TUESDAY'S SCORES
@#4 Louisville 13,
Morehead State 4
@Austin Peay 11, Southern Illinois 8
@#8 Kentucky 11,
Murray State 5
Middle Tennessee 9,
@Tennessee Tech 7
@Belmont 13, Western Kentucky 4
South Alabama 3,
@Jacksonville State 1
Saint Louis 8,
@Southeast Missouri 4
Evansville,
@UT Martin (cancelled)
#4 LOUISVILLE 13, MOREHEAD STATE 4
LOUISVILLE, Ky. - The Morehead State baseball team got off to a fast start with a three-run first inning, but struggled from that point on, falling to No. 4 Louisville, 13-4, Tuesday evening at Jim Patterson Stadium.
Louisville improved to 7-1 overall, while Morehead State fell to 4-5 on the season. This was the Eagles’ first match-up with a nationally ranked opponent this season.
The game saw multiple delays, as rain in the area pushed back first pitch by an hour and 45 minutes. That was followed by a power surge that knocked out electricity to the stadium, delaying play for another 20 minutes after four innings..
MSU’s pitching staff struggled to find the zone, walking eight Cardinal batters. Eagle left-hander Garrick Whittle was charged with his first loss of the season, while Louisville righty Dace Kime picked up win number two on the year.
The Eagles' first three batters reached base to start the game. That led to an RBI fielder’s choice by senior shortstop Chase Greenwell. A double by junior designated hitter Bobby Burns plated the final two runs of the inning.
It was all Louisville over the next six innings. The Cardinals plated five runs in the first, one run each in the second, third and fifth, before capping their scoring with another five runs in the sixth.
MSU manufactured one more run in the top of the eighth when senior catcher Drew Williams produced an RBI single, following a triple to right field by freshman pinch hitter Clark Pence.
Freshman first baseman Danny Rosenbaum led Louisville by going 2-for-3 with two runs and five RBI.
Both teams finished with 11 hits, while Morehead State committed all three errors in the contest.
AUSTIN PEAY 11, SOUTHERN ILLINOIS 8
CLARKSVILLE, Tenn. - First baseman Craig Massoni posted six RBI and Austin Peay State University’s baseball team outlasted Southern Illinois, 11-8, Tuesday night at Raymond C. Hand Park.
With the win, Austin Peay improves to 7-1 and is off to the second best start in program history, only behind the 1958 squad’s 8-0 start.
Massoni, who went 3-for-4 with six RBI, powered the Govs throughout the night. His two-run single in the third gave Austin Peay its first lead. Two innings later Massoni added a two-run home run to break a 3-3 tie.
Massoni’s third hit came in the pivotal sixth inning. With the game tied 5-5, the Govs got back-to-back walks to start the inning. Second baseman Jordan Hankins followed with an RBI double that gave APSU a lead they would not relinquish. After the Salukis walked third baseman Reed Harper, Massoni hit a flare over the infield but his single provided two key insurance runs. Southern Illinois surrendered the Govs ninth run on a wild pitch later in the inning.
Southern Illinois (4-4) scored in six of its nine innings but will leave Clarksville wondering what could have been. The Salukis loaded the bases four times and put a total of 15 base runners aboard in the fifth through eighth innings. However, they scored only five runs in that span and stranded 10 base runners.
Austin Peay reliever Ryan Quick (2-0), the first man out of the bullpen, picked up the win for the second consecutive game. He allowed two runs on one hit and two walks over 1.2 innings. Starter Zach Hall allowed three runs over 4.1 innings and did not factor into the decision. Closer Tyler Rogers recorded four outs, including two strikeouts, to notch his season’s fifth save.
Massoni was the five-hole hitter and anchor of a lineup that saw the first five hitters combine for a 10-for-21 effort at the plate. Right fielder Rolando Gautier, shortstop Kevin Corey and Hankins each had two hits and third baseman Reed Harper was 1-for-4 with two walks.
Southern Illinois’ Brad Drust (1-1) was the second man out of the bullpen and suffered the loss after allowing three runs in one-third of an inning. SIU starter Bryce Sablotny allowed five runs over 4.1 innings. The Salukis pitching staff surrendered 12 walks to Govs hitters.
Outfielder Austin Montgomery led SIU with a 1-for-4, two RBI outing. Four Salukis hitters had two hits as they match the Govs hit output (10-10).
#8 KENTUCKY 11, MURRAY STATE 5
LEXINGTON, Ky. - After sitting through a three-hour rain delay, Murray State came out swinging at #8 Kentucky as they scored four runs over the first two innings. The momentum did not carry through the late innings as the Wildcats used a big seventh inning to hand the Breds an 11-5 defeat at Cliff Hagan Stadium.
The Breds (4-4) used a two-out rally in the first inning to push across a pair of runs. Dylan Wheeler started things with a double into the left-field corner, and scored on Mike Kozlowski’s single through the right side. After Brandon Eggenschwiler reached on an error by the pitcher, Noah Zipko delivered an RBI single to right center.
