FRIDAY'S SCORES
@Eastern Illinois 9, UT Martin 0
Eastern Kentucky 9, @Murray State 7 (10 innings)
@#30 Austin Peay 10, SIUE 8
@Tennessee Tech 14, Belmont 6
@Jacksonville State 5-3, Morehead State 3-22
@Southeast Missouri 3, Memphis 2 (11 innings)
EASTERN ILLINOIS 9, UT MARTIN 0
CHARLESTON, Ill. - Sophomore pitcher Matt Borens led the Panther baseball team to a 9-0 win over UT Martin on Friday afternoon, throwing a career-high 12 strikeouts in the complete-game shutout.
Borens (4-4) posted his second complete game of the season as the Monee, Ill., native also allowed only three hits with two walks. He threw a total of 119 pitches in the contest.
EIU scored nine runs through the first three innings of play to build a 9-0 advantage. Treysen Vavra drove in the first run of the day with an RBI double before a Jacob Reese RBI single scored the second run.
Caleb Howell and Brant Valach made the score 4-0 in the second inning with RBI singles before EIU added five runs on six hits and one error in the third inning for the nine-run advantage.
Howell led the Panther offense as he went 5-for-5 at the plate with two runs and a RBI. Vavra went 2-for-4 with two runs, three RBI and two doubles. Nick Priessman also went 2-for-4 with two RBI and two runs.
EIU had 13 more hits (16-3) than UT Martin and left six more runners on base (10-4). The Skyhawks committed one error on the day while the Panthers did not have any miscues.
Taylor Cox (0-7) took the loss for UT Martin, allowing nine hits and seven runs (six earned) in 2.1 innings of work. Nico Zych led the offense as he went 2-for-3 at the plate.
EASTERN KENTUCKY 9, MURRAY STATE 7 (10)
MURRAY, Ky. - Luke Wurzelbacher’s RBI double in the 10th inning led the Eastern Kentucky University baseball team to a 9-7 win at Murray State University on Friday. With the win, the Colonels clinch the Ohio Valley Conference series and have now won five of their last seven conference series.
With one out in the top of the 10th, Austin Grisham singled through the right side. The senior then moved to third on a failed pick-off attempt. Wurzelbacher followed with what proved to be the game-winning double to left field. Two batters later, Kyle Nowlin provided some insurance with an RBI double to right center.
Wurzelbacher went 2-for-5 with two runs and two RBIs.
The Colonels jumped out in front in the third inning. With one out, Doug Teegarden singled up the middle and Shaun Ball drew a walk. Two batters later, Alex Hughes sent the ball over the right field fence for a 3-run home run. It was his third of the season. Hughes finished 2-for-5 with a run and three RBIs.
The Thoroughbreds got one back in the bottom half of the third and then tied it on Brandon Elliott’s 2-run single through the left side in the fifth.
EKU answered right back in the sixth. Grisham doubled down the left field line and Wurzelbacher followed with an RBI single through the right side to put the visitors back on top. Wurzelbacher made his way to third on a wild pitch and a ground ball, and then scored on Nowlin’s infield single for a 5-3 lead.
After the first batter was retired in the bottom of the sixth, four straight Thoroughbreds reached base. Paul Ritzheimer’s single through the left side with the bases loaded tied the game 5-5. Ritzheimer finished 3-for-5 with a run and two RBIs.
John Wilson led off the top of the ninth with a walk. With one out, Teegarden singled down the right field line to put runners at the corners. Ball followed with a single through the right side. Wilson scored on the hit and then Teegarden came home on a throwing error by the right fielder to make it a 7-5 game.
Ball had three hits in four at bats, scored once and drove in a run.
Murray State answered in the bottom half of the ninth to send the game to extra innings. With one out and two on, Brandon Eggenschwiler scored on an EKU error to cut the deficit to one. A sacrifice bunt by Greg Guest was enough to tie the score 7-7.
Making his first start as a Colonel, Myles Scott allowed three runs, two of which were earned, on six hits in five innings of work. He walked one and struck out one. Cody Creamer (2-1) earned the win after tossing the final one and two-thirds innings. He did not allow a hit and struck out one.
