SUNDAY'S SCORES
@Belmont 4, Eastern Illinois 3 (10 innings)
Jacksonville State 4-5, @Southeast Missouri 3-2
@Tennessee Tech 10, Murray State 6 (10 innings)
Indiana State
, @UT Martin (cancelled)
BELMONT 4, EASTERN ILLINOIS 3 (10)
NASHVILLE - Behind late inning magic, Belmont Baseball (30-12, 16-5) defeated Eastern Illinois, 4-3 in the bottom of the tenth in the series finale at E.S. Rose Park.
A solo home run straight out to center from Treysen Vavra put Eastern Illinois on the board first. The Bruins responded in the bottom half of the inning with a run of their own behind a sacrifice fly from Jared Breen (Marietta, Ga.).
A pair of singles allowed EIU to take a 3-1 lead in the top of the fourth.
Behind two solo home runs in the bottom of the eighth from Dom Veltri (Clarksville, Tenn.) and Drew Ferguson (Knoxville, Tenn.), the Bruins tied the game at 3-3.
Ferguson hit a single through the left side to get things started for BU in the bottom of the tenth, followed by a single to the gap in right center from Alec Diamond (Kennesaw, Ga.). Breen drew a walk to load the bases for Matt Beaty (Dresden, Tenn.). EIU reliever Ben Kennedy walked Beaty, walking in the game-winning run.
Scott Moses (Englewood, Tenn.) went a career long seven innings, giving up five hits and three runs.
Jessie Snodgrass (Lebanon, Tenn.) came on in relief in the top of the eighth. The senior right hander is now tied for second in single season appearances with 32.
JACKSONVILLE STATE 4-5, SOUTHEAST MISSOURI 3-2
CAPE GIRARDEAU, Mo. - Freshman relief pitcher Graham Office picked up a pair of wins on Sunday as Jacksonville State won both games of a double-header against Southeast Missouri State to sweep the Ohio Valley Conference series against the Redhawks.
The Gamecocks scored the winning run in their final at-bat in both games, claiming a 4-3 win in the 10th inning of the first game, and then scored four runs in the top of the seventh inning to claim a 5-2 win in the second game of the day. It marked the third straight game the Gamecocks won in their final at-bat and JSU now has nine final at-bat wins this season.
Jax State improves to 25-19 overall and 17-4 in the OVC to hold a one-game lead in the conference standings over Belmont. SEMO falls to 20-25 overall and 12-12 in the league.
In the opener, Southeast took an early lead off Gamecock starter Taylor Shields as Derek Gibson scored on Dalton Hewitt's single and Ryan Barnes drove in the second run with an infield single to score Lennington and give the Redhawks a 2-0 lead.
The Gamecocks battled back in the third inning and tied the game after Cal Lambert singled and Silvani followed with an one-out double. Michael Bishop hit a deep fly to right field to score Lambert, and Adam Miller followed with a RBI single to right to score Silvani and tie the game at 2-2.
SEMO took a 3-2 lead in the sixth inning when Branden Boggetto scored an unearned run on a Gamecock fielding error, but Jax State answered in the top of the seventh after Andrew Bishop hit a solo home run to left field to tie the game at 3-3.
Pierce led off with 10th inning with a pinch-hit infield single and moved to second on a wild pitch. He then moved to third on a failed pickoff attempt that sailed into center field and scored on Silvani's sacrifice fly to right field for the final margin.
Officer threw just four pitches in 2/3 inning to earn the win for the Gamecocks in the opener before giving away to Stout, who picked up his 14th save after recording the final three outs. Griff Gordon and Silvani led JSU with two hits each, while Hewitt led Southeast Missouri with three hits.
In the second game, Eddie Mora-Loera drove in four of JSU's five runs and had a pair of hits, while Coty Blanchard extended his hitting streak to a season-long 12 games to help JSU improve to 17-4 in the OVC and maintain a one-game lead over Belmont.
The Gamecocks took a 1-0 lead in the top of the sixth inning after Blanchard reached on an infield single and then stole second. Mora-Loera then singled to right field to score Blanchard for the first run of the day.
SEMO answered in the bottom of the sixth after Blum had a two-out double and came in to score when Gibson singled up the middle to tie the game at 1-1.
