FRIDAY'S SCORES
@Jacksonville State 6, Northwestern State 4
Southeast Missouri 10, @Oral Roberts 4
@#34 Wichita State 6,
SIUE 1
@UAB 5,
UT Martin 0
Eastern Illinois 5, @#14 Louisiana-Lafayette 1
Eastern Kentucky 8, @Alabama State 2
#36 Tennessee Tech 5, @South Alabama 4 (11 innings)
Iowa at
Austin Peay (postponed)
Bowling Green at
Belmont (postponed)
Illinois State at
Murray State (cancelled)
JACKSONVILLE STATE 6, NORTHWESTERN STATE 4
JACKSONVILLE, Ala. - Freshman Peyton Williams went 3-for-4 to lead Jacksonville State to a 6-4 win over Northwestern State in the season opener for both teams on Friday.
Taylor Shields (1-0) scattered three hits with a pair of strikeouts in five solid innings on the mound to earn the win after throwing just 56 pitches. Travis Stout recorded the final three outs to pick up his first save of the year and the 18th of his career. Steven Spann (0-1) got stuck with the loss for the Demons after giving up four runs and five hits in four innings.
Northwestern took a 1-0 lead in the fourth inning on a RBI single by Regan Kaufman, but the Gamecocks answered in the home half by scoring four runs to chase Spann from the game.
Ryan Sebra, Gavin Golsan, Eddie Mora-Loera and Williams each drove in a run during the inning as the Gamecocks took a 4-1 lead.
Jax State added a run in the fifth inning on a sacrifice fly by Andrew Bishop to build a 5-1 lead, but the Demons scored a two in the sixth after Dort Brinson and Edwin Gomez each drove in a run to cut the lead to 5-3.
The Gamecocks answered in the home half of the sixth inning after Mora-Loera had a two-out double down the left field line and scored when Griff Gordon followed with a single to left to give JSUu a 6-3 lead. Mora-Loera extended his hitting streak to 14 games, dating back to last season.
Northwestern scored its final run in the ninth inning on a RBI single by Caleb Dugas for the final margin.
Andrew Bishop finished with two hits to go with Williams' three hits to lead the Gamecocks, while Bret Underwood, C.J. Webster, Brinson and Dugas each had two hits for the Demons.
SOUTHEAST MISSOURI 10, ORAL ROBERTS 4
TULSA, Okla. - A four-run first inning set the tone for Southeast Missouri (1-0) baseball in the 2014 season-opening victory over the Oral Roberts (0-1) Golden Eagles Friday evening. Southeast grounded the Golden Eagles 10-4 in the season opener.
Southeast Missouri started the game in a big way to kick off the 2014 season. Cole Bieser drew a one-out walk to get speed on the bases for the Redhawks. Matt Tellor recorded the Redhawks' first hit of the season to put two runners on. With two out, Andy Lennington ripped a double down the left field line to drive in Bieser for the first run of the season. With bases loaded, newcomer Scott Mitchell threaded a single through the right side to drive in Tellor and Lennington. Dalton Hewitt scored from third on a passed ball to put Southeast on top, 4-0, after the first inning.
The Golden Eagles returned the favor and put starting pitcher Tyler Iago in an early jam. With two runners on, Anthony Sequeria reached on a hit and an error, driving in ORU's first run of the season. With runners on first and third, Iago got Tyler Boss to ground into a 4-6-3 double play to end the inning and stay out in front 4-1.
After both teams went three up, three down in the second inning, Tellor and Gibson each singled to get Southeast on base in the top of the third. Lennington hit a high, fly ball that one-hopped the left field wall to drive in Tellor and give Southeast a 5-1 lead.
Matt Brandy ripped an RBI double to right-center field to score Emmanuel Forcier from first base and narrow the Redhawk lead to three runs in the fifth inning, 5-2 Redhawks.
Southeast used aggressive base running in the top of the sixth to help extend their lead. Hewitt drew a lead-off walk, forcing ORU to pull their starting pitcher, Kurt Giller. With the hit and run on, Mitchell hit a rocket past the third baseman to advance Hewitt to third. With the hit and run on again, Andy Lack fooled the second baseman to reach on a single and bring Hewitt home and extend the lead to 6-2. With bases loaded, two out, and Tellor at the plate, Tellor drew a base-on-balls to widen the lead to 7-2.
