SATURDAY'S SCORES
Southeast Missouri 10-8, @Morehead State 5-11
Belmont 1-13, @Eastern Kentucky 0-6
@SIUE 13-1, Murray State 12-8
Jacksonville State 19, @Austin Peay 9
Tennessee Tech 13, @UT Martin 8
Eastern Illinois 7-3, @Illinois State 2-18
SOUTHEAST MISSOURI 10-8, MOREHEAD STATE 5-11
MOREHEAD, Ky. - With a game-winning, three-run triple in the bottom of the eighth by sophomore catcher Chris Robinson, the Morehead State baseball team secured a series win over Southeast Missouri, winning game two of a Saturday doubleheader, 11-8.
SEMO took game one of the twinbill 10-5 when Redhawk junior first baseman Matt Tellor collected four hits, including two home runs.
The Eagles improved to 9-15 on the season, while the Redhawks ended the series at 12-13. Both clubs are now 4-5 in Ohio Valley Conference play, and the 2-1 series win was MSU's second of the year.
MSU got off to an auspicious start in game two, allowing five unearned runs on three throwing errors in the first two innings. The Eagles fought back with three runs in the bottom of the first, capped off by a two-run homer to center field by senior shortstop Chase Greenwell.
SEMO tacked on two more in the top of the third to bring the Redhawk lead to 7-3. The Eagles tied the game at seven with a four-run fourth inning, on two singles and a pair of doubles. Both teams added one in the seventh, before Robinson's game winner.
Freshman third baseman Alan Moacahbee went 4-for-5 with an RBI and scored three times in game two. He recorded eight hits in the series. Greenwell (2-for-3, 2 RBI, 2 R), junior designated hitter Bobby Burns (2-for-4, 1 R) and Robinson (2-for-4, 3 RBI) also recorded multiple hits in game two.
Senior right-hander Austin Haney got the win in game two to move to 2-1 on the season, while SEMO senior righty Tony Zerrusen was charged with the loss out of the bullpen.
In game one, SEMO scored the game's final five runs, with two each in the seventh and ninth and one in the eighth, as it rallied past the Eagles with 18 hits. Four SEMO players had at least three hits.
Greenwell led the Eagle offense, which recorded 10 hits, with a 3-for-5 effort. Freshman pitcher Clark Pence (0-1) absorbed the loss, while Southeast Missouri's Tyler Thomas improved to 1-0 with the victory. He only recorded the final two outs to get out of the sixth, but SEMO grabbed the lead in the top of the seventh.
BELMONT 1-13, EASTERN KENTUCKY 0-6
RICHMOND, Ky. - Belmont swept a doubleheader from Eastern Kentucky on Saturday, winning 1-0 and 13-6.
With a career day from Austin Coley (Murfreesboro, Tenn.) on the mound, Belmont Baseball (16-6, 4-1) defeated Eastern Kentucky, 1-0, in game one of Saturday's doubleheader.
Coley went seven innings and recorded ten strikeouts. He gave up six hits during his outing and did not allow a walk.
The Bruins put together a threat with back-to-back walks and a sac bunt, Drew Turner (Shelbyville, Tenn.) advanced the runners but BU was unable to score any runs in the second.
Alec Diamond (Kennesaw, Ga.) drew a leadoff walk and advanced to third on a single to right from Jared Breen (Marietta, Ga.). The short stop successfully stole his fourth base of the season, but Belmont stranded two.
Singles from Matt Beaty (Dresden, Tenn.) and Scott Moses (Englewood, Tenn.) put runners on the corners with one out before Moses advanced to second on a wild pitch.
Dom Veltri (Clarksville, Tenn.) grounded out to the EKU second baseman to bring home Beaty and give the Bruins a 1-0 lead.
Veltri made an exceptional defensive play in left field in the bottom of the fifth and led off the sixth inning with a single.
