FRIDAY'S SCORES
Southeast Missouri 15, @Eastern Kentucky 8
Tennessee Tech 15, @Morehead State 0
Eastern Illinois 7, @Austin Peay 6
Murray State 9, @UT Martin 2
@SIUE 7, Jacksonville State 6
@Oklahoma 4,
Belmont 3 (10 innings)
SOUTHEAST MISSOURI 15, EASTERN KENTUCKY 8
RICHMOND, Ky. - On a day where the wind blew a constant 15-20 mph straight out to center field, both Southeast Missouri and Eastern Kentucky (7-10, 1-3 OVC) combined for 23 runs in a game that featured a lot of offense from both sides. Southeast would come out on top, 15-8. The Redhawks improve to 11-6 on the season and a perfect 4-0 in Ohio Valley Conference play.
The red-hot Derek Gibson wasted no time to put the Redhawks ahead early. With runners on first and second, Gibson threaded one through the right side to score Jason Blum. With runners still on first and second, Matt Tellor drove in Dalton Hewitt to extend the Redhawk lead to 2-0 after one half inning. Gibson extended his hitting streak to 10 games and his on-base streak to 13 games.
The first batter to take advantage of the windy conditions was EKU catcher Sean Hagen as he took one deep to left center field to bring the Colonels within one, 2-1, after one inning.
EKU scored two runs in the second inning. With Colonel runners on second and third, Kenny Hostrander hit a high pop up right over home plate. The ball fell between four Redhawks right in front of the plate, just inches in fair territory to score two runners, who were running on the play. Hostrander was out on a 1-4 putout trying to advance to second. EKU lead 3-2 after two complete innings.
Blum led off the third inning with a double down the left field line followed by a walk by Cole Bieser. The two fastest players on the team then executed a perfect double steal to get both runners in scoring position. Blum scored on a groundout by Hewitt to tie the game. The Redhawks regained the lead with a sacrifice fly from Gibson to score Bieser. 4-3 Redhawks after three innings.
Just like that, the game was tied when Kyle Nowlin hit a line drive home run to left field to lead off the bottom of the third. The Redhawks got out of the inning by turning their second 3-6-1 double play of the game.
Scott Mitchell and Branden Boggetto each singled to start the fourth inning. After Clayton Evans showed bunt to begin his at-bat, he swung away at one that rolled all the way down the left field line to score both runners on a two-run double. The inning continued when, with runners on first and third, Bieser hit a two-run triple off the top of the left field wall, missing his first Redhawk home run by merely inches. Bieser then scored on an infield single from Gibson to make it a five-run fourth inning for Southeast. The Redhawks led 9-4 after the top of the fourth.
The EKU offense was quick to answer back in the bottom of the inning. With one out, EKU hit two back-to-back doubles to put another run on the board. After a single to put runners on first and third, Hostrander hit a sacrifice fly to center to make the score 9-6 after four innings.
After the Redhawks went scoreless in the top of the fifth, Hagen hit his second home run of the day in the bottom of the inning with one out. With runners on first and second, Christian Hull was brought out of the bullpen to relieve starter Tyler Iago. Hull got out of the inning on a force out at second.
The sixth inning began with a Blum single, followed by Bieser getting grazed by a pitch, and then Hewitt reaching on an error by the second baseman to load the bases for Gibson. Gibson proceeded to drive one through the right side to drive in his fourth and fifth runs of the game to make the score 11-7 after the top of the sixth inning.
EKU scored a single run in the sixth inning on an RBI single from Hagen to make the score 11-8 after six innings.
Both ends of the seventh inning went down as scoreless for both teams; the first completely scoreless inning in the game.
Bieser led off the eighth inning by being hit by a pitch followed by walks dished out to Hewitt and Gibson to load the bases for Tellor. Tellor hit a bullet up the middle that the centerfielder couldn't come up with to allow three runs to score. Tellor immediately scored on a wild pitch to put Southeast up 15-8 in the eighth.