Southeast pulled Iago after a stellar first outing going into the bottom of the seventh. Alex Winkelman came in, walked the lead-off hitter, then proceeded to hit the next three batters, driving in ORU's third run. With bases still loaded and Greg Mosel pitching with one out, Sequeria hit an RBI single to short, just beating out the throw from Lack. With bases still loaded, Mosel pitched out of the jam by way of a strikeout and fly-out.
In the top of the eighth with a runner on, Bieser hit a double just fair down the left field line to score Clayton Evans. Oral Roberts then put Tellor on with two out to pitch to Gibson. Gibson flew out to right to end the inning, 8-4 Southeast Missouri.
The Redhawks added two more runs in the top of the ninth on a 2-RBI single from Evans, 10-4 Redhawks.
Brady Wright came in to close out the season-opening win for Southeast.
Southeast Missouri finished the day out-hitting ORU 14-12.
Tellor finished 3-for-3 with two walks, an RBI, and two runs scored. Lennington also recorded three hits in five at-bats with two RBI. Every hitter in the lineup walked away with at least one hit Friday evening with six recording one or more RBI.
For the Golden Eagles, Forcier went 3-for-3 with two runs scored while three others recorded two hits.
Iago (1-0) earned his first Division I win in 6.0 innings of work, giving up two runs on nine hits, striking out four batters, and walking none. Mosel pitched 2.0 innings while only giving up two hits. Wright gave up one hit and struck out two batters he faced.
Giller (0-1) suffered the loss for Oral Roberts.
#34 WICHITA STATE 6, SIUE 1
WICHITA, Kan. - SIUE baseball scored first on No. 34 Wichita State, but the Shockers came back for a 6-1 win in Friday's 2014 season opener.
Ryan Daniels pitched five shutout innings in his first action since the 2011 season, allowing just three hits. He struck out five and did not walk a batter.
SIUE collected a pair of hits in the first inning against Shockers starter Cale Elam. Nick Lombardo singled to open the game, and was out at second on a Chase Green fielder's choice. Green was thrown out trying to steal second base Skyler Geissinger was hit by a pitch and came home to score the lone Cougar run on a double by Devin Caldwell.
Caldwell finished 2 for 4 with the RBI. Lombardo, Geissinger, Alec Saikal, Zach Little, and Austin Verschoore each had a single hit for SIUE.
Elam tossed five innings allowing a run on five hits. He struck out seven and walked two.
Wichita State (1-0) scored its first run in the sixth on a pair of hits against Cougar reliever Zach Malach. The Shockers scored three more times in the seventh inning on three hits against Malack and Sam Hopkins. Wichita State scored twice more in the eighth for the final margin.
Malach (0-1) suffered the loss for the Cougars allowing four runs in 1 1/3 innings of relief. He walked one. Hopkins allowed two runs in 1 2/3 innings. He walked two and struck out one.
Aaron LaBrie and Ray Ashford combined for four scoreless innings in relief. LaBrie gave up three hits and struck out three hitters in three innings to earn the win.
Garrett Bayliff was 1 for 3 with three RBIs and Casey Gillaspie was 2 for 5 with a pair of RBIs to lead Wichita State.
UAB 5, UT MARTIN 0
BIRMINGHAM, Ala. - A pitching duel took place this evening at Regions Field, as the University of Tennessee at Martin matched Conference USA member UAB pitch-for-pitch through seven innings before the Blazers pulled away for a 5-0 win.
Skyhawk starting pitcher Taylor Cox posted one of the best starts of his career tonight, conceding just one unearned run on only six hits and zero walks over a career-high seven innings. However, despite his efforts, he was saddled with the loss after UAB broke a scoreless tie with a run in the bottom of the sixth. Chris Ross took over in the bottom of the eighth, allowing four runs in the final frame.
Offensively, UT Martin struggled tonight, mustering just one hit and a walk. Senior third baseman Zack Malone broke up UAB’s no-hit bid with a two-out single in the bottom of the eighth while Taylor Douglas drew a walk and stole a base in the fourth inning.
UAB’s Chase Mallard earned the mound victory with 13 strikeouts over seven no-hit innings. Thomas Lowery picked up the save with two scoreless innings for the Blazers while Chase Davis’ two runs scored, Ryan Prinzing’s two RBI’s and Griffin Gum’s three hits paced the offense.
Cox retired the side in order in the first inning and pitched around trouble in the second inning. After the first two batters reached base, Cox retired the next three batters to keep the shutout intact.
