TUESDAY'S SCORES
Tennessee Tech 5, @Alabama A&M 2
@Illinois State 9,
Eastern Illinois 4
@Western Kentucky 5,
Austin Peay 2
@Evansville 15,
SIUE 7
@Southeast Missouri 7, Arkansas State 0
@#5 Vanderbilt 5,
UT Martin 0
TENNESSEE TECH 5, ALABAMA A&M 2
NORMAL, Ala. - Timely hitting and clutch pitching propelled the Tennessee Tech baseball team to another road victory Tuesday afternoon, as the Golden Eagles (24-6) defeated the Bulldogs (10-19) of Alabama A&M, 5-2, in Huntsville.
Tech took a quick lead in the top of the first, using a leadoff single by Zach Zarzour to set up Brandon Thomasson later in the inning. The senior slugger drilled an RBI single, putting the Golden Eagles up 1-0.
The Bulldogs rallied two innings later, taking advantage of a rare hiccup on the day by Golden Eagle starter Jacob Honea. Alabama A&M started with a single followed by a sac bunt to move the runner into scoring position. Back-to-back doubles propelled the Bulldogs to a 2-1 lead headed to the fourth.
The Golden Eagles didn't stay down for long, using Zarzour's ability to get on base to again set up the scoring. Part of a 1-for-2 day that saw the second baseman reach base four times, Zarzour was hit by a pitch to start the fifth, setting up the Tech squad once again.
A sac bunt put him in scoring position and a walk of slugger Zach Stephens set up the Golden Eagles with runners on first and second and one out. The Bulldogs looked to get out of the threat, forcing Thomasson to send a ground ball to third base. The A&M infielder stepped on third, grabbing a force out of Zarzour before sending a wild throw to first base. The error allowed Thomasson to reach safely and both he and Stephens to advance a base.
With runners on second and third, Dylan Bosheers stepped to the plate and delivered even on a day that saw the shortstop strikeout four times. Bosheers crushed a double, driving in both runners and giving the Golden Eagles the lead for good, 3-2.
Tech added insurance runs with a wild pitch in the sixth and an RBI double by Stephens in the ninth to increase the lead to 5-2 before bringing closer Seth Lucio in for the save attempt. The junior converted for his seventh of the year, striking out one while forcing the Bulldogs into a game-ending double play.
Thomasson led all batters on the day, going 2-for-5 with a run scored and an RBI. Honea upped his record to 3-1, tossing six innings while surrendering just three hits and two earned runs. He struck out five in the contest while walking one. Cain Sloan and Ross Spurgeon handled the middle relief innings, combining for two innings of work and just one hit allowed while striking out two.
ILLINOIS STATE 9, EASTERN ILLINOIS 4
NORMAL, Ill. - The Panther baseball team dropped a non-conference contest at Illinois State, 9-4, on Tuesday afternoon in the Redbirds home opener at Duffy Bass Field. EIU falls to 7-21 on the year.
Demetre Taylor gave the Panthers an early 1-0 lead in the first inning with a RBI single to center field. The Redbirds (18-8) scored six runs on two hits and one error in the next inning to take a 6-1 advantage they would never relinquish.
Illinois State added one run in the sixth inning before the Panthers got within four (7-3) in the top of the eighth inning, scoring two runs on two hits. The Redbirds responded in the bottom of the frame with two runs on three hits to make the score 9-3. Adam Casson hit a two-out, RBI single to right field in the top of the ninth inning for the final EIU run.
EIU had two more hits (9-7) than Illinois State and left one more runner on base (11-10). Both squads committed two errors in the contest.
Caleb Howell led the Panther offense as he went 3-for-5 at the plate with two runs. Paul DeJong led the Redbirds at the plate, going 2-for-4 with three RBI.
Jake Haberer (0-2) took the loss for EIU, allowing three runs and one hit in one inning of work. All told, the Panthers used five pitchers who combined to issue 11 walks and throw 10 strikeouts.
Will Headean (1-1) earned the win for Illinois State, throwing six strikeouts and allowing only one run and four hits in six innings of work.
WESTERN KENTUCKY 5, AUSTIN PEAY 2
BOWLING GREEN, Ky. - Another quiet offensive start doomed Austin Peay State University’s baseball team as the dropped a 5-2 decision at Western Kentucky, Tuesday night at Nick Denes Field.
