SUNDAY'S SCORES
UT Martin 5, @Eastern Kentucky 1
@Belmont 25, SIUE 7
Jacksonville State 10, @Murray State 7
@Southeast Missouri 14, Austin Peay 8
@Tennessee Tech 6, Eastern Illinois 5
@Illinois State 5,
Morehead State 4
UT MARTIN 5, EASTERN KENTUCKY 1
RICHMOND, Ky. - Dalton Potts and Carter Smith carried a shutout into the ninth inning this afternoon to help The University of Tennessee at Martin baseball team to a 5-1 Ohio Valley Conference victory over Eastern Kentucky at Turkey Hughes Field.
Potts earned his team-high fourth victory of the season after twirling six shutout innings and allowing just four hits. Smith then finished off the game by tossing three innings, conceding just one run on two hits while fanning four to earn his first career save.
Offensively, UT Martin (10-25, 3-15 OVC) was led by Grant Glasser, who went 2-for-4 with an RBI and a run scored out of the leadoff spot. Hagen Nelson scored once and drove in a run, while Luis Paublini also collected an RBI.
The Skyhawks also received a big lift out of freshman catcher Drew Erie, who made his first start of the season today. The Lebanon native doubled, walked, scored a run and threw out a pair of would-be basestealers to help keep the Colonels off the scoreboard.
UT Martin was able to grab the early advantage, scoring once in the top of the second. Nico Zych sliced a one-out double to right field, then stole third base. Nelson would pick up the RBI on a groundout to give the Skyhawks a 1-0 lead.
That run would be plenty of support for Potts, who pitched a pair of baserunners in the second inning and received some help from his defense as they turned a double play in the third. Erie erased a baserunner in the fourth and Potts took care of the rest, recording an inning-ending strikeout.
The Skyhawks came right back with another run in the top of the fifth. Nelson singled up the middle with one away and advanced to third when Erie ripped the first pitch he saw for a double down the left field line. Nelson would score on a passed ball and Erie would come around to score on a clutch two-out single by Glasser that made the score 3-0 in UT Martin’s favor.
Potts stranded a runner on third by inducing his third groundout of the inning in the fifth. The Colonels threatened in the sixth, as the first two batters reached. However, a fielder’s choice, caught stealing and groundout back to the pitcher kept the shutout intact in what would be Pott’s final frame.
Smith struck out a pair in the seventh, keeping the momentum in UT Martin’s favor just in time for the Skyhawks to tack on two more runs in the top of the eighth. Glasser doubled to left center with one out and advanced to third on a Sonny Mastromatteo infield single. After a pitching change, Byron Johann walked to load the bases and Paublini perfectly executed a squeeze play to bring in Glasser. Mastromatteo would later come around to score on a wild pitch to extend the Skyhawk lead to 5-0.
Smith pitched around a two-out double in the eighth by ringing up a called third strike for the third out of the inning. Eastern Kentucky would get on the scoreboard via a one-out pinch-hit homer in the ninth but Smith kept his composure to induce a foulout and game-ending strikeout to cap off the win.
BELMONT 25, SIUE 7
NASHVILLE - Belmont Baseball (26-8,13-2) set the all-time record for runs scored at E.S. Rose Park with their 25-7 victory of SIU Edwardsville Sunday for the series sweep.
Behind five hits, Belmont took an early 5-0 lead over SIUE in the first inning. Drew Ferguson (Knoxville, Tenn.) led off the inning with a walk before a double to left center from Jared Breen (Marietta, Ga.) started a string of runs.
SIU Edwardsville got on the board in the top half of the second behind a home run from right fielder Devin Caldwell. Scott Moses (Englewood, Tenn.) got things started in the bottom half of the inning with a two-run double, extending the Bruins' lead, 7-1. A total of six runs crossed the plate in the bottom of the second to extend Belmont's lead, 11-1.
Drew Turner (Shelbyville, Tenn.) blasted a two-run homer over the left field fence. That was the right fielder's third home run of the season.
