SATURDAY'S SCORES
@Murray State 9, Eastern Kentucky 8
@Eastern Illinois 5, UT Martin 3
@#30 Austin Peay 16, SIUE 5
Belmont 13, @Tennessee Tech 10
@Southeast Missouri 9, Memphis 4
MURRAY STATE 9, EASTERN KENTUCKY 8
MURRAY, Ky. - The Murray State seniors will always remember their last collegiate game as the Breds rallied with six runs in the bottom of the eighth inning to rally for a 9-8 victory over Eastern Kentucky Saturday afternoon in 2013 season finale at Reagan Field.
The Colonels had scored three runs in the top of the eighth inning to take what looked to be a commanding 8-3 lead. That would not be the case as command issues greeted the EKU pitching staff in the bottom of the inning.
Taylor Mathews started the inning by being hit by a pitch. A fielder’s choice put a runner on first with one out before Rick Linton was hit by a pitch. Paul Ritzheimer delivered an RBI single through the left side to roll the order over. Ty Stetson became the third batter to be hit by a pitch to load the bases. A wild pitch scored one run, and Brandon Elliott followed with an RBI single through the left side. Brandon Eggenschwiler pulled the Breds to within one run with a groundout to first. Mike Kozlowski became the fourth Bred to be hit by a pitch to put runners on the corners. The second wild pitch of the inning tied the game. After a walk to Dylan Wheeler, Mathews stepped to the plate for the second time in the inning and delivered the game-winning single just off the tip of the glove of a leaping first baseman.
Freshman Cody Maerz (3-2) made the lead stand as he gave up a two-out single, but got the next batter to hit into a fielder’s choice to short. Maerz finished by allowing two hits over 1.1 innings of shutout relief.
The Breds (21-33, 9-21 OVC) wasted little time in getting on the scoreboard in the first inning. Elliott and Kozlowski each singled up the middle and Wheeler drove in two runs with a double into the right-field corner.
EKU (20-32, 16-13 OVC) took the lead in the third on a Doug Teegarden RBI single and a two-run double by Shaun Ball.
MSU answered back to tied the game in the fourth on a Noah Zipko single off the side of the mound, scoring Kozlowski who doubled to start the frame.
RBI singles from Alex Hughes and Kenny Hostrander gave the Colonels a 5-3 lead in the sixth. The eighth inning saw EKU extend the lead on a bases-loaded walk and a p air of RBI singles from Bryan Soloman and Kenny Wurzelbacher.
Austin Rexroat (0-1) took the loss for the Colonels as he gave up two runs on one hit, one walk, one hit batter and two wild pitches in one-third of an inning.
The Breds collected 12 hits as a team, with the seniors collecting 11 of those hits. Elliott and Kozlowski each collected three hits, while Wheeler and Ritzheimer had two each.
EASTERN ILLINOIS 5, UT MARTIN 3
CHARLESTON, Ill. - The Panther baseball team earned a 5-3 victory over UT Martin in the Ohio Valley Conference series finale between the two teams on Senior Day. EIU concludes the season with a 22-27 overall record an 11-17 mark in conference action.
With the game tied at two heading into the bottom of the seventh inning, the Panthers scored three runs on five hits and one error to take a 5-2 advantage. Treysen Vavra and Demetre Taylor drove in the first two runs on RBI singles before Cameron Berra drove in the final run with an RBI single.
Nico Zych scored on a Kyle Bargery RBI fielder's choice to get the Skyhawks (11-40, 4-26 OVC) within two (5-3) in the eighth inning, but Jaden Widdersheim retired the final four UT Martin batters in the contest to seal the victory and earn his first save of the year.
EIU took an early 1-0 lead in the first inning when Nick Priessman scored on a throwing error by the UT Martin shortstop. Vavra hit a solo home run in the fourth inning to make the score 2-0 before UT Martin tied the game in the following inning, scoring two runs on four hits.
UT Martin had one more hit (12-11) than EIU and left one less runner on base (11-10). Both teams committed two errors in the contest.
Vavra led the team at the plate as he went 2-for-4 with two runs and two RBI. Priessman also went 2-for-3 with two runs and a sacrifice hit – becoming the school's all-time leader in sacrifice hits with 28.
Ben Kennedy (3-2) earned the win for EIU, allowing one hit in 0.1 innings of work. Jake Johansmeier made the start and went four scoreless innings while only surrendering three hits.
Dalton Potts (4-7) took the loss for the Skyhawks, allowing nine hits and five runs (four eared) with five strikeouts in 6.1 innings of action. Zych led the team at the plate as he went 3-for-4 with two runs.
#30 AUSTIN PEAY 16, SIUE 5
CLARKSVILLE, Tenn. - Austin Peay State University’s baseball team won its 12th consecutive game and secured a second-place finish in the Ohio Valley Conference race with a dominant 16-5 victory against SIU Edwardsville, Saturday, at Raymond C. Hand Park.
Austin Peay (42-13, 22-7 OVC) won its last 11 conference contests to move past both Jacksonville State and Belmont in the final weekend. The Govs will receive a first-round bye in next week’s Ohio Valley Conference Baseball Championship in Jackson. Austin Peay will begin tournament play with a 3 p.m., Thursday contest against an opponent to be determined.
Once again, Austin Peay jumped out quickly against SIU Edwardsville (16-35, 10-20 OVC), scoring in each of the first five innings. The Govs scored the game’s first three runs, led 6-1 after three innings and 9-4 after five innings. After a scoreless sixth, Austin Peay tacked on seven additional runs in its final two innings to secure the win.
The Govs offense posted 19 hits for its 12th consecutive double-digit hit tally. Eight of the Govs starting nine posted a hit, seven finishing with a multi-hit outing.
