FRIDAY'S SCORES
@Eastern Kentucky 30, UT Martin 4
Jacksonville State 14, @Murray State 11
@Belmont 7, SIUE 4
Austin Peay 9, @Southeast Missouri 4
@Tennessee Tech 20, Eastern Illinois 5
@Illinois State 11,
Morehead State 1
EASTERN KENTUCKY 30, UT MARTIN 4
RICHMOND, Ky. - For the fourth time in the last six games, and third straight time against an Ohio Valley Conference team, Eastern Kentucky scored 10 or more runs on its way to a 30-4 victory over Tennessee-Martin on Friday.
The Colonels (10-20, 6-7 OVC) scored in every inning in which they came to the plate. EKU has reached the 30-run mark in two straight conference games.
Junior catcher Sean Hagen finished 5-for-7 with seven RBIs and two runs scored. Freshman Doug Teegarden had five hits in six at bats, scored four times and drove in three runs.
Eastern broke a 1-1 tie with five runs in the bottom of the second, then added five more in the third and five more in the fourth. Kenny Hostrander had a two-run single in the second. Bryan Soloman had a bases clearing double down the left field line in the third inning.
After UTM retired the first two batters of the fourth, six straight Colonels reached base, including three on doubles. Shaun Ball followed back-to-back doubles by Hagen and Soloman with a rocket 2-run shot over the right field fence for a 16-1 lead.
It was Ball’s team-leading seventh home run of the season.
Three more runners came home in the fifth to extend the lead to 19-1. The Colonels batted around in the second, third, fourth, fifth and eighth innings.
The Skyhawks (9-24, 2-14 OVC) stopped the bleeding with three runs in the top of the sixth. Hagen Nelson had a 2-run single. However, EKU answered right back with three in the bottom half of the inning off a bases loaded double by Hagen.
Soloman added a solo home run in the eighth, his second of the season, to extended the advantage to 25-4. Later in the inning, freshman Luke Wurzelbacher hit a grand slam, his second dinger of the season.
Soloman went 4-for-7 with five RBIs and three runs scored. Hostrander finished 4-for-6 with four runs and three driven in.
Brent Cobb (3-5) started and earned the win after allowing four runs on five hits over six innings. He walked one and struck out one. Dan Tobik (1-5) suffered the loss after making it through just one and two-thirds innings. He allowed six runs on five hits and walked two. UT Martin used a total of seven pitchers.
Six different Skyhawks recorded one hit each. Nelson finished 1-for-2 with two RBIs.
JACKSONVILLE STATE 14, MURRAY STATE 11
MURRAY, Ky. - - Michael Bishop, Eddie Mora-Loera and Chase Silvani each had three hits to lead Jacksonville State to a 14-11 come-from-behind win over Murray State in the opening game of a three-game Ohio Valley Conference series on Friday.
Michael Mason (1-1) was credited with the win for the Gamecocks after JSU took the lead in the top of the eighth inning. Travis Stout recorded the final six outs to earn his ninth save of the season for the Gamecocks.
Trailing by two entering the eighth, JSU collected a pair of one-out base hits. A double steal with two outs was followed by a Griff Gordon two-run single up the middle. A walk and a hit batter loaded the bases, and Mora-Loera came through with a two-run single to left center. Andrew Bishop followed by plating the fifth run with a single up the middle.
MSU (13-20, 6-10 OVC) was able to get one run back in the bottom of the inning as Dylan Wheeler singled up the middle and took second on a failed pickoff attempt. Nick Paradossi hit a grounder with two outs that took a nasty hop and resulted in an RBI base hit.
The Gamecocks (18-16, 10-3 OVC) struck first in the top of the first as Michael Bishop led the game off with a triple and scored when Adam Miller singled through the right side to score Bishop and give JSU the early lead.
The Breds had an answer in the home-half of the first as Brandon Elliott walked and Brandon Eggenschwiler followed with a single to center field. Noah Zipko plated both runners with a double into the gap in right center with two outs.
JSU took advantage of getting the leadoff runner on in the second to tie the game. Mora-Loera started the inning with a double to left field, and came around to score on a Chase Silvani single into the hole at short.
MSU again had an answer in the bottom of the inning and pushed two more runs across. Taylor Mathrews started things by beating out an infield single to third base. Paradossi put down a sacrifice bunt that was bobbled by the pitcher covering, putting two on with no outs. Ty Stetson drove in a run with a single through right side and Elliott followed with an RBI groundout.
The Gamecocks tied the game in the third inning as Mora-Loera delivered a two-run single to center field with two outs. Just one inning later, Tyler Gamble gave JSU a one-run lead with an RBI single single just beyond the reach of the shortstop.
JSU scored for the fifth-straight inning as they pushed three runs across in the inning. After the first run scored on an error, Silvani and Cal Lambert delivered RBI base hits with two outs as the Gamecocks built an 8-4 lead.