Cameron Wallace (1-2) suffered the loss after allowing two runs on three hits in one and two-thirds innings.
#30 AUSTIN PEAY 10, SIUE 8
CLARKSVILLE, Tenn. - Austin Peay State University scored eight runs in the opening three innings and held on to win a 10-8 Ohio Valley Conference contest against SIU Edwardsville, Friday at Raymond C. Hand Park.
For the second consecutive game, Austin Peay (41-13, 21-7 OVC) got out to an early lead, scoring in each of the first three innings. Shortstop Reed Harper gave the Govs their first runs with a two-run home run in the first. In the two-run second inning, second baseman Brett Carlson and right fielder Rolando Gautier each had RBI base hits, pushing the lead to 4-0.
After SIU Edwardsville scored a run in the third, the Govs responded with a four-run burst in the bottom of the frame. First baseman Craig Massoni started the rally with a leadoff home run. Designated hitter Michael Davis, center fielder Dylan Riner and Carlson would each add RBI singles later in the frame and the Govs lead 8-1 after three innings.
SIUE (16-34, 10-19 OVC) started to figure out APSU starter Casey Delgado in the fourth and fifth innings. The Cougars struck for two runs in the fourth with three consecutive two-out hits, including third baseman Matt Highland’s two-run double that cut the APSU lead to 8-3.
The Cougars biggest threat came in the fifth inning as Delgado saw the first four batters reach base safely. Designated hitter Jacob Stewart had a RBI single followed by second baseman James Vazquez’ RBI double. First baseman Joel Greatting would bring home a run with a sacrifice fly and the Austin Peay lead was cut to two runs.
Delgado would then uncork a wild pitch allowing Vazquez to score, cutting the lead to one run, 8-7. But Delgado held the line there, forcing a pair of ground outs to end the threat.
Austin Peay immediately responded in its half of the fifth. After a single and a hit batsman led off the inning, the Govs used a sacrifice bunt to move the runners into scoring position. Second baseman Jordan Hankins could not get the ball through the drawn-in infield for a groundout. The Cougars then intentionally walked Massoni, loading the bases, to get to Harper. He would make the tactic backfire with a single into left center, scoring two runs and giving APSU a 10-7 lead.
Govs reliever Kacy Kemmer kept the door closed with three scoreless innings, striking out two. Closer Tyler Rogers pitched the ninth and surrendered a one-out triple and a RBI groundout before shutting the door completely for his 20th save and an OVC record-tying 32 career saves.
Harper continued to stay hot at the plate, recording his seventh consecutive multi-hit outing with a 2-for-3, four RBI outing. Massoni, the OVC’s batting leader, went 3-for-4 to push his average back up to .387. Riner posted his fourth straight multi-hit effort with a 3-for-4 performance.
Delgado (8-2) picked up the win after allowing seven runs on eight hits through five innings. He recorded six strikeouts and moved within three of breaking APSU’s single-season strikeout mark, finishing the day with 94 strikeouts.
SIUE starter Tony Schaeffer (2-5) suffered the loss after allowing six runs on six hits over 2.1 innings. Highland led the Cougars offense with a 2-for-4, two RBI performance while left fielder Nick Lombardo was 3-for-3.
TENNESSEE TECH 14, BELMONT 6
COOKEVILLE, Tenn. -Ohio Valley Conference regular season champions. Is there a better way to summarize the 2013 Tennessee Tech baseball team? I think not. The Golden Eagles (39-14, 24-5), behind a relentless offensive attack and clutch pitching, can now hold that title proudly after dismantling Belmont (36-18, 21-8), 14-6, Friday afternoon in a damp Bush Stadium.
With one of their most complete games played to date, the Golden Eagles covered several milestones. Tech won its eighth regular season title, tied the school record for wins in a season (39), and broke the OVC record for league wins in a season (24).