Left fielder Cody Hudson led the Govs with a 3-for-5, four RBI effort that included a three-run home run in the seventh inning. Center fielder Dylan Riner went 2-for-5 with three RBI, including a run-scoring double in the fifth.
First baseman Craig Massoni had a three-run home run in the eighth inning as part for a 2-for-4, three RBI effort. He finished the regular-season as the OVC’s batting leader with a .389 batting average.
Shortstop Reed Harper continued his late season charge with a 3-for-6 outing that left him two hits shy of breaking APSU’s career hits mark. His 275 career hits behind only Greg Bachman’s 276-hit total set last season.
Reliever Kevin Corey (2-1) picked up the win after entering the fourth inning with the bases loaded and allowing only two runs to score – narrowing the Govs lead to 6-4. He would toss 2.1 scoreless innings of his own while striking out four. Starter Ryan Quick allowed four runs (one earned) on five hits through 3.2 innings. 0
SIUE starter Sam Hopkins (1-7) suffered the loss after allowing six runs on five hits and three walks in the opening two-plus innings. Designated hitter Matt Highland led the Cougars offense with a 4-for-5, four RBI outing that included a pair of RBI doubles and a two-run single.
BELMONT 13, TENNESSEE TECH 10
COOKEVILLE, Tenn. - Behind late inning magic, Belmont Baseball (37-18, 22-8) defeated Tennessee Tech, 13-10 Saturday at Quillen Field.
With Saturday's win, Belmont sets the single season record for most regular season victories with 37.
A two-run home run from Jared Breen (Marietta, Ga.) got Belmont on the board first. Tennessee Tech responded in the bottom half of the inning off Bruin starter James Buckelew (Suwanee, Ga.) as a grand slam from Dylan Bosheers gave the Golden Eagles a 5-2 lead.
After Drew Ferguson (Knoxville, Tenn.) hit a two-out double, Breen delivered an RBI single up the middle to cut TTU's lead to 5-3.
The Golden Eagles plated one in the bottom of the third, but Belmont answered with a solo homer from Spencer Petett (Tompkinsville, Ky.) in the fourth.
In the sixth, the Bruins scored four runs to tie the game at 8-8 with four runs. Alec Diamond (Kennesaw, Ga.) got things started for BU with a single down the left field line followed by a single from Petett. A single to center from Neil Hickman (Hermitage, Tenn.) scored two. A sacrifice fly from Breen and a single through the right side from Matt Beaty (Dresden, Tenn.) plated Ritchie, who drew a walk, and Hickman to tie the game.
The Golden Eagles got two across in the bottom of the seventh behind a two-out single to left from Michael Morris.
In the top of the eighth, Ferguson drew a walk, stole second and advanced to third on a throwing error. An RBI single from Beaty scored Ferguson and an RBI single from Diamond put the tying run across.
Belmont took a three run lead in the top of the ninth. After Hickman walked and Ferguson was hit by a pitch, Breen's attempted sacrifice bunt was fielded but thrown into right field, allowing both Bruin runners to score. A sacrifice fly from Diamond scored Breen to extend Belmont's lead to 13-10.
Jessie Snodgrass (Lebanon, Tenn.) was a major stabilizing factor for Belmont, registering a career-long outing of 4.1 innings on the mound. He allowed four hits and struck out two.
SOUTHEAST MISSOURI 9 , MEMPHIS 4
CAPE GIRARDEAU, Mo. - Southeast Missouri plated five runs in the bottom of the fifth inning on their way to a 9-4 win over Memphis on Saturday afternoon at Capaha Field as the Redhawks finish the regular season with a non-conference series win. Southeast moves to 24-31 on the season as Memphis falls to 33-23 overall.
The Redhawks honored four seniors in Bobby Hurst, Trevor Kill, Zack Smith and Tony Zerrusen before the contest. Southeast also honored the Redhawks all-time leader in coaching wins Mark Hogan.
Kill (1-3) was on the top of his game in his final game at Capaha Field earning his first win of the season going 4.1 innings allowing two hits and one earned run.
The Southeast offense was paced by Tyler Boxwell as the freshman was 2-for-3 with two RBI and three runs scored. Jason Blum added a triple and a double with three RBI and a run scored. Evans recorded a team high three hits with an RBI and two runs scored.
The Redhawks got on the board in the bottom of the second inning on an RBI double to right centerfield by Evans as Nolan Fisher scored on a play after opening the frame with a double off the left centerfield fence.
Memphis responded with three runs in the top of the third inning to take a 3-1 lead as they recorded three hits in the frame with three walks as they sent nine batters to the plate.
Southeast cut the Memphis lead to 3-2 in the bottom of the third on an RBI single to centerfield by Derek Gibson as Boxwell scored on the play.
The Redhawks took back the lead in the fourth inning and never looked back with five runs. Boxwell opened up the scoring outburst with a bases loaded two-run double to the right field corner. Jason Blum followed with a two-run triple to the right field corner to make it 6-3. He would later score on a throwing error as the Redhawks extended their lead to 7-3.
Southeast added another run in the bottom of the fifth as Boxwell scored on an RBI double by Blum to left centerfield fence to make it 8-3.
Memphis cut the Redhawks lead to 8-4 in the top of the sixth inning on an infield hit. The Redahwks added a run in the bottom of the seventh to make it 9-4 as Skylar Cobb closed the door on the Tiger in the final two frames as the Redhawks took the contest 9-4.
Alex Gunn (3-4) was tagged with the loss going three innings allowing four hits and five earned runs.
Memphis was led offensively by Ford Wilson and Nate Rupiper as they each recorded a pair of hits.