TUESDAY'S SCORES
Dayton 14,
@Eastern Kentucky 11
Central Arkansas 16,
@UT Martin 4
@Tennessee 6,
Morehead State 4
@Tennessee Tech 10, Lipscomb 9
Jacksonville State 6, @Auburn 1
#30 Austin Peay 9, @Memphis 2
@#1 Vanderbilt 6,
Belmont 1
DAYTON 14, EASTERN KENTUCKY 11
RICHMOND, Ky. - Eastern Kentucky plated five runs in the eighth inning, but fell short in their final home game of the 2013 season, as Dayton escaped with a 14-11 win at Turkey Hughes Field on Tuesday.
Entering the eighth, the Colonels (18-31) trailed 14-6. The EKU rally started as senior Austin Grisham singled with the first of five Colonel hits in the frame. Grisham later scored on a sacrifice fly to left by sophomore John Wilson. Kyle Nowlin and Doug Teegarden also scored on a triple to left from senior Shaun Ball, which narrowed the Flyer lead to five, 14-9.
Still in the eighth, pre-season All-OVC selection Bryan Soloman knocked his sixth homer of the season to pull Eastern within three, at 14-11. The Colonels would not cross the plate again in the contest.
Soloman finished 3-for-5 with two runs and two RBIs. Ball went 2-for-5 with two runs and three RBIs.
The Flyers (11-37-1) got on the board with nine runs in the first inning highlighted by a 3-run home run by Mark Podlas. Jared Broughton had a pair of doubles and drove in five runs in the big inning. Podlas had three hits in four at bats, scored once and drove in four. Broughton finished 3-for-4 with three runs and five driven in.
Eastern Kentucky answered with three runs in the bottom half of the inning. Teegarden scored first for the Colonels on a single to left from Ball. Later in the inning, a Kenny Hostrander single scored Ball and Sean Hagen. Hostrander went 2-for-5 with four RBIs.
After allowing 14 runs through the first five innings, the Colonels held the Flyers scoreless the remainder of the contest.
Dayton pitcher Charlie Dant (2-4) recorded the win for the Flyers. Dant went seven innings, allowing six runs on 10 hits and striking out seven batters. The Colonels sent seven different pitchers to the mound. Freshman Eric Nerl (1-2) struggled early, allowing nine runs in his 2/3 innings of work.
CENTRAL ARKANSAS 16, UT MARTIN 4
MARTIN, Tenn. - The University of Tennessee at Martin baseball team jumped out to an early lead today against Central Arkansas but couldn’t hold the lead in a 16-4 loss in the final home game of the 2013 season.
Offensively, the Skyhawks (10-38) were led today by Grant Glasser, Taylor Cox and Drew Erie, who each tallied a hit and drew a walk. Glasser, Cox, Byron Johann and Nico Zych each scored a run while Hagen Nelson and Kyle Bargery were responsible for RBI’s this afternoon.
A total of five UT Martin pitchers saw time on the mound today, highlighted by a career-high four innings and four strikeouts by freshman Chris Flores, who allowed just one hit. Isaac Armstrong also tossed 1.2 shutout frames for the Skyhawks out of the bullpen today. Starting pitcher Trevor Lundgrin (0-2) was charged with the loss after allowing five runs in two-plus innings.
After Lundgrin retired the side in order in the top of the first, the Skyhawks pushed across three runs in the bottom of the first. Glasser led things off with a double to the gap in right center and advanced to third thanks to a sacrifice bunt by Sonny Mastromatteo. Johann and Cox then drew back-to-back walks to load the bases for Nelson, who beat out an infield single to make the score 1-0. Johann and Cox would later score on a two-out error, providing a 3-0 Skyhawk advantage after one complete inning of play.
Central Arkansas (34-16) got one run back on a two-out single in the top of the second, then added six runs in the third before Nick Wilson picked up a pair of strikeouts to finish out the inning. The Bears pushed across one run in the fourth before Armstrong put a halt to the rally by inducing an inning-ending 5-4-3 double play.
