard then stole home to give the Gamecocks the early lead.
Southern Illinois (4-3) took the lead in the second inning after scoring four runs, thanks to Jake Welch and Ryan Rosthenhausler who each drove in two runs to give the Salukis a 4-1 lead.
Jax State cut into the lead in the fourth inning after Gordon led off with a single to left field and came in to score after Paschal Petrongolo tripled down the right field line. Andrew Bishop followed with an infield grounder to score Gordon and cut the SIU lead to 4-3.
The Gamecocks took the lead in the seventh inning after Zach Elbirt reached on an error, stole second and went to third on another Salukis throwing error. Adam Miller had a pinch-hit single up the middle to tie the game at 4-4, before Gordon drove in the go-ahead run with an infield RBI grounder to give JSU a 5-4 lead.
Cody Ponder came in to pitch the top of the eighth and struck out Welch, before giving way to Stout, who got the next five outs and earn the save.
Mora-Loera extended his hitting streak to eight games with a single in the seventh inning, while Gordon extended his hitting streak to five games. Matt Jones and Brock Harding each had two hits to lead Southern Illinois.
MURRAY STATE 8, BOWLING GREEN 6
MURRAY, Ky. - In a back-and-forth game that saw a combined six errors, it was Murray State that did just enough to earn the victory and complete the sweep of Bowling Green with an 8-6 victory Sunday afternoon at Reagan Field.
The Breds (4-3) jumped out to a big early lead as they sent nine hitters to plate in the first inning. Ty Stetson started things with a single up the middle and went to third as a wild pitch on ball four to Dylan Wheeler put runners on second and third with one out. Mike Kozlowski drew a walk to load the bases before a costly error on a chopper to third scored a run and kept the bases loaded. Wheeler raced home on a passed ball before Dalton West cleared the bases with a double into the gap in right center.
The Falcons (2-4) took advantage of a fielding error to spark a two-out rally in the third. T.J. Losby started the rally with a single to right before a fielding error put runners on the corners. Jeremy Shay drove in the runner from third with a perfectly placed ball through the left side.
BGSU battled all the way back and took a one-run lead as they scored five runs in the fourth inning. The damage was again done with two outs as Andrew Kubuski beat out an infield single to drive in a run, before Losby plated two runs with a single to left center. After a wild pitch scored the fourth run, Shay drove in a run with a single through the right side.
MSU quickly regained the lead in the home-half of the inning as Greg Guest and Paul Ritzheimer singled with one out. Stetson drove in a run with a double to left field, before Brandon Elliott plated a run with a groundout to second.
The Breds added an insurance run in the seventh as Mathews singled to right and West doubled down to left field with one out. Greg Guest followed with an infield singled off the glove of a drawn-in shortstop to score Mathews.
The Falcons threatened again in the ninth inning as they loaded the bases with two outs. Reliever Andrew Bramley put an end to the threat by getting a comebacker to the mound to end the game.
Sheldon Baxter (1-1) got the victory after allowing three runs over 1.1 innings. Bramley (1) earned the save after striking out two and giving up two hits over four innings. Trevor Blaylock (0-2) took the loss after surrendering seven runs, six earned, on four hits and four walks over 3.1 innings.
West led the offense by going 2-for-4 with a pair of doubles and three RBIs. Stetson went 3-for-5 with an RBI, while Mathews and Guest each collected a pair of hits.
SOUTHEAST MISSOURI 13, NORTH DAKOTA STATE 7
CAPE GIRARDEAU, Mo. - The Southeast Missouri baseball team scored seven runs in the seventh and eighth innings on their way to a 13-7 comeback win over North Dakota State Sunday afternoon at Capaha Field. The Redhawks scored a season-high 13 runs and recorded a season-high 18 hits in the contest.
Six Redhawks recorded multi-hit games with Andy Lack and Jason Blum adding three hits apiece to lead Southeast. Junior Hank Williams, Jr. earned the win throwing two scoreless innings with three strikeouts as he moved to 2-0 on the season.
The Bison got on the board first in the top of the opening frame with a solo home run from Blake Turbak. Sophomore Andy Lennington tied the game at 1-1 in the bottom of the first and extended his hitting streak to 10 games after an RBI single that scored Cole Bieser, who reached on a double down the right field line.