Veltri singled to right after Moses walked to lead off the inning. Diamond attempted a squeeze play but Moses was out at the plate. Veltri and Diamond had a double steal to put runners on second and third with two outs and Ferguson at bat.
Ferguson drew a walk to load the bases for Breen, but the EKU defense got the short stop out on the play.
The Colonels loaded the bases in the bottom of the ninth, but the Bruins got out of the jam and took the win 1-0.
Josh Davis (Fayetteville, Ga.) came to mound in the eighth to close the game for BU. He earned his fifth save of the season and only allowed one hit and one walk.
EKU's Ben Gullo made his first start of the season on the mound and saw 6.1 innings, giving up four hits and striking out five.
In game two Belmont used a 10-run fourth inning to complete the sweep of Eastern Kentucky
A pair of singles from Matt Beaty (Dresden, Tenn.) and Drew Turner (Shelbyville, Tenn.) started things for the Bruins in the second. Scott Moses (Englewood, Tenn.) laid down a sacrifice bunt to score Beaty and put the Bruins on the board first. Turner crossed the plate on an EKU throwing error to score the second run of the inning.
Judah Akers (Cookeville, Tenn.) hit a two out double down the left field line in the third inning. Akers leads the Bruins with five doubles on the season.
A leadoff double from Turner started the 10-run fourth inning for the Bruins. Moses laid down his second sacrifice bunt, but he was able to reach base on a throwing error by EKU starter Shane Grimm. The second baseman proceeded to steal second before an RBI single scored Turner.
The Bruins loaded the bases with no outs after Jamie Ritchie (Buford, Ga.) drew a walk. An RBI single from Drew Ferguson (Knoxville, Tenn.) put BU up 4-0, keeping the bases loaded and forcing the Colonels to go to the bullpen.
Jared Breen (Marietta, Ga.) drew a bases loaded walk to make it 5-0 Belmont, before a two-run single from Josh Davis (Fayetteville, Ga.) extended the Bruins' lead to 7-0. Another bases loaded walk allowed the sixth run of the inning to cross the plate.
Turner cleared the bases with a three-run double to right field to give Belmont an 11-0 lead. Dom Veltri (Clarksville, Tenn.) grounded out to the EKU third baseman to score Turner and extend Belmont's lead to 12-0 over the Colonels.
Belmont sent 13 to the plate in the fourth and the first 10 scored.
The Colonels responded in the bottom half with a two-run single from Matt Phipps, who capped a five-run inning for EKU to make it a 12-5 ball game.
Dan Ludwig (Naperville, Ill.) made his tenth appearance of the season, relieving starter James Buckelew (Lawrenceville, Ga.). Buckelew, who returned to the mound after the 10-run inning, finished his day allowing eight hits and five runs.
An RBI double from Luke Wurzelbacher cut Belmont's lead to 12-6 in the fifth.
An infield hit from Veltri scored Turner to give Belmont a 13-6 lead in the sixth. That was Veltri's third RBI of the game.
Moses singled to center followed by a four-pitch walk to Veltri after the innings started with a pair of ground outs. A double steal advanced the runners and Ritchie drew a walk to load the bases, but Ferguson grounded out to the end the inning.
Jessie Snodgrass (Lebanon, Tenn.) took the mound in the bottom of the ninth. Ludwig finished the day gave up only one hit and one run in 4.1 innings of relief. Snodgrass stuck out two of the three batters he faced in the inning.
SIUE 13-1, MURRAY STATE 12-8
EDWARDSVILLE, Ill. - Murray State and SIUE split a doubleheader on Saturday with SIUE winning 13-12 in game one and Murray State taking game two 8-1 to win the weekend series 2-1.
In game one, trailing by five runs heading to the ninth inning, as Noah Zipko drew a one-out walk and went to second on Brandon Elliott’s single through the left side. Nick Paradossi drove in his third run of the day with a double to right center. After a pitching change, Paul Ritzheimer drew a walk to load the bases and Stetson was hit by a pitch to score Elliott from third. Taylor Mathews cleared the bases with a three-run double into the right-field corner. Unfortunately, a pair of flyouts ended the game and the threat.
