TUESDAY'S SCORES
@Northern Kentucky 8,
Morehead State 2
Southern Illinois 25,
@Southeast Missouri 3
@#13 Kentucky 6,
Austin Peay 3
@Lipscomb 5,
Belmont 3
@Troy 8,
Jacksonville State 4
@Saint Louis 7,
SIUE 5
@Middle Tennessee 12,
Tennessee Tech 9
Eastern Illinois 8, @Illinois 4
@#2 Vanderbilt 10,
UT Martin 3
NORTHERN KENTUCKY 8, MOREHEAD STATE 2
HIGHLAND HEIGHTS, Ky. - A six-run second inning from Northern Kentucky was too much for the Morehead State baseball team to overcome, as it fell, 8-2, at Bill Akers Baseball Complex on Tuesday.
The Eagles fall to 9-23 on the season, while the Norse improve to 5-27 in their 2013 campaign.
MSU outhit NKU nine to eight in the contest, but the Eagles stranded eight to the Norse’s five.
NKU jumped out to a 6-0 lead in the bottom of the second on only two hits, an error, three walks and a hit-by-pitch.
The Eagles scored their first run of the ballgame in the top of the fourth when freshman third baseman Alan Mocahbee drove in sophomore right fielder Kane Sweeney with an RBI double down the left field line.
The Norse plated another in their half of the fourth on a double down the left field line from senior first baseman Brad Clement.
Sophomore left fielder Brandon Rawe hit his second home run in as many games, a solo shot over the left field wall, to cut the NKU lead to 7-2 in the top of the sixth. NKU extended its lead back to six in the seventh, off an RBI single to left from freshman catcher Cody Kuzniczci to close out the scoring.
Sweeney extended his on base streak to 23 straight games, going 2-for-4 in the contest. Rawe and senior shortstop Chase Greenwell also went 2-for-4 on the day.
Norse junior righty Brett Crisper (1-4) picked up his first win of the season, allowing only two runs and seven hits in six innings.
MSU freshman right-hander Tyler Keele (2-4) picked up the loss, allowing five hits and four earned runs in his 3.2 innings. He walked four and plunked three Norse batters.
SOUTHERN ILLINOIS 25, SOUTHEAST MISSOURI 3
CAPE GIRARDEAU, Mo. - The Southeast Missouri baseball team dropped a 25-3 decision to regional rival Southern Illinois Tuesday evening at Capaha Field. The Redhawks fell to 17-17 on the season with the loss as the Salukis improve to 15-16 overall.
The Redhawks tied a school record for runs allowed as Southeast allowed 25 runs against Murray State on April 10, 2009.
Southeast's Derek Gibson led Southeast going 2-for-2 with two runs score to go along with a walk. He also extended his hitting streak to 14-games, a season-high for any Redhawk.
The Salukis got on the board first in the top of the opening frame with a pair of runs. An RBI double by Matt Jones opened the scoring as he later scored on an RBI single from Ryan Casillas.
The Redhawks answered with two runs in the bottom of the first. Matt Tellor opened the scoring with an RBI single. Andy Lennington tied the game with a sacrifice fly to right field scoring Gibson as he reached base on an RBI single to extend his hitting streak.
SIU took back the led with a pair of solo home runs in the top of the third inning. Rennie Troggio and Austin Montgomery hit the solo shots to push the SIU lead to 4-2.
Southeast cut the lead to 4-3 in the bottom of the third frame on an RBI single to right centerfield by Lennington.
The Salukis would add 21 unanswered runs in the final six innings on their way to the win. The Salukis finished the night with 24 hits.
Lennington was 1-for-2 with two RBI for the Redhawks. Tellor, Branden Boggetto and Steven Still each added two hits. Still recorded his first two hits as a Redhawk.
Skylar Cobb (1-1) was tagged with the loss as Southeast used nine pitchers on the evening.
Eight Salukis had multi-hit contests with Troggio having a career day going 3-for-4 with three RBI and four runs scored.
Brad Durst (2-2) earned the win for SIU going five innings allowing three runs on seven hits.
#13 KENTUCKY 6, AUSTIN PEAY 3
LEXINGTON, Ky. - A couple of defensive miscues again cost Austin Peay State University’s baseball team as it dropped a 6-3 decision to nationally-ranked Kentucky, Tuesday night, at Cliff Hagan Stadium.
Austin Peay (25-8) battled No. 13 Kentucky (23-9) to a scoreless draw through three innings. APSU starter Zach Hall ran into trouble only once in the opening stanza when Kentucky loaded the bases with two outs in the second, but got a groundout to end the threat.