North Dakota State added three runs in the top of the second inning on back-to-back doubles to take back the lead 4-1.
The Bison extended their lead to 5-1 with a sacrifice fly in the top of the third inning. Lennington followed in the bottom of the frame and added another RBI single to cut the Bison lead to 5-2.
The Redhawks cut the NDSU lead to one at 5-4 in the fourth inning on a two-run single to centerfield by Bieser. The Bison extended their led with another run to make it 6-4 on a balk by Skylar Cobb in the fifth inning.
Southeast battled back and tied the contest at 6-6 in the sixth inning on a two-run single by Matt Tellor that scored Blum and Tyler Boxwell, who reached on his first career hit.
The Redhawks took their first lead of the game in the seventh inning on an RBI double into the right field corner from redshirt freshman Andy Lack.
Southeast added to their lead in the eighth inning with six runs on three hits as the Bison committed three errors in the frame. Lack highlighted the outburst in the frame with an RBI single as the Redhawks would hold on in the top of the ninth inning for the 13-7 win.
Blum finished the contest with an RBI and three runs scored. Lack followed with a pair of RBI and a run scored for Southeast.
Bieser and Lennington finished his day 2-for-4 with two RBI and a run scored. Derek Gibson, Ryan Barnes and Dalton Hewitt also added a pair of hits.
Southeast starter Will Spitzfaden went four innings allowing eight hits and six earned runs. Cobb, Trevor Kill and Bobby Hurst also saw time with Williams, Jr. out of the Redhawks bullpen as they only allowed an earned run on three hits over five innings.
Jon Hechtner led the Bison offensively going 2-for-4 with two RBI. Parker Trewin (0-1) was tagged with the loss as the Bison used seven pitchers in the contest.
ARKANSAS-LITTLE ROCK 13, SIUE 1
LITTLE ROCK, Ark. - Arkansas-Little Rock scored 13 times on 12 hits Sunday afternoon to defeat SIUE 13-1 and sweep the three-game baseball series from the Cougars.
The Cougars, now 1-6, managed just five hits Sunday afternoon. James Vazquez was 1 for 2 and had the lone RBI for SIUE. It came on a sacrifice fly in the third innings. Travis Becherer scored on the play after he walked to start the inning.
Joel Greatting, Ryan Mansfield, Zach Little and Michael Monaghan each had hits. Stoecklin said Mansfield, who had three doubles over the course of the series, did well.
Ethan Schlecte allowed the run on three hits to earn the win for UALR. He struck out six and walked three. Three pitchers combined for three shutout innings in relief for the Trojans who improved to 5-2.
Brooks McDowell started for the Cougars and allowed 10 runs, nine earned, on eight hits through 4 2/3 innings. He walked one and struck out two. McDowell, who tossed an inning of relief Friday, fell to 0-1 with the los.
Luke Ingersoll, Dylan Brown and Tony Schaeffer worked in relief for the Cougars. Schaeffer struck out two in a pair of scoreless innings.
TENNESSEE TECH 10, NIAGARA 9 (11)
COOKEVILLE, Tenn. - Trailing 8-3 in the sixth inning, all looked bleak for the Tennessee Tech baseball team. The Golden Eagles (4-3) never gave in, however, capping a five-run comeback with a bases loaded walk in the bottom of the 11th inning to defeat Niagara (1-6), 10-9.
Second baseman Zach Zarzour led off the for the Golden Eagles in the bottom of the 11th inning, roping a double down the right field line. After a sacrifice bunt by Austin Wulf advanced Zarzour to third, the Purple Eagles opted to intentionally walk juniors Zach Stephens and Brandon Thomasson to load the bases and try for a double play. Niagara even brought in the center fielder as a fifth infielder to prevent any chance of a ground ball getting through.
Golden Eagle senior James Abraham came through in the clutch, patiently forcing Niagara's starting right fielder, who came in to pitch in the bottom of the ninth inning, to pitch to him. Gold trumped purple in the showdown as Abraham earned a four-pitch walk to give Tech its fourth win of the season.
With a five-run deficit hanging over their heads, the Golden Eagle bats put together a fantastic rally in the sixth and seventh innings. Sparking the comeback was the top of the order for Tech offense, as both Zarzour and Wulf earned full-count walks to open the bottom of the sixth. Stephens followed it up by ripping a single throught left side of the infield, driving Zarzour in for an RBI and advancing Wulf to second.