The game did not start the same for the Breds on Saturday as a pair of fielding errors helped open the flood gates for the Cougars to push across 11 runs in the inning. With runners on the corners and one out, Devin Caldwell delivered an RBI single through the left side. The next hitter hit a grounder to short that should have been an inning-ending double play, but was bobbled and allowed the runner to score from second. Another fielding error allowed one more run to score before back-to-back hits from Travis Becherer and Matt Highland plated four more runs. Caldwell continued his big first inning as he added a three-run home run to left field to round out the scoring.
The Cougars (6-12, 4-4 OVC) added a run in the fourth as a pair of singles put runners on the corners with one out for Nick Lombardo to line a sacrifice fly down the right-field line.
The Breds (11-12, 5-3 OVC) got back into the game in the fifth inning as they pushed across seven runs on six hits in the frame. Zipko started the inning with a double down the left-field line. After Elliott was hit by a pitch and a passed ball, Nick Paradossi delivered a two-run single to left center. Ritzheimer followed with a single and Ty Stetson drew a walk to set up a Mathews RBI single through the right side on an 0-2 pitch. Brandon Eggenschwiler continued the hit parade with a two-run single to center field, ending the day for the starting pitcher. Dylan Wheeler drove in the sixth run of the inning with a groundout to first base, before Zipko closed out the scoring with an RBI single to left center.
The third fielding error haunted the Breds again in the sixth as the leadoff hitter reached and came around to score on a Denton Reed single to center field.
Andrew Bramley (0-1) took the loss after giving up nine runs, two earned, on four hits and two walks in two-thirds of an inning. Sam Hopkins (1-1) was credited with the victory after entering in the fifth and not allowing a run in two-thirds of an inning. Tony Schaeffer (4) earned the save after allowing a hit and a walk in two-thirds of an inning.
Mathews led the offense by going 2-for-4 with four RBIs. Paradossi added a pair of hits and drove in three runs. Zipko, Elliott and Ritzheimer each added a pair of hits as the Breds collected 12 in the game.
In game two, just like a week ago, junior Cashtyn DeLeeuw (2-0) gave the Breds a strong pitching performance as he allowed just one run on seven hits and three strikeouts over 7.2 innings.
The Cougars (6-13, 4-5 OVC) got on the board in the third inning as Travis Becherer doubled to right center and went to third on a groundout to second. Joel Greatting drove in the runner with a groundout to first.
The Breds (12-12, 6-3 OVC) gained their first lead in the fourth as Ty Stetson and Taylor Mathews singled through the left side, ahead of Brandon Eggenschwiler’s walk. After a run scored on a double-play groundout scored one run, Dylan Wheeler delivered an RBI single through the right side.
MSU extended its lead in the fifth with the help of four errors from SIUE. Rick Linton started the rally with a one-out single to right center. After going to second on a failed pickoff attempt, and a walk to Paul Ritzheimer, Stetson hit a grounder that went through the legs of the second baseman, scoring one run and putting runners on the corners. Mathews followed with a fielder’s choice bunt that plated the runner from third, and moved runners to second and third as the throw went to the backstop. Eggenschwiler followed with a sacrifice fly to center field, before the fourth run scored on a dropped fly ball by the center fielder.
The Breds added a pair of insurance runs in the ninth as Ritzheimer walked with one and was followed by a Stetson single through the right side. Mathews drove in the runner from second with a single up the middle and Eggenschwiler drove in the second run with a run-scoring single to left field.
Caleb Wilkerson (0-3) took the loss after allowing six runs, three earned, on six hits over 4.1 innings. He didn’t help his own cause as he committed three throwing errors.