Kentucky would not let a second scoring opportunity pass it by, as leadoff hitter A.J. Reed reached base in the fourth. Second baseman J.T. Riddle walked to put two men on before Hall struck out the next batter to get the second out. Shortstop Matt Reida came through with a single through the infield to score the game’s first run. Designated hitter Zach Storm followed and hit a pop up that eluded Hall, who was charged with an error on the play, in the infield and allowed a second run to score.
The Wildcats added a third run on a delayed double steal attempt in the third as the Govs could not make the throw home to record the inning’s third out and had to settle for an out at first after the run scored.
Austin Peay broke through in the sixth, third baseman Kevin Corey leading off the frame with a single and center fielder Dylan Riner following with a walk. The Govs moved the runners with a sacrifice and second baseman Jordan Hankins drove in a run with a groundout. However, APSU could not bring home the second run and trailed 3-1.
The Govs defense betrayed them in the sixth with an error costing APSU three runs. Kentucky got a single followed by a walk with one out. Austin Peay brought in reliever Kacy Kemmer to hold the line. Kemmer appeared to do the job with one pitch, inducing a ground ball to shortstop Reed Harper for a possible double play. However, the ball eluded Harper allowing a run to score. Kentucky right fielder Kyle Barrett added to the damage with a two-run triple, putting the Wildcats ahead 6-1.
Austin Peay would continue to battle and manufactured a pair of runs in the eighth. Catcher P.J. Torres led off the inning with a double and Corey singled to put runners at the corners with no outs. Kentucky turned to reliever Walter Wijas who balked in a run before surrendering a pair of ground outs that pushed across the Govs final run.
Hall (3-2) suffered the loss despite allowing only three runs on six hits over five innings.
Corey led the Govs offense with a 2-for-3, two run scored outing. Harper had the Govs other multi-hit outing, finishing 2-for-4. Hudson and Hankins were credited with a RBI each.
Kentucky starter Kyle Cody (3-1) allowed one run on four hits over 5.1 innings for the victory.
Barrett led Kentucky with a 2-for-5, two RBI effort. Designated hitter Kyle Storm added a 2-for-4 effort.
LIPSCOMB 5, BELMONT 3
NASHVILLE - Belmont Baseball (23-8, 10-2) dropped a midweek game, 5-3, to crosstown rival Lipscomb on Tuesday night at Ken Dugan Field.
Belmont got on the board early behind an RBI sacrifice fly from Drew Turner (Shelbyville, Tenn.) in the first inning, but Lipscomb answered with a run of their own in the bottom half of the inning to tie the game at 1-1.
The Bisons took a 2-1 lead in the second inning behind a leadoff single.
With two outs in the top of the eighth, Jamie Ritchie (Burford, Ga.) doubled to left field to score Scott Moses (Englewood, Tenn.) from second base to tie the game at 2-2.
Lipscomb scored three runs in the bottom of the eighth to take a 5-2 lead over the Bisons behind a bases loaded walk and a double.
Blake Harvey (Murfreesboro, Tenn.) matched his career high of three strikeouts during his three innings of relief.
With runners on the first and second, Judah Akers (Cookeville, Tenn.) singled up the middle to load the bases with no outs in the top of the ninth. Ray Eastman (Oro Valley, Ariz.) drew a walk to allow Drew Ferguson (Knoxville, Tenn.) to score, cutting the Bisons lead, 5-3.
Lipscomb pitched out of the jam to leave the bases loaded and secure the 5-3 win.
TROY 8, JACKSONVILLE STATE 4
TROY, Ala. - Troy plated seven runs in the fourth inning as the Trojans claimed an 8-4 win over Jacksonville State on Tuesday evening at Riddle-Pace Field.
Ryan Source (4-0) had seven strikeouts and scattered five hits over five innings to earn the win for the Trojans, while Adam Polk (2-5) gave up seven runs in just 2/3 of an inning to suffer the loss for the Gamecocks.
Jax State (16-16) took an early lead after Michael Bishop led off with an infield single and moved to third on Griff Gordon's single, before scoring on Coty Blanchard's infield grounder as the Gamecocks took a 1-0 lead.
The Trojans (22-9) tied the game in the second inning on a RBI single by Garrett Pitts, before taking control of the game in the fourth inning.
Polk came in to pitch in relief of Gamecock starter Taylor Shields, who allowed just three hits in three solid innings on the mound. Danny Collins led off with a single and Trae Santos followed with a two-run home run to give the Trojans a 3-1 lead.
Matthew Howard then walked and scored on a double by Josh McDorman, before Tyler Vaughnss had a RBZI single to right field and Logan Pierce then walked to chase Polk from the game. Jax State then committed an error to allow two more runs to score as Troy built an 8-1 lead.