Behind home runs from the Cougars' Joel Greatting and Caldwell, SIUE made it a 13-5 ball game in the top of the fifth. The Bruins responded in the bottom half with three runs as Turner led off the inning with a single to right field.
The Bruins plated nine more runs in the bottom of the sixth. Scott Moses (Englewood, Tenn.) hit a two-run home run in the inning, for his second home run of the season and of the series.
SIUE added a pair runs in the top of the seventh.
James Buckelew (Lawrenceville, Ga.) saw six innings on the mound giving up eight hits and five runs. Blake Harvey (Murfreesboro, Tenn.) came on for an inning of relief, striking out two.
Zach Hodgkiss (Eads, Tenn.) came to the mound in the seventh, striking out one. With his second appearance of the season, Dan Huenecke (Palatine, Ill.) came on to close the game, also striking out one.
Turner was a perfect 5-for-5 at the plate with four runs batted in. Alec Diamond (Kennesaw, Ga.) and Moses led the Bruins with five runs batted in.
JACKSONVILLE STATE 10, MURRAY STATE 7
MURRAY, Ky. - Coty Blanchard hit a two-run home run as Jacksonville State rallied to score four runs in the ninth inning to claim a 10-7 win and sweep the Ohio Valley Conference series at Murray State on Sunday.
Jax State improved to 20-16 overall and 12-3 in the conference and it marks the sixth final at-bat win for the Gamecocks this season and the second straight day over Murray State.
With the Gamecocks trialing 7-6 heading into the ninth, Griff Gordon led off with a single, before Blanchard hit the first pitch he saw over the left field fence to give the Gamecocks an 8-7 lead. Blanchard finished with three hits on the day and was 8-for-12 against the 'Breds in the series.
Jax State added two more runs in the ninth inning after Andrew Bishop and Michael Bishop each singled in an insurance run as the Gamecocks pushed the lead to 10-7. Andrew Bishop also finished with three hits in the game, while also scoring three runs.
Cody Ponder (2-1) picked up the win after recording a pair of strikeouts in one complete inning on the mound, while Travis Stout picked up his 10th save of the year after striking out the final batter of the game. Brock Downey (0-3) suffered the loss after giving up all four runs in the ninth inning for Murray.
Murray took the early lead after Brandon Eggenschwiler reached on a two-out walk and came in to score after Noah Ziplo tripled to right center in the first inning for a 1-0 lead.
The 'Breds pushed the lead to 2-0 in the second after Nick Paradossi scored on a bases loaded walk, but the Gamecocks got on the board in the third inning after Michael Bishop had a two-out single and stole second. Chase Silvani then singled to left center to score Bishop and cut the lead to 2-1.
Murray State extended the lead in the fourth inning after Ty Stetson singled and stole second, before Brandon Elliott singled to left field to score Stetson. He later came in to score after Zipko had a RBI single to give the 'Breds a 5-1 lead.
Jacksonville State cut into the lead in the fifth inning after Andrew Bishop walked and moved to second on a wild pitch. Stephen Bartlett followed with a double down the right field line, before Gavin Golsan was hit by a pitch and Michael Bishop loaded the bases with a walk. Gordon then hit a deep fly to left field to score Bartlett as the Gamecocks cut the lead to 5-3.
MSU tacked on an insurance run in the seventh inning after Paul Ritzheimer had a RBI single to left field to score Taylor Mathews and push the lead to 6-3.
Jax State battled back to tie the game at 6-6 in the eighth inning after scoring three runs, thanks to RBIs by Mora-Loera, Andrew Bishop and Bartlett, but Murray answered in the home half of the inning.
The 'Breds took advantage of an error and two hit-by-pitches and took the lead after Taylor Mathews had a RBI infield single for a 7-6 lead. Mathews led MSU with three hits, while Elliott also had three hits for the 'Breds.
Michael Bishop and Gordon each had two more hits for the Gamecocks, who finished with 15 in the game and 46 in the series with 31 runs scored.