The Breds battled back to the the game in the home half of the inning by scoring three runs, highliged by Mike Kozlowski's home run.
MSU took a 10-8 lead in the seventh inning after Mathews singled up the middle and stood on third with two outs. Stetson's grounder was misplayed by the second baseman, allowing Mathews to score. Stetson was able to advance to third on a walk and a wild pitch, before scoring on an Eggenschwiler single up the middle.
The Gamecocks closed out the scoring in the top of the ninth as Paschal Petrongolo drew a bases-loaded walk with two outs.
The Gamecocks finishes with 18 hits in the game, as Tyler Gamble, Cal Lambert, and Gordon each had two hits, while Mora-Loera had four RBI to go along with his three hits. Murray was led by Zipko's four hits, including three doubles.
BELMONT 7, SIUE 4
NASHVILLE - Behind two solo home runs from senior Judah Akers (Cookeville, Tenn.), Belmont Baseball (24-8, 11-2) defeated SIU Edwardsville, 7-4, at E.S. Rose Park.
SIUE got on the board first, jumping out to an early 3-0 lead. In the top of the fifth, the Cougars extended their lead, 4-0 behind a home run from James Vazquez.
Spencer Petett (Tompkinsville, Ky.) singled through the right side before Alec Diamond (Kennesaw, Ga.) doubled to left to score Petett and put the Bruins on the board, 4-1.
The Bruins scored four runs in the bottom of the sixth capped by Judah Akers (Cookeville, Tenn.), who blasted his ninth home run of the season in the bottom of the sixth to take the lead, 5-4.
Drew Turner (Shelbyville, Tenn.) doubled to left with two outs, bringing up Scott Moses (Englewood, Tenn.) who hit his first collegiate home run to tie the ball game at 4-4
A two-out single from Jamie Ritchie (Burford, Ga.) put runners on first and second. A single from Diamond scored Petett from second to give the Bruins the lead.
In the bottom of the seventh, Akers hit his tenth home run to put BU ahead 6-4. With a close play at home, the Bruins extended their lead 7-4 as Turner crossed the plate after an SIUE wild pitch.
Akers finished the day 4-for-4.
Austin Coley (Murfreesboro, Tenn.) went seven innings on the mound. The sophomore right hander gave up two hits; four runs, allowed just one walk, and struck out seven.
Moses came on to close the game, earning his second save of the season.
AUSTIN PEAY 9, SOUTHEAST MISSOURI 4
CAPE GIRARDEAU, Mo. - Junior starter Lee Ridenhour threw seven scoreless innings and Austin Peay State University’s offense scored nine unanswered runs en route to a 9-4 Ohio Valley Conference series-opening victory against Southeast Missouri, Friday night at Capaha Field.
Austin Peay (26-9, 9-3 OVC) got off to a halting start offensively, stranding six runners on base while being held scoreless in the first four innings. The Govs offense finally got its legs under it thanks to a Southeast Missouri fifth-inning error.
Right fielder Rolando Gautier and left fielder Cody Hudson each reached base to start the fifth. Second baseman Jordan Hankins followed and hit a hard grounder to first base where Matt Tellor caught the ball and threw to second. However, the throw eluded the second baseman and ended up in left field, allowing Riner to score. Shortstop Reed Harper’s sacrifice fly pushed home Hudson, giving APSU a 2-0 lead.
The Govs offense continued to press, scoring in each of the next three innings. Gautier extended his hit streak to 15 games with a line drive two-run home run to right in the seventh extending the lead to 7-0. First baseman Craig Massoni’s two-run home run in the eighth set the Govs advantage at 9-0.
Ridenhour rode out the Govs slow offensive start, allowing three base runners – on two singles and a walk – in the first four innings. Once he was handed a lead, Ridenhour would work out of jams in the fifth, sixth and seventh innings to secure the lead.
Southeast Missouri (17-18, 9-7 OVC) could not take advantage of an Austin Peay error in the fifth inning that broke up a double play, leaving a runner at third base. The Redhawks got a leadoff double in the seventh, but the Govs snuffed out the opportunity, maintaining the shutout.
The Redhawks would break up the shutout in the ninth, scoring four runs on four hits and a walk issued by reliever Tommy Hager, who recorded two strike outs in the frame, including the game-ending out.
Ridenhour (6-0) remained unbeaten on the season with his seven scoreless innings. He scattered six hits and allowed three walks but struck out a season-low three batters.
Junior first baseman Craig Massoni continued his torrid pace in OVC play, posting a 4-for-4, three RBI outing against the Redhawks. He had three singles, including a RBI single in the sixth, and a walk along with his home run. He was one of eight Govs starters to record a hit in the contest.