Jax State cut into the lead in the sixth inning after Eddie Mora-Loera drove in a run with a single to right field, while Andrew Bishop drove in another run with a single up the middle and Mora-Loera scored on a wild pitch to cut the lead to 8-4, but the Gamecocks could get no closer.
The Trojans did not allow a hit over the final three innings to seal the win.
Michael Bishop and Andrew Bishop each had a pair of hits to lead the Gamecocks, while Vaughnss, McDorman, Danny Collins and Garrett Pitts each had two hits to lead the Trojans.
SAINT LOUIS 7, SIUE 5
ST. LOUIS - SIUE baseball collected double digit hits for the fourth consecutive game Tuesday, but fell to Saint Louis 7-5 in nonconference action at the Billiken Sports Complex.
SIUE (8-19) took a 1-0 lead in the first inning against SLU starter Joe Powell. Devin Caldwell drove in Travis Becherer with a sacrifice fly to center.
SLU (23-10) answered with a four runs on four hits in its own half of the first inning, which proved to be the difference in the contest. SLU second baseman Mike Levine drove home two runs with a double off Cougar starter Sam Hopkins.
Hopkins (1-3) claimed the loss for the Cougars. The freshman lasted just 2 2/3 innings, allowing five runs on seven hits. He walked two and struck out one.
Becherer picked up an RBI of his own in the second inning with a single that cut the lead to 4-2. The Billikens scored single runs in the third, fourth, and fifth to extend their lead to 7-2.
James Vazquez hit a sacrifice fly and Joel Greatting doubled in a two-run SIUE sixth inning, which cut the SLU lead to 7-4.
The Cougars added a run in the eighth inning thanks to the RBI of the game from Becherer. SIUE left runners on second and third when the inning ended. The Cougars stranded 12 for the game.
Becherer led the Cougars at the plate. The senior was 4 for 5 with two RBIs and two runs scored. Greatting was 2 for 5 with an RBI. Vazquez and Caldwell added RBIs. Drew Johnson and Jacob Stewart each added two hits for the Cougars, who had 11 as a team.
Freshman reliever J.D. Williams tossed three scoreless innings for SIUE. He allowed a single hit and he struck out five. The Billikens loaded the bases with one out in the bottom of the eighth before Williams picked up a strikeout and a fly out to end the inning.
Saint Louis also finished with 11 hits. Alex Kelly paced the Billiken offense. He was 3 for 5 with two RBIs. Braxton Martinez was 2 for 3 with an RBI.
Powell (3-0) earned the win for Saint Louis despite pitching just four innings. He allowed two runs on six hits. Since his outing was pre-determined he was awarded the win despite not pitching the minimum five innings needed to qualify.
MIDDLE TENNESSEE 12, TENNESSEE TECH 9
MURFREESBORO, Ky. - As the saying goes, history has a way of repeating itself. Unfortunately for the Tennessee Tech baseball team, that's precisely what occurred Tuesday evening as the Golden Eagles fell to the Middle Tennessee Blue Raiders 12-9.
Just six weeks after losing a 7-1 lead to the Blue Raiders in Cookeville in what turned into a 9-7 loss, the Golden Eagles found themselves in an eerily similar position in Murfreesboro. Through four and half innings, Tech looked comfortable with a 7-1 lead and ready to take down the Blue Raiders for the first time in nine games. Middle Tennessee proved unwilling to allow that to happen on its home turf, however, rallying for the second time this season to take the contest 12-9.
Earning the win for the Blue Raiders was relief pitcher Heath Slatton (1-1), who pitched 2.2 innings while allowing three hits, one earned run, and one walk. He struck out four Tech batters. First baseman Trent Miller led the comeback attempt for Middle Tennessee, recording four RBI on a 3-for-5 day at the plate. Catcher Michael Adkins drove in the eventual game-winning run, grabbing an infield single in the bottom of the sixth.
Three Tech players recorded multi-hit days including lead-off man Zach Zarzour, center fielder Austin Wulf, and first baseman Zach Stephens. Zarzour scored three runs in the contest, grabbing two hits and a walk to set up the RBI attempts for his teammates. Stephens led the Golden Eagles with four RBI, ripping two two-run singles. The junior also walked once in the game as well.
Sophomore David Hess (3-2) was handed the loss, giving up three runs in 1.1 innings of relief work for starter Garrett Baugh. Baugh cruised through the first four innings, allowing just one run. The Blue Raider bats found another gear, however, smacking Baugh for six more runs in the fifth inning to tie the game at 7-7.