Perhaps no Tech player made a bigger impact with his bat this weekend than Thomasson. Following a career-performance in which he homered twice and drove in five RBI while going three-for-three the day before, the junior hammered a three-run shot on the first pitch he saw. His three-run jack brought the Golden Eagles within one run and gave the designated hitter his fourth home run of the year and third in two days.
Tech went on to score in the seventh to tie the contest at 8-8 with a fielder's choice ground ball RBI by Wulf.
The Purple Eagles looked destined to win the game in the 10th, following an RBI single by Niagara second baseman Michael Furhman. TTU wanted none of that, however, using gutsy play from senior Zephan Guyear to rally once more. Guyear lasered a one-out double down the left field line to drive in Abraham to ties things up at 9-9 and take it to the 11th.
Guyear showed real moxy on the next play, taking off from second before the pitcher even threw a pitch. Noticing that no one was covering third, the senior dove head first and raised his right arm to avoid a diving tag by a recovering third baseman to nab his first stolen base of the year.
While Niagara escaped from the inning, the play put a secondary charge into the Golden Eagle team, driving Stephens to making a web-gem at first base with the Purple Eagles threatening.
After two quick outs to start the 11th, the Purple Eagle right fielder-turned-pitcher Jordan Schwartz recorded a double to keep Niagara in it. Senior Zane Morton came on in relief for the Golden Eagles after a walk gave Niagara two men on with two outs. The submarine-style hurler forced lead-off man Kevin Paulsen to pop up towards the right field fence.
This is where Stephenson made perhaps his biggest impact of the game. With the ball sailing high and towards the out-of-play area, the first baseman ran full speed into the fence grabbing it just as it went foul. He held on to end the inning and record perhaps the biggest out of the game.
The Golden Eagles used seven pitchers to piece together the 10-9 victory, getting assistance from starter Jacob Honea and relievers Garrett Baugh, Stanton Taylor, Seth Lucio, Justin Alexander, Nick Price, and Morton. Morton earned the win for Tech, his first of the year.
Seven Tech players drove in runs as Thomasson and Michael Morris led the way with three and two RBI, respectively. Zarzour and Abraham paced the offense in terms of hits, gathering three each. both players also walked and scored twice.
UT MARTIN 1-4, IPFW 0-3
MARTIN, Tenn. - Dominant pitching carried The University of Tennessee at Martin baseball team to a 1-0 shutout in Game 1 of a doubleheader today against IPFW, while a three-run bottom of the sixth propelled the Skyhawks past the Mastodons in a 4-3 seven-inning Game 2 this afternoon at Skyhawk Field.
The UT Martin pitching staff was once again outstanding today, as six Skyhawk hurlers combined for 21 strikeouts on the day (10 in Game 1, 11 in Game 2). That marks the fifth time in the last six games that UT Martin has piled up double-figure strikeout totals. Dalton Potts (career-best four strikeouts in three shutout innings) earned his first career victory in Game 1, while John Skubina also picked up his first career win after fanning a career-high five batters over 2.2 perfect innings in Game 2. Junior closer Stu Jones collected his second save in as many days in Game 1, while the Skyhawks allowed only nine hits and two earned runs over 16 innings on the day.
At the plate, Wade Collins went 4-for-7 with a pair of multi-hit games today. Freshman Kenny King went 3-for-6 and was responsible for three of the team’s five RBI on the day – including his first career homer in Game 2. Brent Morris also tallied three hits in six at-bats and drove in the go-ahead run in Game 2 for UT Martin, who compiled 16 hits in the doubleheader.
In game one Nico Zych had a two-hit game and scored the game’s lone run off a King sacrifice fly in the bottom of the eighth to give UT Martin a 1-0 victory.
Starting pitcher Taylor Cox was flawless on the hill, fanning five (all looking) while conceding only four hits over five scoreless innings. In the process, he lowered his season ERA to 0.61 through two starts.
Cox compiled a pair of strikeouts in the first inning. UT Martin put two men on base in the bottom half of the inning but couldn’t generate a run. The Skyhawks put together back-to-back singles to open the second inning but could not push a run across.