Malone would reach on an error with one out in the top of the third but could not advance into scoring position. Cox convincingly sat the Blazers down in order in the third, not allowing the ball out of the infield.
Douglas’ five-pitch walk and stolen base with one out in the fourth gave the Skyhawks their first chance to get on the scoreboard but Mallard tallied the next two outs on just six pitches.
Two more UAB batters reached base in the bottom of the fourth but Cox escaped the potential jam, inducing an inning-ending 6-4-3 double play.
After the Blazers came up with a one-out single in the fifth, Cox once again used his ground ball magic to produce another 6-4-3 double play to keep the score at 0-0.
UAB scratched out an unearned run in the sixth. After Davis led off the inning with a single and advanced to second on a passed ball, Matthew Furuto reached on a bunt single to put baserunners on the corners with no outs. For the third straight inning, Cox then generated another double play, clearing the bases but giving the Blazers a 1-0 advantage.
Cox’s final inning was one of his best, as he needed just 10 pitches to retire the side in order.
After UAB made a pitching change, Malone ripped an 0-1 pitch up the middle for the Skyhawks’ first hit with two outs in the eighth. However, he was left stranded on a called third strike to end the inning.
The Blazers then tacked on four runs in the bottom of the eighth to make the score 5-0. Down to its final three outs, UT Martin could not generate a rally in the top of the ninth.
EASTERN ILLINOIS 5, #14 LOUISIANA-LAFAYETTE 1
LAFAYETTE, La. - Sophomore pitcher Jake Johansmeier allowed only one run in six innings of action as the Panther baseball team opened its 2014 season with a 5-1 win at No. 14 Louisiana-Lafayette on Friday night at M.L. “Tigue” Moore Field in front of 3,718 spectators.
Johansmeier (1-0) only allowed three hits in his season debut with four strikeouts and three walks. Joe Greenfield threw three strikeouts and did not allow a hit in the final two frames to earn his first save of the season.
EIU broke open a scoreless game in the fourth inning when Caleb Howell crossed home plate on a passed ball before the Panthers added on two more runs in the following inning on RBI singles by Demetre Taylor and Jason Scholl to make the score 3-0.
The Panthers made the score 4-0 in the seventh inning when Tyler Schweigert scored on a fielding error before the Ragin’ Cajuns scored their only run of the game in the bottom of the frame on a sacrifice fly by Blake Trahan to make the score 4-1. EIU added an insurance run in the top of the ninth on a Howell RBI single.
EIU had nine more hits (12-3) than Louisiana-Lafayette and left one more runner on base (9-8). EIU did not commit any errors while the Ragin’ Cajuns had two miscues.
Howell led the Panthers at the plate as he went 3-for-5 with a run and a RBI. Freshman Frankie Perrone went 2-for-4 at the plate in his EIU debut while Jacob Reese and Demetre Taylor both had two hits. Mitch Gasbarro also scored a game-high two runs in the victory.
Austin Robichaux (0-1) took the loss for Louisiana-Lafayette as he surrendered eight hits and three runs (one earned) in five innings of work. He also had four strikeouts and did not issue a walk. Tyler Girouard led the offense as he went 2-for-3 at the plate.
EASTERN KENTUCKY 8, ALABAMA STATE 2
MONTGOMERY, Ala. - Three freshmen had hits in their first collegiate at bats, two seniors combined for four hits and five RBIs and another senior tossed six-plus innings of shutout ball as Eastern Kentucky beat Alabama State, 8-2, in both team’s season opener on Friday.
The victory marked the first time the Colonels have started a season with a win since beating Long Island 8-1 to start the 2007 campaign.
Freshmen Ben Fisher, Cole Warrenfeltz and Justin Cessna each recorded hits the first time the came to the plate as collegiate baseball players. Seniors Sean Hagen and Bryan Soloman combined to go 4-for-7 with four runs, five RBIs, two home runs and a walk.
Senior Brent Cobb picked up where he left off last season. The right hander shutout ASU for six and one-third innings, allowing five hits, walking three and striking out three batters. Cobb led EKU last season with eight quality starts, he already has one this season.
Soloman got the Colonels on the board when he led off the top of the second inning with a home run over the left field fence. Later in the inning, Fisher doubled to left center in his first career collegiate at bat.