As it has been on so many occasions, the championship-clinching victory came behind a total team effort as eight different Golden Eagles combined for 14 runs on 15 hits. Tech used a great pitch-by-committee approach, as five different pitchers combined for 13 strikeouts.
The OVC champs did the same thing they have done so often this season, grabbing an early lead behind an offensive onslaught. In the the bottom of the first inning, lead-off man Zach Zarzour singled to left field on the second pitch of the game, setting the tone early for the Golden Eagle attack.
Belmont managed to record an out before walking Zach Stephens on five pitches. Brandon Thomasson followed, also garnering a walk to load the bases for Daniel Miles, who smacked a grand slam the night before in the same situation. All it took was one pitch and Miles had the Bruin bench thinking deja vu, as the junior slugger ripped a line drive grand salami down the left field line, giving the Golden Eagles a huge 4-0 lead right off the bat (pun intended).
The Bruins attempted to make a game of it in the second inning, collecting their own three-run home run by Jamie Ritchie to make it a one-run contest. It was the closest they came the rest of the night.
In the second inning, Tech expanded its lead to two runs, scoring on one of Belmont's four errors of the day.
The Tech kitchen really got to cooking in the bottom of the third. Ten Golden Eagle batters came to the plate, beginning with -- you guessed it -- Daniel Miles. The third baseman led things off with a single to center field, followed by an RBI double by shortstop Dylan Bosheers. Senior James Abraham drove Bosheers in, tapping a single to right center field.
Outfielder Michael Morris came to the plate next, laying down a perfect drag bunt to third base and beating the throw to put runners at first and second with no outs. Catcher Jordan Parris tried to mimic Morris, also laying down a bunt, only he reached on a throwing error.
Zarzour stepped in with the bases juiced, driving a sacrifice fly to right field that scored Abraham. Senior Austin Wulf cleared the bases with a two-run double to right center field. Stephens finished off the scoring for the inning, cranking his own double to center field, scoring Wulf and giving Tech an insurmountable 11-3 lead.
The offense still wasn't done. In the fourth inning, Bosheers singled to open and was driven home two pitches later by a double to right center field by Abraham. Tech scored once more in the half inning, using a ground ball fielder's choice by Zarzour to extend the lead to 13-3.
Belmont managed to scrape three more runs across in the game while Tech put up one more on a sac fly by Bosheers. After all the mayhem, the Tech offense reigned victorious with a 14-6 advantage over the best pitching team in the OVC.
The pitching staff did more than their fare share of work in the game, striking out 13 Belmont batters and protecting the large lead for seven innings. Senior Nick Price (6-1) pitched 3.1 huge innings of relief, allowing just two hits and one unearned run. He struck out a game-high four batters as well. Garrett Baugh also was a key player in relief, throwing 1.2 scoreless innings while scattering three hits, allowing no runs, and striking out three Bruin batters. Closer Seth Lucio came in for the final inning of work, striking out three of the four batters he faced to clinch the championship and spark a massive dog pile as the team celebrated the culmination of one of the best regular seasons in program history.
The title marks the third overall for head coach Matt Bragga as well as his second regular season championship.
The Golden Eagles clinched the number one overall seed for the OVC tournament as well, which begins next Wednesday in Jackson, Tenn. Tech will receive a first round bye and play the lowest seed remaining on Thursday, May 23.
JACKSONVILLE STATE 3-3, MOREHEAD STATE 3-22
JACKSONVILLE, Ala. - Chase Silvani had three hits to lead Jacksonville State to a 5-3 win over Morehead State in the opening game of Friday's Ohio Valley Conference double-header, before the Eagles exploded for a 22-3 win in the series finale.
In the opener, Taylor Shields (8-2) scattered four hits in 5 2/3 innings to pick up his team-high eighth win of the season, while Travis Stout extended his school-record with his 17th save of the season after recording the final three outs. Matt Anderson (1-7) suffered the loss after giving up all five runs to suffer the loss for the Eagles.
Jax State took an early lead after Silvani scored on Griff Gordon's infield grounder in the first inning, and the Gamecocks extended the lead in the fifth inning by plating three more runs.