UT Martin nearly sliced its deficit in the bottom of the fourth, loading the bases with no outs. However, Central Arkansas would bounce back with three consecutive outs to keep the score at 8-3.
The Bears then added six runs in the top of the fifth before Flores entered the contest. The 6-4 left-hander out of Southwest Ranches, Fla. sat down Central Arkansas in order in a perfect sixth.
Zych walked to lead off the bottom of the sixth and would soon swipe second base for his sixth stolen base in as many attempts this season. Bargery then ripped a 1-2 pitch for a two-out double to right center to plate Zych and get the Skyhawks back on the scoreboard.
Central Arkansas would add two more runs on a two-out homer in the top of the seventh but that would be the only mistake that Flores would make. He erased a harmless two-out walk in the eighth by picking the runner off and did not allow a hit while working a shutout ninth.
Meanwhile, UT Martin would get one-out hits in both the seventh and eighth innings but couldn’t generate another run the rest of the way.
TENNESSEE 6, MOREHEAD STATE 4
KNOXVILLE, Tenn. - Errors proved costly for the Morehead State baseball team against Tennessee, as the deciding two runs in the 6-4 loss were both brought home by Eagle throwing errors on Tuesday night at Lindsey Nelson Stadium.
With the loss, MSU falls to 15-38 on the season, while the win pushed Southeastern Conference foe Tennessee to its 21st victory on the year.
The Volunteers jumped out on the Eagles early, scoring four runs on three hits in the bottom of the first, highlighted by a two-RBI double from junior designated hitter Ethan Bennett.
Morehead State freshman righty Tyler Keele (3-7), who was charged with the loss, settled in after that rocky start, allowing only 6 hits and no earned runs over the next six innings.
MSU got things going in the top of the third, plating two runs when sophomore second baseman Kane Sweeney drove in senior catcher Drew Williams and sophomore left fielder Chris Robinson with a single to right field. However, UT took advantage of the first Eagle blunder to push across an unearned run in the bottom half of the third, 5-2.
The Eagles loaded the bases in the top of the fifth, allowing back-to-back walks from senior shortstop Chase Greenwell and freshman third baseman Alan Mocahbee to force in a pair of runs to cut their deficit to one. Again though, an errant MSU throw in the bottom half of the inning allowed the Vols to plate an unearned run to stretch their lead to 6-4, which was too much for the Eagles to overcome.
Volunteer freshman right-hander Trevor Charpie (3-4) took the decision while freshman lefty Drake Owenby picked up his second save of the season.
TENNESSEE TECH 10, LIPSCOMB 9
COOKEVILLE, Tenn. - There aren't many things that the Tennessee Tech baseball team doesn't know how to do. The Golden Eagles can hit, they can pitch, and they play defense with the best of them. It seems these days the only thing they don't know how do to is give up. And that was proven once again Tuesday evening.
Trailing by three runs heading to the bottom of the eighth inning, the Golden Eagles did what they have done when faced with adversity most of the season. They rallied, scoring four runs to cap a 10-9, come-from-behind victory over in-state rival Lipscomb.
After defeating Tech 12-1 in Nashville in the fourth game of the season, Lipscomb looked like they hadn't missed a beat, scoring four runs on three home runs in the second inning. They extended their lead to 5-0 heading to the bottom of the third.
Tech wouldn't give up, however, collecting two runs in the bottom of the third off a double down the left field line by senior outfielder Austin Wulf. They added two more runs in the bottom of the fourth inning as well. Dylan Bosheers led off the inning with single to left center field. Senior outfielder Michael Morris followed, hammering his first home run of the season over the fence in right center field to cut the lead to 5-4.
In the bottom of the sixth, Tech pulled even as senior outfielder James Abraham crushed his first dinger of the year, a solo shot to left center field.
The Bisons collected three more runs in the seventh inning, taking an 8-5 lead while looking to keep the Golden Eagles down and out.