EASTERN ILLINOIS 8, ILLINOIS 4
CHAMPAIGN, Ill. - The Panther baseball team defeated Big Ten member Illinois, 8-4, on Tuesday night at Illinois Field. EIU extended its win streak to five games while improving to 11-18 on the year.
Trailing 1-0 heading into the top of the sixth inning, the Panthers used timely hitting and took advantage of three Fighting Illini (19-10) errors to score eight runs on seven hits. All seven of the hits were singles.
After surrendering a two-out solo home run to Justin Parr in the first inning to go down 1-0, the Panther pitching staff did not allow a hit until the ninth inning. Thomas Lindauer hit a one-out, three run homer to left field off of Scott Houdek to get Illinois within four (8-4), but Joe Greenfield entered the game and retired the final two batters to seal the victory.
Ben Kennedy (2-2) earned the win, striking out two and not allowing a hit in 2.2 innings of scoreless relief. Garrison Stenger had three strikeouts and did not surrender a hit in 2.2 innings of scoreless relief as well. Jake Johansmeier made the start for EIU, allowing one hit and one run in 2.2 innings of action.
Kevin Duchene (4-1) took the loss for Illinois, surrendering five hits and two runs with five strikeouts in 5.1 innings of work. The freshman left-handed pitcher retired the first 11 Panther batters he faced.
EIU had seven more hits (12-5) than Illinois and committed two fewer errors (3-1). The Panthers also left one more runner on base (5-4).
Cameron Berra went 2-for-4 with two RBI, a double and a run to pace the Panther offense. Treysen Vavra went 3-for-5 with a double, a run and an RBI. Caleb Howell and Jacob Reese both added 2-for-4 plate performances with a run and a RBI.
Justin Parr went 2-for-4 with two runs and a RBI to lead the Illini at the plate. Chase Hainline also added a hit and a run.
#2 VANDERBILT 10, UT MARTIN 3
NASHVILLE - The University of Tennessee at Martin baseball team gave No. 2 Vanderbilt all it could handle early tonight, but the Commodores pulled away late for a 10-3 win at Hawkins Field.
After Vanderbilt (30-4) struck first with a run in their first at-bat, the Skyhawks came right back with a run in the top of the second to tie the game. The Commodores added another run in the bottom of the second but UT Martin once again showed its resiliency, evening the score at 2-2 after the top of the fourth. However, Vanderbilt would score seven runs over the next two innings on its way to the win.
Matt Haynes had a pair of hits and drove in two runs to lead UT Martin (9-23) this evening. Brent Morris tallied two hits and scored twice, Grant Glasser collected a pair of hits and scored a run and Wade Collins registered his team-leading 25th RBI for the Skyhawks tonight.
Six Skyhawks saw action on the mound tonight. Making his first start of the season, Chris Ross (3-2) pitched well early but took the loss after allowing six runs off five hits in 3.1 innings. John Skubina (one inning), Cody Miller (0.1 innings), Trevor Lundgrin (0.1 innings), John Houston (two innings) and Jordan Stokes (one inning) all made relief appearances for UT Martin.
After a sacrifice fly gave Vanderbilt the 1-0 lead, Morris served as the catalyst for UT Martin in the top of the second. He ripped a two-out single through the right side, then advanced to second and third on a pair of wild pitches. On a 3-1 pitch, Haynes dropped a single into center to make the score 1-1.
The Commodores scored one more run in the second but the Skyhawks avoided any further damage when right fielder Byron Johann picked up an outfield assist at the plate.
Ross then kept Vanderbilt off the scoreboard in the third, needing just 10 pitches to retire the side in order thanks to three groundouts.
With momentum on UT Martin’s side, the Skyhawks were once again led by the combo of Morris and Haynes in the fourth. Morris found the gap in right center for a two-out triple and three pitches later, Haynes went opposite field for a single to right to tie the score at 2-all.
Vanderbilt then compiled four runs in the fourth and three runs in the fifth to take a 9-2 advantage. Houston put a halt to the Commodore offense in the sixth, retiring the side in order on only seven pitches.
In the seventh, Vanderbilt tacked on an unearned run but the Skyhawks got that run back in the top of the eighth. Glasser pulled a one-out double into right field and advanced to third on a single by Matt Young. Collins then laced a double out to right to plate Glasser and move Young up to third base. After a Morris walk loaded the bases, Vanderbilt pitcher Adam Ravenelle escaped the jam.
Stokes then put on an impressive performance in the bottom of the eighth, racking up a pair of strikeouts while firing his first eight pitches for strikes in a 1-2-3 inning.
Ben Brewer reached base on a two-out walk in the ninth, but the Skyhawks couldn’t get a rally going.