SOUTHEAST MISSOURI 14, AUSTIN PEAY 8
CAPE GIRARDEAU, Mo. - Southeast Missouri scored a season-high 14 runs in 14-8 win over Austin Peay Sunday afternoon at Capaha Field. The Redhawks scored six runs in the bottom of the seventh inning on their way to their first series win over the Governors since 2010.
The Redhawks and Governors combined for 26 hits as the Redhawks recorded 17 on the day. The two teams also combined for eight errors on a blustery day at Capaha Field as APSU recorded five on the day.
Southeast took their third straight Ohio Valley Conference series as they improve to 19-18 on the season and 11-7 in the OVC. The Governors drop to 26-11 and 9-5 in the OVC.
Luke Shearrow (3-2) earned his third straight win for the Redhawks going 4.1 innings of relief allowing an unearned run on three hits. Shearrow also recorded a career tying six strikeouts as he has not allowed an earned run in 14.1 innings.
Every player in the Southeast lineup recorded a hit in the contest six Redhawks recording multi-hit games. Matt Tellor and Ryan Barnes recorded three hits each to lead the Redhawks.
The Redhawks scored four runs in the bottom of the first inning. The Redhawks batted around in the frame with five hits as they capitalized on two Governors errors.
Derek Gibson, Tellor and Andy Lennington all added RBI hits in the frame. Gibson extended his hitting streak to 17-games with the single to left field.
The Governors tied the game with four runs in the top of the third inning. Reed Harper highlighted the frame with a two-run triple and later tied the game as he scored on a wild pitch.
Austin Peay took a 7-4 lead with a run in the fourth and two in the fifth. The Govs scored two of their runs on wild pitches and scored their third run on an RBI single to right field.
The Redhawks cut the Govs lead to 7-6 on a two-run homer to right centerfield by Branden Boggetto in the fifth inning.
The Redhawks took the lead back at 8-7 in the sixth inning as Lennington drove in another run on a double followed by another RBI single by Ryan Barnes as he finished the day with three RBI and a run scored.
The Govs tied the game in the top of the seventh inning on a wild pitch. The Redhawks would then erupt for six runs in the bottom of the seventh inning as they hit around in the frame for the second time in the contest.
The six run outburst was highlighted by four hits as the Redhawks capitalized on two Austin Peay errors. Cole Bieser, Tellor and Dalton Hewitt each added RBI hits in the frame as that was all the Redhawks would need as they took the contest 14-8.
Tellor finished his day with three hits and three runs scored to go along with an RBI. Bieser added two hits an RBI and two runs as he also stole two bases. Lennington added two RBI and two runs scored with his two doubles.
Kevin Corey (0-1) was tagged with the loss going a third of an inning allowing six runs (four earned) on three hits as he was one of seven pitchers used by APSU.
Jordan Hankins led Austin Peay offensively going 3-for-5 with two runs scored as he recorded his 200th career hit in the contest.
TENNESSEE TECH 6, EASTERN ILLINOIS 5
COOKEVILLE, Tenn. - As the saying goes, all good things come in threes. The Tennessee Tech baseball team (26-10, 15-3) proved that Sunday afternoon, rallying on three separate occasions to win its series-sweeping third game against Eastern Illinois (12-21, 3-11), 6-5.
Keeping to theme of the day, the Golden Eagles came from behind for the third time in the bottom of the seventh inning, scoring, you better believe it, three runs to take its their first lead of the game. The one-run advantage proved more than enough as sophomore closer Seth Lucio knew it was time for his date with history.
Entering the contest in the top of the eighth, Lucio struck out four Panthers in two innings of work, including the final batter he faced. The closer allowed just two hits on his way to earning his eighth save of the season and breaking the Golden Eagle single-season record for saves.
Leading the offensive charge for the Tech squad were junior Brandon Thomasson and senior James Abraham. The two combined for five hits in nine at-bats and four RBI.
EIU first baseman Treysen Vavra was the top bat for the Panthers, gathering two hits in five at-bats while driving in two runs. Reliever George Kalousek (1-1) took the loss for EIU, giving up three earned runs in one inning of work. He walked two and struck out one while picking up his first loss of the season.