Once again, Tech wouldn't give in, as junior slugger Zach Stephens ripped an RBI single to left field to bring the Golden Eagles within two.
In the top of the eighth inning, Lipscomb looked to land its knockout puch, scoring a run to retake its three run lead and end all hope of a comeback by Tech.
That's when the Golden Eagles truly displayed their toughness and moxy.
In the bottom of the eighth, Lipscomb forced a double play after walking Dylan Bosheers to start the inning. With two outs, surely the Golden Eagles were done for.
Or not. Morris drew a seven pitch walk and senior catcher Evan Frazier followed by getting hit by a pitch. Both players advanced on a wild pitch and suddenly the Golden Eagles were showing signs of life with runners on second and third.
After getting down 1-2 in the count, second baseman Zach Zarzour punched in a clutch hit, drilling a shot off a lunging Lipscomb shortstop that drove in both Frazier and Morris to bring Tech within one run. Wulf followed right way, lacing a groundball that hopped over a leaping jump by the Bisons first baseman, and sliding safely into second with a double to put runners at second and third.
At this point, it just seemed like destiny that the comeback would be complete. Stephens fell behind in the count 1-2, but even then there was a sense that something great was about to happen as he stepped into the batters box. And then it happened. Stephens drilled a single through the left side of the infield, driving in both runners and giving Tech a 10-9 lead.
From that point, it was just recording three outs and Tech would have its 37th win of the year. Sophomore closer Seth Lucio came in and recorded two quick outs. Lipscomb showed some fight, collecting two hits before Lucio finished it off with a strikeout to earn his 11th save of the season.
Sophomore reliever Byron Skinner earned his first win of the season, tossing 1.2 innings while surrendering just one run. Stephens led the Tech offense with three RBI on 2-for-4 hitting. Morris, Zarzour, and Wulf each recorded two hits and two RBI apiece.
The win helped the Golden Eagles keep their momentum from last weekend's sweep at SEMO going as they head into the regular season series finale against Belmont.
The Ohio Valley Conference season finale will pit the first place Golden Eagles against the second place Belmont Bruins in a three game series for the regular season championship. With two wins, Tech can clinch the title outright, while one victory will guarantee the team at least a share of the championship.
JACKSONVILLE STATE 6, AUBURN 1
AUBURN, Ala. - Adam Polk pitched five hitless innings and Michael Bishop hit a two-run home run to lead Jacksonville State to a 6-1 win over Auburn as the Gamecocks have now won three of the last four meetings against the Tigers.
Jacksonville State improves to 30-23 on the season, reaching the 30-win mark for the 10th time in the last 11 years, while Auburn drops to 31-21 on the season.
Polk had a no-hitter broken up with two outs in the fifth inning and gave up just two hits in 5 2/3 innings of work with a pair of strikeouts to earn the win. Daniel Koger (0-3) gave up five runs on three hits to suffer the loss for the Tigers.
Jax State got on the scored board in the third inning after Cal Lambert reached on a two-out single to left center, before Bishop hit the first pitch he saw over the left field green monster to give the Gamecocks the early 2-0 lead.
The Gamecocks then plated four runs in the fourth inning to extend the lead after Griff Gordon and Coty Blanchard each walked to lead off the inning. Paschal Petrongolo then doubled to left field to score Gordon, before Andrew Bishop doubled down the right field line to score Blanchard and Petrongolo as JSU built a 5-0 lead. Andrew Bishop moved to third on a grounder and then scored after Gavin Golsan had an infield grounder to give the Gamecocks a 6-0 lead.
Auburn loaded the bases in the sixth inning, but Ben Haynes came in a struck out Jordan Ebert to end the scoring threat. The Tigers scored their only run in the eighth inning on a sacrifice fly by Ebert, before Haynes, Cody Ponder and Travis Stout recorded the final six outs to secure the win for the Gamecocks.
