THURSDAY'S SCORES
UT Martin 4, @Eastern Illinois 3
Eastern Kentucky 3, @Murray State 1
@#30 Austin Peay 20, SIUE 2
@Tennessee Tech 8, Belmont 5
@Jacksonville State 8, Morehead State 2
Memphis 8,
@Southeast Missouri 6
UT MARTIN 4, EASTERN ILLINOIS 3
CHARLESTON, Ill. - Down to its final two outs in the top of the ninth inning, The University of Tennessee at Martin baseball team pushed across a pair of runs to go on top and never looked back, capturing a 4-3 win over Eastern Illinois at Coaches Stadium.
UT Martin (11-38, 4-24 Ohio Valley Conference) led 2-0 until the Panthers scored three runs in the bottom of the seventh to take their first lead of the game. The Skyhawks then generated a pair of runs thanks to a Taylor Cox game-tying RBI single with one out and a Hagen Nelson sacrifice fly that brought home Byron Johann for the eventual game-winning run.
Carter Smith (1-4) then capped off another remarkable appearance out of the bullpen by not allowing a ball out of the infield in a perfect ninth. Overall, Smith tossed 2.1 no-hit scoreless innings, fanning three while allowing just one walk.
Cox registered a pair of hits to go along with an RBI and run scored to lead the Skyhawks offensively. Grant Glasser led the ninth inning rally off with a single, scoring the tying run and adding an RBI as well. Matt Haynes also scored and drove in a run for UT Martin, who outhit the Panthers by an 8-6 margin.
Senior Dan Tobik was sharp in his final start in a Skyhawk uniform but received a no-decision. He blanked Eastern Illinois through six innings before finishing with two earned runs allowed off six hits in 6.2 frames. He accumulated eight strikeouts, giving him 263 career punchouts – just four shy of Jody Fuller’s school record.
The Skyhawks struck first with a run in the top of the second. Cox smashed a leadoff double into the gap in left center, then advanced to third on a sacrifice bunt off the bat of Nico Zych. Haynes then displayed a good piece of hitting by hitting a groundout to the right side, allowing Cox to score and give UT Martin a 1-0 advantage.
Tobik would soon find his zone, retiring 12 of 13 batters at one point ranging from the second to sixth inning. He retired the side on nine pitches in the third, then followed that with another three-up, three-down inning in the fourth in which he recorded a pair of strikeouts.
UT Martin tacked on another run in the top of the fifth. Haynes singled through the left side to lead off the inning, then advanced 90 feet thanks to a sacrifice bunt by Drew Erie. After Haynes advanced to third on an error, he came around to score when Glasser lifted a sacrifice fly out to center to make the score 2-0.
Tobik amassed two more strikeouts in a scoreless fifth and pitched around a man in scoring position to put another zero on the scoreboard in the sixth.
The Skyhawks loaded the bases with one out in the seventh but could not add on to their lead. Eastern Illinois used that momentum to score three runs in the bottom half of the inning for a 3-2 lead.
UT Martin accounted for a pair of baserunners in the eighth but couldn’t even the score. Smith notched two strikeouts in a scoreless eighth, setting the stage for the Skyhawks’ ninth inning comeback.
Glasser fought off a 1-2 pitch for a leadoff single, putting the tying run aboard the basepaths. Sonny Mastromatteo then laid down a perfect bunt to advance Glasser into scoring position. Glasser then moved up to third base on a wild pitch and after a four-pitch walk to Johann put men on the corners, Eastern Illinois opted for a pitching change. Cox wasted no time taking care of business, pulling a single through the right side on the first pitch after the change to tie the score at 3-all. After Johann and Cox both advanced into scoring position thanks to a passed ball, Nelson sent a fly ball into deep center that scored Johann and tilted the score back in UT Martin’s favor at 4-3.
Smith would make that one-run lead stand, tallying a strikeout, groundout to first and foulout to first in the ninth to notch his first win of the season.
EASTERN KENTUCKY 3, MURRAY STATE 1
MURRAY, Ky. - Three Eastern Kentucky University pitchers, led by starter Brent Cobb, combined to two-hit Murray State University in a 3-1 victory on Thursday.
The Thoroughbreds were held hitless for seven and one-third innings. Cobb (6-6) pitched six hitless innings. He walked two, hit two batters and struck out six.
Shane Grimm did not allow a hit in one and one-third innings of relief, but a batter that he walked later scored Murray State’s only run. Cody Creamer pitched the final one and two-thirds innings, allowing two hits and striking out one.
Eastern’s first two runs came on a pair of ground ball outs. With the bases loaded in the second inning, Luke Wurzelbacher’s grounder was enough to score Alex Hughes. With the bases loaded in the fourth it was Austin Grisham’s ground ball that scored Bryan Soloman.
Shaun Ball was picked off first base with two outs in the eighth, but before he was put out, Doug Teegarden scored Eastern’s third run.
Seven different batters recorded one hit each for the Colonels (19-31, 15-12 OVC).