Southeast Missouri starter Zack Smith (2-3) was tagged for the loss after allowing two runs on six hits and six walks over five innings. Left fielder Derek Gibson was 3-for-5 to lead the Redhawks offense.
TENNESSEE TECH 20, EASTERN ILLINOIS 5
COOKEVILLE, Tenn. - Juniors Zach Stephens and Brandon Thomasson combined for 10 RBI and senior ace Tristan Archer tossed five solid innings as the Tennessee Tech baseball team (24-10, 13-3) took down the visiting Eastern Illinois Panthers (12-19, 3-9), 20-5 Friday evening.
What appeared at first to be pitching duel between Archer and EIU starter Andrew Grahn, quickly turned into a dominating offensive performance by the Golden Eagle bats. After two scoreless innings, Tech struck gold, erupting for a season-high 20 runs and handing Grahn his second loss of the season. Archer picked up his sixth victory of the year, just one shy of his career-high seven in 2011.
The Panthers did manage five runs in the contest, with two coming off the bat of shortstop Dane Sauer. Five EIU pitchers combined to walk nine batters in the contest, giving the Golden Eagles plenty of scoring chances that the team would take advantage of.
In the bottom of the third with a scoreless game, not much looked to be going any different than the first two and half innings as catcher Jordan Parris flew out to left field. Things quickly changed as second baseman Zach Zarzour drew a four-pitch walk. Austin Wulf followed with a single through the right side and a Zach Stephens walk loaded the bases for Brandon Thomasson.
The junior slugger promptly roped a double to left field, driving in two runs and breaking the scoreless tie. Daniel Miles continued his hot start to the month of April, singling through the left side and driving in two more runs to give the Golden Eagles a 4-0 lead. Dylan Bosheers grabbed a base hit through the right side before Michael Morris drilled an RBI double down the right field line. James Abraham would finish the scoring in the inning for Tech, smacking a sac fly to the right fielder. Tech led 6-0 after three innings.
Eastern Illinois looked to make things interesting, scoring two runs in the top of the fourth to make it a 6-2 game. The Golden Eagle offense wasn't done though.
After an RBI double by Stephens in the fourth, Tech struck for five runs in the fifth, using three straight walks to load the bases. Wulf reached base on an error by the EIU first baseman, driving in a run. Stephens walked in the next at-bat, bringing home another run and setting up Thomasson with a ton of run potential.
The designated hitter delivered, hammering a single up the middle for two RBI. Another Panther error allowed the final run of the inning to score and Tech found itself up 12-2. And the team still wasn't done.
In the sixth, the Golden Eagles were at it again. Wulf singled in a run to start things off, followed quickly by a two-run double by Stephens. Thomasson had his fill again, this time launching a two-run shot over the right center field wall, the junior's ninth of the season. After six innings, Tech led 17-0. It still wasn't enough.
After the Panthers scored three runs in the seventh and eighth innings, the Golden Eagles struck one last time. Senior Evan Frazier, who pinch-hit for Thomasson, singled through the left side, later scoring on a wild pitch. After a double by Miles, Bosheers smacked a sac fly to center field, leaving the Tech squad just one run shy of 20.
Senior Zephan Guyear came through, crushing a solo home run over the left field fence to give the Golden Eagles a 20-5 win over a team that swept Tech in last season's series.
Thomasson finished the game 3-for-5, collecting six RBI. Stephens drove in four runs, scoring three more himself while gathering two hits in four at-bats. He also walked twice. Miles went 4-for-4 in the contest, driving in two runs.
Archer struck out seven batters over five innings of work, allowing just two earned runs and two walks. Andy Williams pitched the final two innings of the game, striking out three while surrendering just one walk and no hits.
ILLINOIS STATE 11, MOREHEAD STATE 1
NORMAL, Ill. - The Morehead State baseball team fell to Illinois State, 11-1, in seven innings on Friday afternoon at Duffy Bass Field.
With the run-rule loss, MSU falls to 9-24 on the season, while ISU improves to 16-15.
The Redbirds took a 3-0 lead in the top of the third that was highlighted by a two-run home run to left field from senior third baseman Zac Johnson. They tacked on two more in both the fourth and sixth innings, including three RBI from senior center fielder Chad Hinshaw, to extend their lead to seven.
MSU senior catcher Drew Williams put the Eagles on the board in the top of the seventh with a solo home run over the left field wall, his fifth of the season.
ISU plated four more runs in the bottom of the seventh to end the game on a 10-run rule.
ISU senior righty Chris Razo (3-0) was credited with the win, allowing only five hits and one run in seven innings. MSU sophomore right-hander Blake Smith (1-4) took the loss, allowing eight hits and four earned runs in five innings.
Sophomore first baseman Kane Sweeney extended his streak and has now reached base in 24 straight games, while sophomore center fielder Duran Elmore (2-for-3) was the only Eagle with multiple hits in the contest.