Silvani and Adam Miller led off with back-to-back singles and Gordon walked to load the bases. Coty Blanchard followed with a RBI single down the right field line to score Silvani, and then Miller scored as Blanchard got in a run down to give JSU a 4-0 lead. Paschal Petronglo followed with another infield grounder to score Gordon as Jax State built a 5-0 lead.
Morehead State scored all three runs in the sixth inning on a RBI triple by Duran Elmore, while Kane Sweeney had a RBI double and later scored on a Gamecock double play to cut the lead to 4-3.
Jax State added an insurance run in the eighth inning on a RBI single by Gordon to push the lead to 5-3, before Stout came in to pitch the ninth inning and earn the save.
Silvani finished with three hits, while Blanchard and Lambert each added two hits. Gordon led the Gamecocks with a pair of RBI. Elmore led the Eagles with two hits.
In the second game, Morehead State pounded out 23 hits enroute to a 22-3 win over the Gamecocks in a rain-shortened seven-inning game to salvage the third game of the series.
Blake Smith (2-4) allowed just four hits through five solid innings on the mound, while Tony Urban (3-3) gave up seven runs on just four hits in two innings to suffer the loss for the Gamecocks.
Morehead State scored in five of the seven innings, including four in the first and six in the third to build a 10-1 lead. The Eagles added three more in the fifth , four in the sixth and five in the seventh, while JSU had a run in the third, fourth and fifth innings for the final margin.
Brandon Rawe, Chase Greenwell and Chris Robinson each had four hits, while Taylor Pickens had three hits, as Drew Williams and Bobby Burns had two hits each to lead the Eagles.
Eddie Mora-Loera, Andrew Bishop, Galvin Golsan, Stephen Bartlett and Petrongolo each had one hit to lead the Gamecocks.
SOUTHEAST MISSOURI 3, MEMPHIS 2 (11)
CAPE GIRARDEAU, Mo. - Junior Matt Tellor delivered a game-winning RBI single to right field in the bottom of the 11th inning scoring Derek Gibson to give the Redhawks a 3-2 extra inning win over Memphis on Friday evening at Capaha Field. The Redhawks outhit the Tigers 11-5 in the contest as the Redhawks move to 23-31 overall as the Tigers drop to 33-22 on the season.
The Redhawks pitching staff was solid all night as they held Memphis hitless for seven innings. Tony Zerrusen (2-2) got the win for Southeast going two innings allowing one hit with a strikeout. Alex Siddle and Bobby Hurst also saw time out of the bullpen combining for 3.1 innings allowing an unearned run with five strikeouts.
Starter Zack Smith went 5.2 innings allowing an earned run on four hits with three strikeouts and two walks.
The Redhawks' offense was paced by Dalton Hewitt as he went 3-for-5 with an RBI. Jason Blum and Tellor each added a pair of hits for Southeast on the night.
Memphis reliever Craig Caufield (0-2) was tagged with the loss 3.2 innings allowing two hits and an earned run with seven strikeouts.
Memphis got on the board first in the top of the third inning on an RBI single through the right side by Zach Willis as Ford Wilson scored on the play after reaching base on a double down the left field line.
The Redhawks got on the board in the bottom of the fourth inning tying the game at 1-1 on an RBI single up the middle by freshman Tyler Boxwell, it was his first career RBI.
Southeast took a 2-1 lead in the bottom of the fifth inning on an RBI double down the left field line by Hewitt as Blum scored on the play after leading off the inning with a triple to right centerfield.
The Tigers tied the game in the top of the ninth inning on a passed ball to tie the game at 2-2 and send it to extra innings for the fifth time this season for the Redhawks.
The Redhawks got out of a bases loaded jam in the top of the 11th inning on base runner interference to keep the score at 2-2.
Southeast opened their scoring threat in the bottom of the 11th inning with a single up the middle by Gibson. Blum reached on a walk and Tellor followed up with a RBI single to right field to give the Redhawks the 3-2 win.
Zach Willis paced the Tigers offense going 2-for-4 on the night with a pair of hits.