Jax State finished with six hits as Michael Bishop, Andrew Bishop, Gordon, Petrongolo and Lambert each had hits, while Michael and Andrew each drove in two runs for the Gamecocks. Auburn's Damek Tomscha had two of Auburn's five hits in the game.
#30 AUSTIN PEAY 9, MEMPHIS 2
MEMPHIS, Tenn. - Defending a national ranking for the first time in program history, Austin Peay State University’s baseball team used seven unanswered runs to secure a 9-2 non-conference win against Memphis, Tuesday night at FedEx Park.
No. 30 Austin Peay (39-13) broke the game open in the fifth and sixth innings, scoring five runs to break open a tie game. Third baseman Jordan Hankins had a huge hand in the breakout, belting a two-run home run in the fifth inning that provided the game-winning runs. One inning later he added a RBI single, putting the Govs ahead 7-2 and they would not look back.
The Govs opened the game’s scoring with a pair of runs in the third inning. Austin Peay scored the first run thanks to a Memphis error and added a second on shortstop Reed Harper’s single.
Memphis (32-21) had a chance to put up a big number in its half of the second. The Tigers opened the frame with three consecutive singles, shortstop Ethan Gross’ single pushing across the first run. Austin Peay starter Jared Carkuff hit first baseman Tucker Tubbs to load the bases with one out and end his outing.
Reliever Kevin Corey would surrender the game-tying run on a balk but then wriggled out of the jam. Right fielder Bryce Beeler singled to shortstop Reed Harper who promptly threw home. While Harper’s throw was high, the runner at third stopped before reaching home and was retired in a rundown. Another infield single loaded the bases again, but a line drive to right field ended the threat.
Corey (1-1) would pick up the win, following those two outs with two more scoreless innings. The Govs bullpen amassed 6.2 scoreless innings and allowed four hits. Carkhuff, making his first start in a month, allowed two runs on six hits over the opening 2.1 innings but did not factor into the decision.
The Govs offense posted double-digit hits for the ninth consecutive game, finishing with 13 hits against a Memphis pitching staff that allowed only 7.7 hits per nine innings entering the contest.
Hankins led the offensive effort with a 2-for-5, three RBI outing. Second baseman Brett Carlson added his first career three-hit outing while Harper and center fielder Dylan Riner each chipped in two hits.
Memphis starter Michael Wills (4-4) suffered the loss after allowing six runs on seven hits over 4.1 innings. Second baseman Zach Willis led Memphis’ offense with a 3-for-4 outing.
#1 VANDERBILT 6, BELMONT 1
NASHVILLE - Belmont Baseball (36-16, 21-6) fell to No. 1 Vanderbilt, 6-1 on Tuesday night at Hawkins Field.
Vanderbilt got on the board in the first inning behind a two-run homer from Kyle Smith, putting the Commodores on top, 2-0.
A single from John Norwood added another run for the 'Dores before Tony Kemp hit a two-out triple to the right field corner to extend Vanderbilt's lead to 5-0.
The Bruins threatened in the sixth as Drew Turner (Shelbyville, Tenn.) reached on a fielder's choice and Matt Beaty (Dresden, Tenn.) singled up the middle, but a ground out ended the inning and left the runners stranded. Vanderbilt took a 6-0 lead in the bottom half of the inning.
Drew Ferguson (Knoxville, Tenn.) crossed the plate for Belmont in the top of the eighth, behind a ground out from Beaty.
In the top of the ninth, pinch hitters threatened the 'Dores. A single from Austin Loyd (Snellville, Ga.) and a double from Neil Hickman (Hermitage, Tenn.) put runners on second and third with just one out, but Belmont left the runners stranded.
Zach Hodgkiss (Eads, Tenn.) registered a career outing with three innings of work and three strikeouts.
Jessie Snodgrass (Lebanon, Tenn.) recorded his 40th appearance of the season. He saw one inning of relief, striking out one.
Josh Davis (Fayetteville, Ga.) took the hill in the eighth. The right hander pitched out of a bases loaded jam and registered a pair of strikeouts.