MONDAY'S SCORES
@UT Martin 14, Mid-Continent 9
@Austin Peay 10, Michigan State 7
Ball State 4-12
, Morehead State 1-2
UT MARTIN 14, MID-CONTINENT 9
MARTIN, Tenn. - The University of Tennessee at Martin baseball team exploded for season-highs in multiple offensive categories this afternoon in a 14-9 victory over Mid-Continent University at Skyhawk Field.
Coming into today with season-highs of five runs and nine hits, UT Martin (5-6) banged out 20 hits on its way to 14 runs. The Skyhawks generated four runs in three separate innings, scoring in five of their eight innings in all.
Seven Skyhawks produced multi-hit outings today, led by senior Byron Johann. The Pickerington, Ohio native laced a career-high four hits and four RBI, while scoring twice himself. Grant Glasser also drove in four runs while collecting a pair of hits at the dish.
Phil Sorensen had three hits and three runs scored, while Matt Haynes crossed the plate three times. Wade Collins scored a pair of runs with a pair of RBI (including his first homer of the season) while Sonny Mastromatteo (two runs, two RBI) and Drew Erie (2-for-2) had two-hit afternoons as well.
On the mound, sophomore Dalton Potts won his second straight decision, tossing a career-high five innings. He allowed only two runs on five hits while striking out three against zero walks. All in all, six Skyhawk hurlers took the mound today – including three who made their season debuts (Isaac Armstrong, Jordan Stokes, Chris Flores).
Potts allowed a leadoff single but then found a groove – retiring 11 straight batters, including a seven-pitch third inning.
UT Martin got on the scoreboard with four runs in the bottom of the second. Sorensen singled to lead off the inning, then came around to score two pitches later when Johann roped a double to right center. Mastromatteo singled in Johann and after Haynes drew a walk, both runners came into score on a two-run single by Glasser.
The Skyhawks tacked on four more runs in their next at-bat, thanks to four straight batters reaching base with two outs. Johann began the rally with a one-out single, then crossed the plate on a Mastromatteo single up the middle. After Haynes reached on an error, Paublini (RBI double) and Glasser (two-RBI single) helped provide an 8-0 Skyhawk advantage.
Mid-Continent scored a run in the top of the fourth, but UT Martin got the run back in the bottom-half when Zych drove in Sorensen – who had reached on a leadoff double – on a sacrifice fly.
The Cougars scored one more time in the fifth but the Skyhawks came right back with four more runs in the bottom of the fifth. Haynes singled through the left side to lead off the frame and came around to score on a Collins single. With two outs and the bases loaded, Johann barely missed a grand slam – ripping a shot off the wall in right center that brought in three runs.
Mid-Continent scored three times in the sixth inning to make the score 13-5, but the Skyhawks got back on the scoreboard in the bottom of the seventh thanks to Collins’ fourth career longball.
Although the Cougars scratched out four runs in the top of the eighth, Skyhawk closer Stu Jones closed the door on Mid-Continent. The 6-5 junior needed only nine pitches – eight of which went for strikes – to retire the side in order in the ninth.
AUSTIN PEAY 10, MICHIGAN STATE 7
CLARKSVILLE, Tenn. - Left fielder Cody Hudson's line drive cleared the wall in right for a walk-off three-run home run as Austin Peay State University's baseball team won a wild 10-7 decision against Michigan State, Monday night, at Raymond C. Hand Park.
Austin Peay (9-2) trailed 7-4 after six innings and used the final three innings to mount its comeback. The Govs tied the game with a three-run seventh frame that included an RBI single by first baseman Craig Massoni, a RBI fielder's choice by Hudson and a RBI double by catcher P.J. Torres.
Two innings later, the Govs took advantage of a leadoff walk issued to second baseman Jordan Hankins followed by Massoni being hit by a pitch as he recoiled from an attempted bunt. Michigan State reliever Justin Alleman struck out shortstop Reed Harper for the inning's first out. However, he left a 1-1 pitch where Hudson could get to it and he drove the ball over the wall in right for the Govs first walk-off victory.
Austin Peay jumped out to a 3-0 lead after the first inning, largely thanks to Harper's two-run home run - his second this season. The two teams then traded runs and the Govs led 4-1 after three innings.
Michigan State (4-5) mounted its charge in the fifth inning, sending 12 men to the plate and scoring six runs - the largest single-inning output for either team in the series. APSU starter Zach Hall faced five batters and surrendered a two-run single to Spartans first baseman Ryan Krill that tied the game, 7-7. Hall would record the first out before departing.
Austin Peay reliever Kacy Kemmer could not stem the Michigan State run, despite inducing a fielder's choice to get the second out from the first batter he faced. He would allow the next four batters he faced to reach base safely. Third baseman Justin Hovis gave MSU the lead with a RBI single and center fielder Anthony Cheky followed with a two-run double as Michigan State built a 7-4 lead and forced Kemmer from the mound. Reliever Tommy Hager came aboard and loaded the bases with a walk before inducing an inning-ending fielder's choice.
Hager would stay on board and toss scoreless innings in both the sixth and seventh frames to allow Austin Peay an opportunity for the comeback. The Govs turned to closer Tyler Rogers to record the final six outs - his longest outing this season - as their bullpen was depleted from the series' first two games.
After an uneventful eighth inning, Rogers ran into trouble in the top of the ninth, issuing a pair of walks and a single to load the bases with two out. He fell behind MSU's Richardson 2-0, but rallied with three consecutive called strikes to end the threat. It was Rogers' first victory this season after opening the campaign with five saves in his first six appearances.
Hudson led the Govs offense with a 2-for-4, four RBI performance. Harper finished the night 1-for-4 with three RBI. Hankins extended his hit streak to eight games with a 2-for-2, three walk outing. Massoni also had two hits in the win.
Alleman (0-2) suffered the loss, allowing three runs on two hits while striking out three over 2.1 innings. MSU starter Mick VanVossen held the Govs to four runs on seven hits and four walks over 5.2 innings.
Second baseman Kevin Goergen led Michigan State with a 3-for-4, two RBI night. Cheky added a 3-for-4 effort.
BALL STATE 4-12, MOREHEAD STATE 1-2
SPARTANBURG, S.C. - The Morehead State baseball team dropped both ends of a doubleheader with Ball State on Monday at Switzer Stadium. BSU took game one by a score of 4-1, and went on to win game two by a 12-2 margin.
The Eagles (4-7) and the Cardinals (5-4) were forced to move the series to Wofford College after wet field conditions made the scheduled three-game home series unplayable at Sonny Allen Field.
MSU senior right-hander Morgan Cirbo picked up the loss in game one, with junior lefty Noah Smallwood taking the loss in game two. It was both Eagle pitchers’ first loss of the season.
BSU senior lefty Jon Cisna was credited with the decision in the first contest of the day, with sophomore right-hander Scott Baker picking up his third win of the season in game two.
In game one, Ball State jumped out to an early 1-0 lead in the top of the third on a sacrifice fly from freshman second baseman Ryan Spaulding.
MSU answered with a run in the bottom of the fifth, when freshman third baseman Alan Mocahbee knocked in junior second baseman Jeff Birkofer on an RBI single through the left side.
The game was broken open in the top of the eighth, when BSU junior first baseman Billy Wellman drove a double down the left-field line to score the final three runs of the first half of the doubleheader.
Ball State scored four runs in the both the third and fourth innings of game two, before tacking on one more in the seventh and three in the ninth. MSU plated two runs in the bottom of the third, on an RBI single from sophomore first baseman Kane Sweeney and a sacrifice fly from senior shortstop Chase Greenwell.