Eastern pushed across three more in the second inning. Warrenfeltz started the inning with a single up the middle in his first trip to the plate. With the bases loaded and no outs, Hagen doubled down the left field line to score Kyle Nowlin and Warrenfeltz. Soloman followed with a sacrifice fly to score Doug Teegarden and give the visitors a 4-0 lead.
Fisher added a pair of runs to the EKU total with a one-out, bases loaded double to center in the eighth. Hagen hit a solo home run with two outs in the ninth. After Cessna doubled as a pinch hitter in his first collegiate at bat, sophomore Luke Wurzelbacher capped the scoring for Eastern Kentucky with a single to center.
Alabama State plated one run in the eighth and one in the ninth, both off EKU errors.
T.J. Renda suffered the loss for Alabama State. He gave up four runs on six hits while walking one and striking out seven in five and two-thirds innings.
Fisher finished 2-for-4 with two RBIs. Warrenfeltz also went 2-for-4 and scored a run. Cessna was 1-for-1 with a run scored. Hagen had three hits in five at bats, scored twice and drove in three. Soloman was 1-for-2 with two runs, two RBIs and a walk.
Eastern Kentucky totaled 12 hits, but struck out 11 times.
Junior newcomer Logan Hershenow allowed one hit and two unearned runs in two and two-thirds innings of relief work. He walked one and struck out two.
#36 TENNESSEE TECH 5, SOUTH ALABAMA 4 (11)
MOBILE, Ala. - With new faces sprinkled on the lineup card, the No. 36 Tennessee Tech baseball team got off to a fantastic start to the 2014 season behind the veteran play some familiar names. The Golden Eagles won an extra-innings thriller, coming from behind to defeat South Alabama, 5-4, in 11 innings in Mobile, Ala. Friday evening.
Preseason All-American Zach Stephens kicked off the season with a bang, starting the Golden Eagles rally with a solo shot in the top of the fourth inning to cut the early Jaguar lead to 3-1. The dinger marked the first of his career on opening day and set the pace for a slow, but methodical Tech comeback.
With two outs in the top of the fifth, junior David Allen collected his first career hit, singling to left field. Another single up the middle by senior Jordan Parris and hit to centerfield by second baseman Zach Zarzour drove in Allen to cut the lead down to just 3-2.
Tech followed it up in the sixth as well, striking twice to take a 4-3 lead. Senior third baseman Daniel Miles ripped a one-out double to left center field to set up Dylan Bosheers for an unusual occurrence. On a 1-1 count, the second baseman singled up the middle, advancing to second while Miles scored the tying run. But that wasn't the end. South Alabama's catcher tried to pick off Bosheers going for second base and threw the ball away, allowing the junior to travel all the way home on a single play.
The Jaguars wouldn't go away easily, however, tallying a game-tying run in the bottom of the eighth with some good old-fashioned small ball. Senior pitcher Ross Spurgeon entered the contest in relief and Matt Wojciechowski welcomed him with a single to right field. USA used pinch runner Cole Jarman and a sac bunt from Davis Knapp to set up Logan Kirkland for a chance to the tie the game with a runner in scoring position. He answered the call, drilling a single to right field to even things up at 4-4.
Spurgeon would settle after the run, wrapping up the inning before tossing two more huge innings to help set up the win. The Cookeville native went on to strike out four of the final six batters he faced, giving the Golden Eagles a shot to grab the lead in the top of the eleventh.
And that's just what they did. Two quick outs made Tech's fortunes look bleak, but the veteran squad never gave up. Parris patiently drew a four-pitch walk, followed by a single through the right side by Zarzour. A Jaguar pitching change wasn't enough either, as both runners would advance on a passed ball to give redshirt freshman Tyler Brazelton a chance for heroics.
The right fielder showed great instincts at the plate in the at-bat, drawing the walk on a full count to load the bases for the Stephens. And the senior delivered, forcing Matt Peacock to pitch to him. The first baseman drew a walk for his second RBI of the game to give Tech a 5-4 lead.
And then it was Seth Lucio's turn. The junior closer stepped in and picked up right where he left off from a season ago when he tied the career saves record for the Tech program with 12 saves. Lucio forced a quick ground out to third before retiring the final two batters on swinging strikeouts to collect his first save of the year and break the all-time Golden Eagle record.
Senior Ross Spurgeon collected his first win of season, fanning four batters in 3.0 innings of relief. Bosheers, Miles, Zarzour, and redshirt sophomore Jake Rowland each collected two hits to lead the team while Stephens lead the squad with two RBI.