Both teams went three up, three down in the ninth inning, securing the 15-8 victory for the Redhawks and extending their winning streak to five games.
Gibson finished the day 3-for-3 to go along with his five RBI. Tellor and Blum also had three hits on the day. Blum and Bieser, the one and two-hole hitters, combined for eight runs scored. Tellor drove in three runs while Bieser and Evans finished with two apiece.
Iago went 4.2 innings; a third of an inning short to earn the win. Iago gave up seven runs on nine hits. Hull, who was stellar on the mound, improved to 1-1 after earning the victory. Hull pitched 4.1 innings, allowing only a single run on three hits.
Hagen was 3-for-3 in the game with three RBI for EKU. Three other Colonel batters each contributed two hits.
Starter Brent Cobb (2-3) suffered the loss in 4.1 innings, giving up nine runs on 10 hits to Southeast. EKU used six pitchers out of the bullpen in the contest.
TENNESSEE TECH 15, MOREHEAD STATE 0
MOREHEAD, Ky. - It's hard to pinpoint exactly which side of the Tennessee Tech baseball team enjoyed more success Friday afternoon, the bats or the pitching. Either way, the Golden Eagle squad performed at its best as a team, taking the first of a three-game series at Morehead State in a 15-0 romping.
The offense set the tone early for the Tech team, as redshirt sophomore Jake Rowland took the seventh pitch of the game deep down the right field line for his second home run in two games. His long ball proved to be all the Golden Eagles would need, however, as starter David Hess and reliever John Gora combined to shutout the Eagles.
But sometimes when it rains it pours, and in the case of the Tech offense it was a monsoon over the final eight innings.
Tech grabbed a second run in the top of the second, using an RBI single off the bat of second baseman Zach Zarzour to double the lead to 2-0.
The Golden Eagles then doubled that lead in the third thanks to a moonshot by shortstop Dylan Bosheers. The junior took the first pitch he saw in the inning deep over the center field wall to propel the Tech advantage to 4-0.
It took a whole inning before the Golden Eagles would add to it scoring effort again as Morehead State finally held Tech off the scoreboard, blanking them in the fourth.
Bosheers quickly altered any comeback plans the Eagles may have had, however, cranking his second dinger of the day to left center field. He drove in three runs with the long ball, extending Tech's lead up to 7-0, essentially putting it out of reach for Morehead State.
And then Tech really got rolling. In the top of the sixth, the Golden Eagles accounted for five more runs, taking its lead from Daniel Miles. The third baseman drove in the second two scores of the inning, driving a single to right center field. Right fielder Brandon Thomasson followed almost immediately, crushing a two-run shot to center field on the second pitch he saw. With that Tech had grabbed a 12-0 lead. But the team wasn't quite finished.
With the game already essentially under wraps, the Golden Eagles continued playing their game in the ninth, scraping across three more runs thanks to a sac fly from Rowland, and RBI singles from Zarzour and Miles.
As for the Tech pitching, there wasn't much more a fan could ask for. Making his second consecutive Friday start, David Hess was spectacular over seven innings of work, scattering five hits while allowing just one walk and shutting out the Morehead State offense. The junior also struck out six in the game, bringing his total for the year up to 32.
Hess garnered his fourth victory of the season, lowering his ERA to a mere 1.12 over 32 innings pitched. It marks the third career shutout that Hess has been a part of with the Golden Eagles.
John Gora covered the final two innings for Tech, allowing just one hit, to the first batter, before retiring the next six in order.
For the game, Bosheers came out on top, going 2-for-5 with two home runs and a game-high five RBI. Miles tallied a 3-for-6 day, driving in three runs while scoring two more himself. Thomasson, Rowland, and Zarzour all drove in two runs apiece. Zarzour went 2-for-5 with a run scored, Thomasson 3-for-4 with three runs scored, and Rowland 1-for-3 with two runs scored.
EASTERN ILLINOIS 7, AUSTIN PEAY 6
CLARKSVILLE, Tenn. - Outfielder Demetre Taylor went 3-for-5 with two doubles, two RBI and a run to lead the Panther baseball team to a 7-6 win at Austin Peay on Friday night at Raymond C. Hand Park.