Mathews and Eggenschwiler each collected a pair of hits and drove in two runs, while Stetson added two hits and scored three runs. Wheeler finished the game going 2-for-5 with an RBI, while Brandon Elliott went 2-for-4.
JACKSONVILLE STATE 19, AUSTIN PEAY 9
CLARKSVILLE, Tenn. - Michael Bishop had five hits and Paschal Petrongolo hit a pair of home runs and drove in five runs to lead Jacksonville State to a 19-9 win over Austin Peay in the Ohio Valley Conference series finale on Saturday.
The Gamecocks (12-14, 6-3 OVC) finished with a season-high 23 hits, led by five from Bishop, while Cal Lambert had four, and Petrongolo, Chase Silvani and Gavin Golson finished with three hits each. It was also the second-most runs scored by JSU this season, just behind the 20 scored at UT Martin two weeks ago.
Graham Officer (1-0) picked up his first win of the season after pitching 1 2/3 innings of relief, while Ryan Quick (2-1) got stuck with the loss after giving up seven hits and four runs for the Governors.
The Gamecocks jumped out to to the early lead after Adam Miller and Gordon reached on back-to-back singles, before Blanchard hit a triple to right center and Petrongolo followed with a two-run home run to right center to give JSU a 4-0 lead.
Austin Peay (19-4, 4-1) cut the lead in half after Cody Hudson drove in two runs with a double in the first and then cut the lead to 3-2 in the third on Kevin Corey's RBI, but JSU extended the lead in the fourth inning.
Bishop reached on a single and came in to score after Gordon singled up the middle, before Blanchard walked. Petrongolo then hit a three-run home run to left center to give the Gamecocks an 8-3 lead.
The Govs battled back and scored a run in the fourth on a solo home run by Michael Davis, and then tied the game in the fifth inning after Jordan Hankins hit a 2-run home run, and Reed Harper had a RBI single to tie the game at 8-8.
Jax State came right back and scored four runs – all with two outs – in the top of the sixth inning to build a 12-8 lead, as Lambert, Silvani and Bishop all knocked in a run and Lambert scored on wild pitch for the Gamecocks.
Jacksonville State put the game out of reach in the seventh inning after scoring five more runs, all off of APSU closer Tyler Rogers, who had not allowed an earned run all season. Rogers walked four, hit a batter and gave up all five runs as JSU took a 17-8 lead.
The Governors scored a run in the home half of the seventh, before the Gamecocks added a pair of runs in the ninth inning for the final margin.
TENNESSEE TECH 13, UT MARTIN 8
MARTIN, Tenn. - An eight-run first inning set the tone for the Tennessee Tech baseball team (17-6, 7-1) as the Golden Eagles won their 10th consecutive game and seventh straight series with a 13-8 victory over in-state rival UT Martin (8-15, 1-7) Saturday afternoon.
With their 10th straight win, the 2013 Golden Eagle squad now owns the second longest single-season winning streak in program history. The 1955 Tech team won 14 conseuctive games to start the year on its way to a 17-2 final record. Saturday's win also propelled the Golden Eagles to their best start to a season since 1982 when Hall of Fame coach David Mays led Tech to an 18-4-1 start. The Golden Eagles are now 7-1 in Ohio Valley Conference play, ranking first in the league.
All nine Tech starters recorded at least one hit in the contest and six of them also drove in at least one run. The bottom of the lineup proved to be the strong side in the game as Dylan Bosheers (batting seventh), Zephan Guyear (eighth), and Jordan Parris (ninth) all hit home runs. The three Golden Eagles combined for seven of the team's 12 RBI in the contest, gathering a shared six hits.
First baseman Wade Collins led the offensive effort for UT Martin, going 2-for-4 with three RBI off a home run in the first inning. It wasn't enough, however, as the Golden Eagle bats gave plenty of room for starter Nick Price (4-1) to earn his fourth victory of the season.