Cox ran into a bit of trouble in the third but pitched around it thanks to a triple play. With runners on first and second, IPFW’s Shane Trevino lined a ball to left field and Grant Glasser charged in to make a catch on the run. Glasser then fired to Wes Piersall at second base for the second out, while Piersall turned and delivered a strike to a stretching Collins to complete the rare feat.
Potts entered the game in the top of the sixth and bounced back from two straight walks to strike out three straight Mastodons. UT Martin opened the sixth with back-to-back singles but once again couldn’t get on the scoreboard. Potts then escaped a minor jam in the seventh, inducing an inning-ending 5-4-3 double play.
After the Skyhawk offense had two more baserunners aboard in the seventh, they finally broke through in the bottom of the eighth. Zych led things off with a double down the left field line and he advanced to third on a Collins single. The next batter – King – lifted a high fly ball out to right field for a sacrifice fly to break the scoreless tie.
IPFW managed to load the bases with one out in the ninth, but Jones bounced back strong with a strikeout and groundout to first to put the finishing touches on the shutout.
In game two King had two hits, two runs scored and two RBI as the Skyhawks pieced together four straight two-out hits in the bottom of the eighth for the 4-3 win.
UT Martin starting pitcher Alex Boshers retired the side in order in the top of the first and ended the second inning with back-to-back strikeouts.
King then crushed a 1-0 pitch over the left field wall to lead off the top of the second, giving the Skyhawks a one-run advantage. IPFW would tie the score with one run in the third and eventually took a 3-1 lead thanks to a two-run homer in the fourth.
Skubina entered the game with baserunners on the corners in the fifth, relieving John Houston (2.1 innings, one hit, three strikeouts). Skubina immediately put an end to a potential IPFW rally, striking out two straight to keep the score at 3-1. He then came out and retired the side on just nine pitches – including two strikeouts – in a scoreless sixth.
After IPFW recorded two quick outs in the bottom of the sixth, the Skyhawk rally began. Pinch hitter Phil Sorensen cranked a double to right field, then came around to score when Collins also ripped a double to right field. King then singled home Collins to tie the game at 3-3, bringing Morris to the plate. The junior outfielder delivered, launching a towering double that one-hopped the wall out in centerfield to score King and give UT Martin a 4-3 lead.
That was all the protection Skubina would need, as he needed only seven pitches to retire the side in order in the seventh and final frame.
EASTERN KENTUCKY 7, WINTHROP 6
ROCK HILL, S.C. - Eastern Kentucky overcame a 4-2 deficit to beat host Winthrop 7-6 on Sunday at the Coca-Cola Classic.
The Colonels (3-3) started their rally in the fifth. With runners at second and third, Doug Teegarden’s ground out was enough to bring Austin Grisham home and make it a one-run game.
EKU took the lead in the sixth. With two outs and two on, a single by Grisham tied the game. Moments later John Wilson scored the go-ahead run on a Winthrop error. Eastern added to its lead in the top of the ninth. Demetrius Moorer led off with a walk and then stole second base. Luke Wurzelbacher followed with a RBI single. A sacrifice fly by Alex Hughes brought Wurzelbacher home and pushed the lead to 7-4.
The Colonels would need every one of those runs as the Eagles (2-4) attempted to rally in the bottom of the ninth. After a ground ball retired the first batter of the inning, five straight batters reached base for Winthrop. With two on, Matt Lobacz singled to center to score Leighton Daniels. Two batters later, TJ Olesczuk’s single cut the deficit to a single run with only one out and the bases still loaded.
Myles Scott came on to pitch and struck out the first batter he faced. He then got a ground ball from Jace Whitley to end the game.
Grisham was the only Colonel to finish with more than one hit, going 2-for-4 with a run and an RBI. Six others had one hit. Hughes drove in a pair. Moorer was 0-for-3 but drew two walks, had two steals and scored twice.
Brent Cobb (1-1) earned the win. He came on in the fifth and tossed four and one-third innings. He allowed two runs, only one earned, on five hits. He walked one and struck out one. Scott earned his second save of the season after getting the final two outs.
Shane Grimm started for Eastern. He allowed four earned runs on eight hits in four innings. The senior walked three and struck out five.
Cody Dolan went 3-for-5 with two runs scored for Winthrop. Clay Altman also had three hits.