EIU improves to 4-13 overall and 2-2 in Ohio Valley Conference action. The Governors drop to 6-10 on the year and 0-1 in conference play. Due to inclement weather expected in the area, the two teams will play a 1 p.m. doubleheader on Saturday to conclude the series.
Tied at five heading into the top of the ninth inning, Taylor hit his second double of the night to score Mitch Gasbarro and give the Panthers a 6-5 lead. Taylor crossed home plate later in the inning on a Tyler Schweigert bunt single to second base to give EIU an additional insurance run.
Matt Wollenzin hit a two-out, solo home run in the bottom of the ninth to get Austin Peay within one (7-6). Troy Barton walked the next batter before striking out Chase Hamilton to end the game and earn his second save of the year.
Both teams scored in the first inning with the Panthers scoring on a bases loaded walk and the Governors scoring on a Dre Gleason RBI single to right field. Austin Peay added three runs in the second inning on a three-RBI triple by Alex Robles to make the score, 4-1.
The Panthers scored three runs on four hits in the top of the seventh inning to tie the game before taking their second lead of the contest, 5-4, in the following inning on two-out, RBI single to right field by Dane Sauer. Austin Peay tied the contest at five in bottom of the frame on a Rolando Gautier sacrifice fly.
EIU had two more hits (12-10) than Austin Peay in the win. Both teams left 11 runners on base and committed two errors.
Gasbarro went 2-for-4 with three runs for EIU while Caleb Howell added two hits and two RBI. Sauer finished the night going 3-for-5 with one run and a RBI.
Robles led the Governor offense as he went 2-for-4 with three RBI. Hamilton and Cayce Bredlau both added two hits for Austin Peay.
Joe Greenfield (2-1) earned the win for EIU, throwing one strikeout and issuing two walks in one inning of relief. He also allowed one run and one hit. Matt Borens started the game and went seven innings as the junior pitcher threw six strikeouts and surrendered eight hits and four runs.
A.J. Gaura (0-1) took the loss for Austin Peay, allowing four hits and two runs in one inning of relief. Robles made the start and went seven innings while surrendering six hits and four runs.
MURRAY STATE 9, UT MARTIN 2
MARTIN, Tenn. - Tyler Lawrence drove in a career best five runs as Murray State defeated UT Martin, 9-2, Friday evening in the first game of a three-game Ohio Valley Conference series at Skyhawk Field.
Lawrence finished the day going 2-for-3 with a pair of doubles and two sacrifice flies. The five RBIs breaks his old record of four set in the series finale against Bowling Green.
The Breds (8-7, 3-1 OVC) got off to a quick start in the first inning as Ty Stetson was hit by a pitch to lead off the game. A one out single by Anthony Bayus put runners on the corners for a Lawrence sacrifice fly to right field. Bayus then stole second and scored on a throwing error by the pitcher off the bat of Luke Daugherty.
MSU got the bats going again in the second inning as they pushed across four more runs, all with two outs. Clay Kelly singled with one out and went to third on a Taylor Mathews double into the right-field corner. Matt McGowan drove in both runners with a single to left field. Bayus followed with a single and both runners scored on a Lawrence double to right center.
The Skyhawks (1-14, 0-4 OVC) got on the board in the third inning on a solo home run off the bat of Jake Deason.
The Breds got the run right back in the fourth as McGowan doubled to right center to start the inning and scored on Daugherty’s single to center field.
Daugherty drove in his second run of the day with a an RBI single to center field scoring McGowan. McGowan started the inning with a double to right center.
Lawrence added to the Breds lead with RBIs in the sixth and eighth innings. Lawrence doubled to right field to score Stetson in the sixth, and followed it up with his second sacrifice fly in the eighth, also scoring Stetson.
Right hander Cameron Finch (2-1) did his part in the victory as he held the Skyhawks to two runs on six hits and eight strikeouts over seven innings. The eight strikeouts ties his career best set against Alabama A&M last season.