Sparking the Tech victory was an eight-run first inning that saw all nine batters get an at-bat. The first two batters of the contest, Zach Zarzour and Austin Wulf, were both hit by a pitch, giving junior Zach Stephens a golden opportunity early in the contest.
The slugger delivered, doubling down the left field line after a double steal by Zarzour and Wulf. Both runners scored to give Tech the early 2-0 lead. After a fielding error allowed Brandon Thomasson to reach base safely, third baseman Daniel Miles drilled a single to left field to load the bases. Senior James Abraham responded, roping a two-run double to right center field to double the Golden Eagle lead to 4-0. Dylan Bosheers grounded out on the next play to drive in Miles for the fifth run of the inning.
The Skyhawks managed to record an out before Abraham swiped his eighth base of the season, setting up catcher Jordan Parris with a runner at third. Parris kept the Golden Eagle inning alive, smashing his first dinger of the season over the left field wall. Zarzour and Wulf both singled in the next two at-bats and Zarzour scored on a wild pitch to wrap up the huge first inning for Tech.
UT Martin did manage to scatter eight runs across the rest of the contest, but the Golden Eagle bats never cooled down, scoring five more runs off a sac fly by Miles and two two-run dingers by Bosheers and Guyear.
Thomasson grabbed a base hit in the sixth inning to extend his impressive hitting streak to 15 games.
EASTERN ILLINOIS 7-3, ILLINOIS STATE 2-18
NORMAL, Ill. - The Panther baseball team split a doubleheader with Illinois State on Saturday, March 23 at Duffy Bass Field, defeating the Redbirds 7-2 (10 innings) in game one before falling 18-3 in game two.
EIU captured the weekend series as they picked up a series-opening win, 9-5, on Friday night. The Panthers are 6-15 on the year while the Redbirds are 11-11.
Game one was tied at two heading into the top of the 10th inning, the Panthers scored five runs on three hits and one error to take a 7-2 advantage. Jake Johansmeier came out of the bullpen in the bottom of the frame and struck out the final three Redbird batters to seal the victory.
Treysen Vavra gave the Panthers an early 2-0 lead with a two-out, two-RBI single in the third inning. ISU knotted the contest at two in the sixth inning, scoring two runs on three hits.
The Redbirds had two more hits (11-9) than the Panthers and committed two more errors (2-0). ISU also left four more runners on base (10-6) in the contest.
Vavra went 2-for-5 with four RBI and one run to pace the Panther offense while Caleb Howell added two hits, a run and a RBI. Demetre Taylor chipped in two hits and Tyler Schweigert scored a team-high two runs.
Garrison Stenger (2-0) posted the win for EIU, striking out one and not allowing any hits or runs in 0.2 innings of work. Joe Greenfield made the start and went 8.1 innings with eight strikeouts.
Brad Sorkin (4-2) took the loss for ISU, surrendering six hits and four runs (two earned) in nine innings of action. He also had four strikeouts on the day. Eric Aguilera went 3-for-5 with a run to pace the Redbirds at the plate.
In game two after the Redbirds took an early 1-0 advantage in the first inning, Cameron Berra hit an RBI double in the top of the next inning to tie the game. ISU scored eight unanswered runs over the next four innings to take a 9-1 lead until the Panthers scored two runs on two hits in the top of the seventh to get within six (9-3).
ISU broke open the contest by scoring nine more runs over the next two innings to take an 18-3 lead. The Redbirds had nine more hits (18-9) than the Panthers and committed four less errors (4-0). EIU stranded three more runners on base (11-8) in the contest.
Berra led the Panthers at the plate as he went 3-for-4 with an RBI. John Devito went 2-for-3 with a run.
Matt Borens (0-4) took the loss, surrendering seven runs (six earned) and nine hits in 4.2 innings of work.
Chris Razo (1-0) earned the win for ISU, striking out seven batters and allowing only three hits and one run in four innings of action. Aguilera went 6-for-6 with four RBI and a run to pace the Redbird offense.