The Wildcats (6-1) responded in the home-half of the inning as the first hitter reached on a wild pitch as he struck out and the second batter was hit by a pitch. A.J. Reed followed by hitting the first pitch he saw well over the wall in right field for a three-run home run.
MSU regained the lead in the second as Nick Paradossi started the inning with a double just inside the bag at third. With one out, Ty Stetson tripled over the head of the left fielder to score Paradossi. Two batters later, Wheeler hit a grounder that bounced off the third-base bag for an RBI single.
UK tied the game in the bottom of the inning as Matt Reida doubled into the gap in the right center and went to third on a Greg Fettes bloop single into left center. Lucas Witt plated the run with a single through the left side.
The Wildcats pushed across another run in the third as they loaded the bases with one out for Fettes to deliver a sacrifice fly to left center.
UK broke the game open with two outs in the seventh as Micheal Thomas delivered a pinch-hit two-run single up the middle. Austin Cousino blooped an RBI double just over the head of the third baseman, before two runs scored on bases-loaded hit by pitches. Max Kuhn plated the final run of the inning with an RBI single to left field.
The Breds added another run in the ninth as Brandon Elliott reached on a fielding error and came around to score on Zipko’s groundout to short.
Tim Vonder Haar (1-1) took the loss after allowing five runs on six hits and five strikeouts over 2.2 innings. Chandler Shepherd (1-0) earned the victory after allowing one unearned run on two hits and six strikeouts over 5.2 innings.
Paradossi finished the day by going 1-for-1 with a double and three walks. Kozlowski and Wheeler each collected two hits and an RBI, while Zipko drove in a pair of runs.
MIDDLE TENNESSEE 9, TENNESSEE TECH 7
COOKEVILLE, Tenn. - With a 7-1 lead after two innings of play, the Tennessee Tech baseball team looked well on its way to a win over in-state rival Middle Tennessee. The Blue Raiders had other plans, however, scoring eight runs over the final six innings to complete the come-from-behind win over the Golden Eagles, 9-7.
Tech jumped out to a quick two-run lead in the contest off a two-run shot from junior Zach Stephens. It marked the first home run of the season for Stephens, who finished one-for-two in the contest, drawing three walks and just missing a second long ball when a towering shot fell in the outfielder's glove at the wall.
Senior James Abraham followed Stephens with a triple off the right field wall. He was driven in with a double from the next batter, right fielder Michael Morris, that hit the gap in right center field. Shortstop Dylan Bosheers singled up the middle to bring Morris in and the Golden Eagles left the first inning with a solid 4-0 start.
After surrendering one run in the top of the second, Tech's offense jumped again, this time with two outs. With catcher Jordan Parris already on first after being hit by a pitch, Stephens and junior Brandon Thomasson, and Abraham all drew walks, bringing in a run. Morris bashed his second double of the game, a laser that just missed leaving the park, hitting the left center field wall near the top. The hit drove in two more runs as Tech finished the second inning with a 7-1 lead.
Middle Tennessee's pitchers took over from there, allowing just three more hits. Aaron Hyder, Jordan Cooper, Garrett Ring, and Paul Mittura combined to shut down the Golden Eagle bats for the rest of the contest, gathering eight strikeouts over the final seven innings.
Cooper picked up his first win of the season for the Blue Raiders, pitching 3.2 innings. Mittura earned his fourth save of the year, retiring two batters in the ninth inning to finalize the comeback for Middle Tennessee.
Making his first career start in the contest was Golden Eagle sophomore Byron Skinner. Skinner pitched 3.1 innings, allowing just two earned runs and four hits along the way. Also making appearances for Tech were Ross Spurgeon, Josh Bryant, Zane Morton, Stanton Taylor, and Andy Williams. Morton was pegged with the loss after gathering his first win of the year on Sunday.
Blue Raider catcher Michael Adkins had a career-day at the plate, going four-for-four with a walk and an RBI.
Morris led the Golden Eagles, collecting three hits in four at-bats. He drove in a season-high three runners and also gathered a walk and scored a run.
BELMONT 13, WESTERN KENTUCKY 4
NASHVILLE - Behind an eight-run second inning, Belmont Baseball (6-2) defeated Western Kentucky 13-4, Tuesday afternoon at Rose Park. This was Belmont's largest win over WKU since 1961.
Josh Davis (Fayetteville, Ga.) capped an eight-run second inning for the Bruins. Davis and Jared Breen (Marietta, Ga.) both singled up the middle. Neil Hickman (Hermitage, Tenn.) flied out to center advancing the runners before Dom Veltri (Clarksville, Tenn.) drew a walk to load the bases.
In his first collegiate at-bat, Austin Loyd (Snellville, Ga.) reached on a fielder's choice to score Davis. A single from Alec Diamond (Kennesaw, Ga.) scored Breen for BU's second run of the inning, bringing Drew Ferguson (Knoxville, Tenn.) to the plate who doubled to center scoring Loyd and Veltri.
Davis singled to score two more runs for the Bruins before Breen doubled down the left field line to bring home Judah Akers (Cookeville, Tenn.) and Davis giving BU an 8-0 lead over the visiting Hilltoppers.