The Panthers started things right off the bat, pun intended, as lead-off man Caleb Howell opened the game with a home run over the right field wall. Tech starter Jacob Honea recovered nicely, however, retiring the next three batters with a ground out and two strikeouts.
Rally number one for the Golden Eagles transpired right away, as Daniel Miles roped an RBI double down the left field line, driving in Zach Zarzour to even things up at 1-1 after one inning.
Eastern Illinois grabbed control again in the third, collecting two runs off a double by Vavra. With a 3-1 lead, the Panther pitching staff protected its advantage for two innings. Then Brandon Thomasson decided he had something to say.
After junior slugger Zach Stephens drilled a double down the left field line, Thomasson stepped into the box. The designated hitter delivered, hammering a towering, two-run shot over the left field fence to even up the score at 3-3. It marked the junior's 10th home run of the season as well as Tech's second rally of the game.
Once again, the Panthers tried to salvage a win for the weekend, scoring twice in the top of the sixth inning and grabbing a 5-3 lead. It almost looked like the EIU squad would hold on too, as Ben Kennedy and Kalousek combined to shut down the Golden Eagle bats in the bottom half.
The Golden Eagles would have none of it, putting together a clutch team effort in the bottom of the seventh. Thomasson started things off, nearly grabbing his second homer of the contest as he smashed a double off the top of the left field wall. Miles walked in the next at-bat, giving Tech two men on with no outs.
After a quick line-out, senior Michael Morris pinch-hit for Zephan Guyear, drawing a huge walk to load the bases for fellow senior James Abraham. The left fielder fought of four pitches before finally drilling a single through the left side. Abraham's hit drove in both Thomasson and Miles, tying the game at 5-5 and giving the Golden Eagles their third rally of the game.
It proved to be their last as Zarzour came to the plate with two outs. The junior second baseman calmly swatted a two-strike pitch into center field, gathering a double and, more importantly, driving in the game-winning run.
Junior reliever Stanton Taylor (3-0) earned his third win of the season, tossing 1.1 innings while allowing just one hit and striking out two batters.
ILLINOIS STATE 5, MOREHEAD STATE 4
NORMAL, Ill. - Sophomore first baseman Kane Sweeney tied up the game with a bases loaded triple in the top of the ninth, but the Morehead State baseball team was downed by an Illinois State walk-off single in the bottom half of the inning to fall, 5-4, Sunday afternoon at Duffy Bass Field.
Senior right fielder Eric Agulilera smacked the game winner to right field for the Redbirds in his only hit of the contest.
With the series sweep, the Redbirds improved to 19-15 on the 2013 campaign. The Eagles, who have now dropped 12 straight, fall to 9-27 on the year.
Sweeney, who went 2-for-5 on the day, extended his reached-base streak to 27 straight games.
Both starting pitchers were solid in the contest, with MSU freshman right-hander Matt Anderson allowing only two earned runs on six hits and ISU senior righty Brad Sorkin coming one out short of throwing a complete game, giving up only one earned run on eight hits.
Despite giving up the game-tying triple, sophomore right-hander Jeremy Rhoades picked up the win out of the bullpen, his first of the season. Senior righty Matt Duncan (1-3) took the loss for the Eagles.
In the bottom of the first, the Redbirds forced in the first run of the game when Anderson plunked ISU freshman designated hitter Daniel Dwyer with the bases loaded.
The Eagles answered in the top of the second when senior catcher Drew Williams drove in freshman third baseman Alan Mocahbee to even the game up at 1-1. ISU drove in two more in the bottom half of the inning on a single to center field from senior third baseman Zac Johnson.
From that point, the pitchers took over, combining for four straight scoreless innings before ISU plated a run in the bottom of the seventh on an RBI single to right field from freshman left fielder Sean Beesley to bring the Redbird lead to 4-1.
Freshman second baseman Trey Gross went 3-for-4 on the day in the first multi-hit game of his career. Senior left fielder Taylor Pickens joined Sweeney and Gross with the only multiple hit efforts for the Eagles and went 2-for-4 from the plate.