Brock Downey (0-6) pitched a complete game for Murray State (20-32, 8-20 OVC). He allowed three earned runs on seven hits, walked one and struck out five.
#30 AUSTIN PEAY 20, SIUE 2
CLARKSVILLE, Tenn. - – Austin Peay State University’s baseball team used a rare offensive onslaught to post a 20-2 Ohio Valley Conference victory against SIUE, Thursday night at Raymond C. Hand Park.
Austin Peay (40-13, 20-7 OVC) saw each of its starting nine record a hit and 13 players in total finished the night with a base knock. The Govs finished with 31 base hits, the most since a 33-hit affair at Morehead State in 2007.
After a nine-run second inning was followed by three runs in the third and two more in the fourth, only two questions remained. First, how far could starter Zach Hall carry his no-hit bid. Secondly, how many at-bats would it take for first baseman Craig Massoni, the OVC’s leading hitter, to record a hit.
Hall (7-2) would carry his no-hitter into the sixth inning where he allowed a one-out single to SIUE center fielder Travis Becherer. The Cougars would add a second hit in the frame, but could not scratch out a run.
Following the half inning the game was delayed for more than an hour due to lightning, ending Hall’s night. Still, he picked up the win with six scoreless innings, allowing two hits and a walk while striking out five batters.
Massoni’s quest for a base hit would consume four at-bats until he singled in the sixth inning following the weather delay. He would finish the night 1-for-6 at the plate, dropping his average to .380 and his lead over Morehead State’s Kane Sweeney to nine points.
Otherwise it was a banner night for the Govs batters. All told, Austin Peay finished with 13 extra-base hits in their 31-hit outing – eight doubles, a triple and four home runs.
Shortstop Reed Harper went 5-for-6 with three RBI, including a two-run home run in the sixth. Third baseman Jordan Hankins had two home runs and a double as part of a 4-for-5, four RBI outing. Left fielder Cody Hudson also had four hits, including a double. Center fielder Dylan Riner also chipped in four hits.
SIUE starter Caleb Wilkerson (2-5) suffered the loss after allowing 12 runs on 15 hits in the first three innings. The Cougars finished with four hits, including solo home runs by third baseman Jacob Stewart and right fielder Devin Caldwell.
TENNESSEE TECH 8, BELMONT 5
COOKEVILLE, Tenn. - A golden performance on the mound by sophomore David Hess and clutch moment at the plate by junior Daniel Miles led the Tennessee Tech baseball team (38-14, 23-5) to clinch a share of its eighth Ohio Valley Conference regular season title with an 8-5 win over the Belmont Bruins (36-17, 21-7) Friday evening.
Trailing 5-4 in the bottom of the fifth inning, Miles came to the plate with the bases loaded and changed the very facet of the contest with one swing of the bat, crushing a grand slam over the fence in left center field to give the Golden Eagles an 8-5 lead they would not relinquish because of Hess.
The righty actually entered the game with two outs in the top of the fifth inning, striking out the only pitcher he faced in that frame. After four more innings of work, his strikeout total had hit 11. Hess set down 11 of the 14 batters he faced down on strikes, allowing just one hit and walking none in 4.1 innings of relief work.
As expected, the contest was exciting from very beginning. Drew Ferguson led off the game for Belmont with a hit. Jared Breen followed, doubling to left center field. The Bruins proved to be agressive, sending Ferguson around third to try and score. The Tech defense said no, however, as senior James Abraham played the ball off the wall perfectly and hurled a throw to sophomore Dylan Bosheers. The shortstop relayed the throw instantly, tossing a perfect ball to catcher Jordan Parris to nail the runner at home and prevent a run from scoring.
Belmont still managed to score a run in the inning, but the fantastic defensive play set the tone for how the game would be played and proved to be a big factor.
Junior slugger Zach Stephens tied the game at 1-1 in the bottom of the first inning, hammering a solo home run to left center field, his OVC-leading 14th of the year.
In the top of the third, Belmont struck for two more runs, using a solo home run from Jared Breen and RBI single from Judah Akers to take a 3-1 lead.
Once again, the Golden Eagles answered, this time in the fourth inning. Senior Austin Wulf led off the inning with a double down the right field line. After a walk by Brandon Thomasson, Miles drove Wulf in with an RBI single up the middle. Bosheers followed by getting hit by a pitch to load the bases. Abraham drove in the game-tying run with a sac fly to center field, and senior Michael Morris put Tech up 4-3 with an RBI single through the left side.
Belmont wasn't finished though. The Bruins scored twice in the top of the fifth, collecting RBI from Matt Beaty and Alec Diamond to go up 5-4.
It was the closest they got to winning the game as Miles crushed his 11th long ball and first grand slam of the year to put Tech up for good, 8-5.
Hess (7-2) earned his seventh win of the season with his career performance, lowering his ERA to 3.56 on the year. Miles finished the contest with five RBI and two runs scored on 2-for-4 hitting. Stephens went 2-for-3 in the game with two runs scored and a walk.