Belmont added two more runs in the bottom of the sixth when Drew Turner (Shelbyville, Tenn.) singled out to center, scoring Diamond. Akers hit into a double play to plate Ferguson and give the Bruins a 10-0.
Western Kentucky got on the board in the top of the seventh when WKU's David Simmons hit a sacrifice fly to center to score Anderson Miller.
Veltri reached first on an error from the WKU short stop and scored on a triple from Ray Eastman (Oro Valley, Ariz.). Diamond stepped up to the plate and blasted a triple scoring Eastman, and a sacrifice fly from Akers scored Diamond, putting the Bruins up 13-1.
Dan Ludwig (Naperville, Tenn.) saw seven innings of work giving up six hits and one run. The left-hander struck out six. Blake Harvey (Murfreesboro, Tenn.) came on to relieve Ludwig in the top of the eighth.
The Hilltoppers hit a leadoff triple in the eighth and scored three runs, making the score 13-4.
In the ninth, Jessie Snodgrass (Lebanon, Tenn.) came to the hill to close the game. The right-hander ended the inning without allowing a hit.
Breen and Diamond each had three hits for the Bruins and Davis added two. Five players had a pair of RBIs.
SOUTH ALABAMA 3, JACKSONVILLE STATE 1
JACKSONVILLE, Ala. - South Alabama scored two unearned runs in the eighth inning as the Jaguars rallied for a 3-1 win over Jacksonville State at Rudy Abbott Field on Tuesday afternoon.
Tripp Cecil (2-0) had four strikeouts and did not allow a hit in the final 2 2/3 innings to earn the win for the Jaguars, while Cody Ponder (0-1) was the tough luck loser for the Gamecocks after allowing just one hit, but gave up two unearned runs to suffer the loss.
Gamecock starter Taylor Shields pitched seven strong innings on the mound and allowed just one hit and had a career-high seven strikeouts. The Gadsden, Ala., native threw 100 pitches and walked just two in his longest outing of the year, but did not factor into the decision.
Jax State (3-6) took a 1-0 lead in the third inning after Adam Miller led off with a single to left field and moved to second on a ground ball. Coty Blanchard followed with a single to left center to score Miller and give the Gamecocks the early lead.
South Alabama (8-0) tied the game in the fifth inning after Dustin Dalken led off with an infield single and moved to second on a sacrifice bunt and to third on a Gamecock throwing error. Graham Odom then hit a deep fly ball to center field to score Dalkin on a sacrifice fly and tie the game at 1-1.
The Jaguars took the lead in the eighth inning after Cole Billingsley reached on a the third Gamecock error of the day and moved to second on a sacrifice bunt. Ponder then got the second out of the inning with a groundout to Jeff DeBlieux and the Gamecocks intentionally walked Jordan Patterson, before Nolan Earley delivered just the second hit of the day for USA on a nine-pitch at-bat to score both runs for the final margin.
Blanchard had two of the Gamecocks' four hits on the day, while Griff Gordon and Adam Miller each had a hit for JSU. Dalken and Earley each had a hit for South Alabama.
SAINT LOUIS 8, SOUTHEAST MISSOURI 4
CAPE GIRARDEAU, Mo. - The Southeast Missouri baseball team drop the first game of a home and home season series against in-state rival Saint Louis 8-4 Tuesday evening at Capaha Field. The loss drops the Redhawks to 6-3 overall as the Billikens move to 5-2.
Junior Derek Gibson led the Redhawks going 2-for-3 with a run scored with a pair of walks.
The Redhawks got on the board in the bottom of the first inning with a pair of runs. Sophomore Andy Lennington drove in Cole Bieser on an RBI single as the Ohio Valley Conference leader in RBI knocked in his 13th of the season. Lennington also extended his hitting streak to 11 games with the base knock.
The Billikens added five runs in the second inning on five hits as they jumped out to a 5-2 lead. Michael Bozarth highlighted the frame with a two-run double. Saint Louis added two more runs in the sixth inning on another two-run double as they took a 7-2 advantage.
The Redhawks added two-runs in the bottom of the seventh inning as they loaded the bases twice in the frame. Junior Matt Tellor recorded a two-run single in the frame to cut the SLU advantage to 7-4, but the Billikens got out of the inning.
Saint Louis added another run in the eighth inning on a solo home run to left field by Alex Kelly as they took the contest 8-4.
Senior Ryan Kendall (0-1) was tagged with the loss on the mound going 1.2 innings allowing four hits and three earned runs. Freshman Alex Winkelman, Tony Zerrusen, Trevor Kill, Bobby Hurst, Skylar Cobb and Alex Siddle each saw time out of the Southeast bullpen.
Tellor added a pair of hits for the Redhawks to go along with a pair of RBI as the Redhawks recorded eight hits on a chilly night at Capaha Field.
Brett Vanover (1-0) picked up the win for the Billikens going four innings with six strikeouts. Kelly added three hits for SLU including his second home run of the season.