JSU starter Tony Urban allowed a single to the first batter of the game, and then retired the next 17 batters he faced before Jason Blum hit the double left center. Urban finished the game with three strikeouts in 5 2/3 innings and allowed one run, but did not factor into the decision as Officer entered the game to get the final two outs of the inning.
The Gamecocks then took the lead after Silvani walked to lead off the seventh and moved to second on a balk. He then stole third base and scored on Miller's sacrifice fly to left field to give JSU a 2-1 lead.
The Gamecocks then loaded the bases with two outs, before Mora-Loera doubled to left center to score three more runs as JSU built a 5-1 lead.
The Redhawks scored on Hewitt's RBI single in the bottom of the seventh, but Robby Lilly recorded the final three outs to secure the win for Jax State. Officer (4-0) earned his fourth win of the season and second of the day after allowing just one hit.
Blanchard and Mora-Loera each finished with a pair of hits to lead the Gamecocks in the second game, while Blum had two hits for Southeast.
TENNESSEE TECH 10, MURRAY STATE 6 (10)
COOKEVILLE, Tenn. - It was an emotional day for the Tennessee Tech baseball team, as the Golden Eagles (32-12, 19-5) used late home runs from Evan Frazier, Zach Stephens, and Daniel Miles to rally from a five-run deficit to take down Murray State (17-26, 6-15), 10-6, in 10 innings. Great defense was provided throughout the contest, as each side made several spectacular plays to save runs and give the fans an unforgettable show.
Just days after learning of the passing of his aunt, Frazier honored her in the best way he knew how, crushing a walk-off grand slam to right center field to lead Tech to an Ohio Valley Conference series sweep of the rival Thoroughbreds.
Trailing 6-1 in the bottom of the eighth, the Golden Eagles looked sure to be on their way to their first loss in nearly a week when senior Austin Wulf started a remarkable comeback performance for Tech. Wulf led-off the inning with base hit to left field. Stephens gave the Golden Eagles life with the next at-bat, hammering a two-run shot over the Quillen Field sign in left field to bring his team within three runs. Two batters later, Miles followed suit with a solo dinger to left field to make the score: MUR 6, TTU 4.
Murray State finished the inning without any more damage, but the Golden Eagles had taken all the momentum and used it once again in the bottom of the ninth.
The Thoroughbreds recorded two quick outs and looked sure to finally get a win in OVC play, having lost its previous 11 league games. Tech had different plans as Wulf showed the ice in his veins with an 0-2, two-out base hit to keep hope alive for the Golden Eagles and set Stephens up for another shot against Murray State pitcher Brock Downey (0-4). The junior slugger delivered, drilling a two-run liner over the right field wall to tie the game at 6-6.
Headed to extras, Murray State made three quick outs in the top of the 10th inning to give Tech a chance to finish its incredible comeback.
Miles led-off the inning with a fly ball hit to shallow center field. Seeing that second base was uncovered, the third baseman made a great heads-up play, going for two the entire way and just beating a throw to second. Dylan Bosheers followed with a great at-bat, fighting off three foul balls to eventually draw a walk and give Tech two base runners. Local Cookeville product Tevis Sherfield immediately put down a sacrifice bunt, allowing both Miles and Bosheers to advance into scoring position with just one out.
After intentionally walking James Abraham, the Thoroughbreds made an interesting defensive change, bringing in their center fielder as an extra infielder on the left side. With the change made, Frazier stepped to the plate and worked a full count. The senior catcher then made perhaps the greatest play of his four-year career, crushing a walk-off grand slam to right center field to complete the Golden Eagle rally.
Murray State first baseman Mike Kozlowski had a great day from the plate, going 4-for-4 with a run scored. Noah Zipko and Rick Linton each recorded two hits and two RBI each to pace the Thoroughbreds.
Several Golden Eagles had special days at the plate. Stephens collected five hits in five at-bats, driving in four runs off of two home runs. Sherfield went 3-for-3 after entering the game in the third inning as a defensive sub. Frazier grabbed the biggest hit of the game, finishing 1-for-2 with a home run, four RBI, and one hit-by-pitch. Miles put up four hits in five at-bats, scoring two runs. Wulf finished with two hits and two runs scored.
David Hess (5-2) earned his fifth win of the season, pitching 3.2 innings of relief. The sophomore gave up just three hits and one earned run while striking out three Murray State batters.