The win marked the 38th of the year for the Golden Eagles, just one shy of the program record of 39 set in 1997. It also was the 23rd OVC win on the season, tying the league record for single season conference wins with the 2008 Jacksonville State squad.
JACKSONVILLE STATE 8, MOREHEAD STATE 2
JACKSONVILLE, Ala. - Casey Antley recorded a career-high 10 strikeouts, while Adam Miller, Andrew Bishop and Stephen Bartlett each homered to lead Jacksonville State to an 8-2 win over Morehead State in the first game of a three-game Ohio Valley Conference series on Thursday evening at Rudy Abbott Field.
Antley (6-2) allowed just five hits in a career-long eight solid innings on the mound to earn his sixth win of the season. Noah Smallwood (1-7) gave up all eight runs to suffer the loss for Morehead.
The Eagles scored both of their runs in the top of the first inning after Brandon Rawe and Chase Greenwell each had two-out singles and came in to score when Alan Mochabee singled down the left field line for the early lead.
Jax State took the lead in the third inning after Paschal Petrongolo doubled and scored on Bishops single up the middle. Bartlett followed with a two-out home run over the left field fence as the Gamecocks took a 3-2 lead. It was the fourth homer of the season for Bartlett.
Jax State added a run in the third inning when Miller hit his second homer of the season to extend the lead to 4-2, before JSU scored four more runs in the fourth inning.
Eddie Mora-Loera led off with a single and Bishop followed with his third home run of the season to give JSU a 6-2 lead. Gavin Golsan followed with a bunt single and scored on Michael Bishop's single to left field. Griff Gordon had a two-out single to score Bishop for the final margin.
Michael Bishop, Andrew Bishiop, Gordon, Mora-Loera and Bartlett each had two hits to lead the Gamecocks' 14-hit attack. Greenwell had three hits to lead the Eagles.
With the threat of rain on Saturday, Jacksonville State and Morehead State will play a double-header baseball game on Friday, beginning at 1 p.m. at Rudy Abbott Field. The second game will begin approximately 45 minutes after the conclusion of the first game.
MEMPHIS 8, SOUTHEAST MISSOURI 6
CAPE GIRARDEAU, Mo. - Southeast Missouri rallied with five runs in the bottom of the seventh inning to erase a 6-1 deficit to tie the ballgame at 6-6, but Memphis scored two runs in the final two frames to down the Redhawks 8-6 in the series opener at Capaha Field on Thursday evening.
Southeast outhit their Conference USA foe Memphis 10-8 on the evening as the Redhawks fall to 22-31 overall as the Tigers move to 33-21 on the season.
Southeast was led by Nolan Fisher and Dalton Hewitt as they each recorded a pair of hits for the Redhawks. Hewitt added a pair of RBI and run scored as Fisher scored a pair of runs.
Bobby Hurst (3-4) was tagged with the loss going 1.2 innings allowing two runs (one earned). Starter Will Spitzfaden recovered after a four run first inning by the Tigers as he went seven innings allowing six runs (four earned) on six hits with three strikeouts.
Clayton Gant (3-3) earned the win for the Tigers going an inning out of the Tiger's bullpen. Starter Sam Moll was impressive going six innings allowing an earned run on two hits with seven strikeouts.
Tucker Tubbs paced the Memphis offense as he went 3-for-4 with three runs scored. Keaton Aldridge added three RBI on the night for the Tigers.
Memphis got off to a fast start scoring four runs in the opening frame on two hits. Memphis scored on a two-run RBI single, an infield hit and catchers interference to jump out to the early lead.
The Redhawks got on the board in the third inning on a safety squeeze off the bat of Alex Burridge. Fisher scored on the play as he opened the inning with a double to left centerfield.
Memphis added a run in the fifth inning on an infield hit and one in the sixth inning on a safety squeeze to expand their lead to 6-1.
The Redhawks added five runs in the bottom of the seventh inning to tie the contest. The Redhawks recorded seven hits in the frame including two doubles.
Branden Boggetto opened the scoring on a RBI double down the left field line. Hewitt followed Boggetto with a two-run single down the left field line to make it 6-4.
Pinch hitter Josh Meade tied the game at 6-6 with a two-run double to the left field corner, Ryan Barnes was thrown out at home on the play as Meade was also thrown out at third trying to advance. It was his third pinch-hit double of the season for Meade as he has recorded seven RBI on the three hits.
Memphis took back the lead in the top of the eighth inning scoring on a triple and an error that Ethan Gross to score on his triple to give Memphis the 7-6 lead. The Tigers added a run in the ninth inning on a solo homer run to left centerfield by Ford Wilson to take an 8-6 lead into the bottom of the ninth.
Southeast threaten to tie the game in the ninth with two runners in scoring position, but Memphis closer Jonathon Van Eaton notched his 12th save of the season with the final out as Memphis took the contest 8-6.