Dalton Potts (0-3) took the loss after giving up seven runs, six earned, on eight hits over 3.2 innings.
The top three hitters in the order went a combined 4-for-10 with two RBIs and seven runs scored. Stetson did not collect a hit, but walked twice and was hit by a pitch. He also scored three runs. McGowan went 2-for-4 with a pair of RBIs and two runs scored, and Bayus went 2-for-4 with a pair of runs scored. Clay Kelly added two hits.
SIUE 7, JACKSONVILLE STATE 6
EDWARDSVILLE, Ill. - P.J. Schuster tossed 1 2/3 innings of scoreless relief as SIUE topped Jacksonville State 7-6 Friday in the opener of a three-game Ohio Valley Conference series at Simmons Baseball Complex.
The win improved SIUE to 3-1 in OVC play and 5-9 overall. Jacksonville State also is 3-1 in the OVC and now 10-7 overall.
Schuster (1-0) earned his first win of the year, striking out four hitters in the process.
Schuster came in with the game tied 6-6 in the eighth inning and runners on second and third. After striking out Eddie Mora Loera, Schuster intentionally passed JSU right fielder Griff Gordon before striking out Paschal Petrongolo to end the inning.
Austin Verschoore walked with two outs in the bottom of the inning before Nick Lombardo followed with a single against Connor Metcalf. Michael Mason relieved Metcalf to face Chase Green. Mason struck out Green but the pitch was in the dirt, got away from Stephen Bartlett, the JSU catcher, allowing Green to reach. Verschoore came in with the eventual game-winning run on another wild pitch by Mason.
Metcalf (1-1) suffered the loss allowing two runs in 3 2/3 innings.
Jacksonville State got back-to-back hits by Ryan Sebra and Andrew Bishop to start the ninth. Schuster then struck out Tyler Gamble and Stephen Bartlett before getting a ground out from Gavin Golsan to end the night.
The Cougars scored five runs over the game's first three innings. Skyler Geissinger and Alec Saikal each had RBI singles in the first inning to put the Cougars up 2-0.
The Gamecocks got an RBI single by Bartlett in the second inning to cut the lead to 2-1. Bartlett finished the night 3 for 5 with two RBIs.
Chase Green made it 3-1 with an RBI double in the third inning. Saikal drove in another run in the third and Jacob Stewart added a sacrifice fly to make it 5-1 SIUE after three innings.
The Gamecocks managed four runs on five hits off over the next two innings to chase SIUE starter Ryan Daniels. Daniels allowed five runs, four earned, on seven hits. He walked one and struck out four.
Green doubled to drive in the go-ahead run in the sixth inning before JSU tied the game in the bottom of the eighth against SIUE reliever Brett Thomas.
Green and Saikal each had two hits and two RBIs in the win. Geissinger was 3 for 4 with the RBI.
OKLAHOMA 4, BELMONT 3 (10)
NORMAN, Okla. - Belmont fell to Oklahoma, 4-3 in extra innings on Friday night.
Belmont struck first as an RBI double from Nick Egli allowed Drew Ferguson to score. Despite loading the bases in the bottom half, Oklahoma only plated a run and tied the game at 1-1.
Behind a sacrifice fly from Jamie Ritchie and an RBI single from William Dodd, the Bruins plated a pair of runs to take a 3-1 lead.
The Sooners plated a run in the fourth to cut Belmont's lead to 3-2.
OU reliever Kyle Hayes retired 11 Belmont batters before Tyler Walsh's two-out double in the seventh.
Austin Coley matched his career-best outing of seven innings. The right-hander allowed five hits, two runs and struck out three.
Christopher Carroll came on for an inning of work in the eighth. The freshman right hander struck out two.
A wild pitch allowed OU to score the tying run in the bottom of the ninth and send the game to extras. In the tenth, the Sooners had the bases loaded and an RBI single from Taylor Alspaugh pushed the winning run across the plate.