Austin Peay (10-18) produced the game’s first run as leadoff hitter Ridge Smith hit the first pitch he saw for a single. The game’s next pitch saw Smith steal second base. Left fielder Cayce Bredlau moved Smith to third with a sacrifice bunt and, after a walk, designated hitter Dre Gleason brought the run home with a sacrifice fly.
However, after Robles first-inning walk they would not produce a base runner again until the two outs were gone in the fourth inning. While the Govs would get a runner in scoring position in the fourth, fifth and seventh innings it did not come until two outs were on the board and they could not find the hit they needed to produce a run.
Meanwhile, Austin Peay starting pitcher Caleb DeLee was doing his best to keep the game close. He retired the first seven batters he faced before surrendering a pair of singles in the third. The Govs defense eliminated the threat with a double play.
DeLee would not fare as well in the fourth after allowing back-to-back singles to start the inning. The Govs defense helped when center fielder Chase Hamilton caught a runner attempting to advance to third. DeLee would get a second out, but the Hilltoppers got back-to-back base hits to score twice and take the lead.
Western Kentucky (15-14) would add to its lead in the sixth when DeLee allowed a leadoff walk. The HIlltoppers would bring that run home with a sacrifice fly. Western Kentucky tacked on two runs off the Govs bullpen.
Austin Peay would make things interesting in the eighth and ninth innings. Western Kentucky brought in closer Ian Tompkinsto start the eighth and he got back-to-back strikeouts to start his outing. However, the top of the Govs order dug in and three straight Govs batters reached base, second baseman Alex Robles singled to drive in a run. However, the Govs could not extend the inning.
The Govs would then load the bases in the ninth, forcing Tompkins from the game after pinch hitter Grifin Ganick walked to load the bases with two out. Reliever Brennan Pearson came on and induced a game-ending strikeout to end the threat.
DeLee (1-2) suffered the loss despite becoming the fourth Govs pitcher to record a quality start. He finished with a career-best six-inning outing, allowing three runs on seven hits while striking out four.
Right fielder Tommy Hager paced the Govs offense with a 3-for-4 outing. Shortstop Garrett Copeland was 2-for-4 on the day.
Western Kentucky starter Seth Higgs picked up the win after holding the Govs to one run on four hits in five innings. Pearson picked up his first save with a six-pitch outing.
WKU second baseman Scott Wilcox and catcher Ryan Messex were both 2-for-3 with two RBI.
EVANSVILLE 15, SIUE 7
EVANSVILLE, Ind. - A six-run fourth inning wasn't enough for SIUE baseball Tuesday night, as the Cougars fell 15-7 in a nonconference game to Evansville at Braun Stadium.
The Purple Aces scored five times in the first inning and never trailed in the game. Evansville improved to 16-9 with the win. SIUE fell to 10-16 overall with the loss.
SIUE starter Sam Hopkins (0-2) didn't record an out, surrendering the five runs in the first inning on three hits and two walks.
Trailing 7-0, SIUE got on the board with the six-run fourth. Skyler Geissinger, Austin Verschoore, Denton Reed, and Keaton Wright each had RBI singles in the inning. Jake Michalak added a two-run double.
The Aces answered with six runs of their own in the bottom of the inning to push their lead to 13-6. Evansville centerfielder Kevin Kaczmarski capped the inning with a grand slam. He finished 2 for 5.
SIUE relievers Caleb Wilkerson and Brett Thomas each pitched in the inning. Wilkerson tossed 3 1/3 innings total, allowing five runs and striking out four. Thomas allowed three runs in 1 2/3 innings. J.D. Williams pitched two scoreless innings in relief.
Devin Caldwell doubled to start the fifth inning and then scored on a wild pitch late in the inning to make the score 13-7. Evansville scored twice in the bottom of the eighth against SIUE reliever Mike Miller for the final margin. Kyle Pollock drove in both runs with a double. Pollock finished 4 for 5 with three doubles and four RBIs.
The Cougars finished with 11 hits overall. Michalak finished 3 for 4 with the pair of RBIs. Verschoore was 2 for 3 with an RBI.
Wright was the only Cougar with a multi-hit game. He was 2 for 5 with the RBI.
SOUTHEAST MISSOURI 7, ARKANSAS STATE 0
CAPE GIRARDEAU, Mo. - Southeast Missouri baseball shutout the Arkansas State Red Wolves Tuesday evening, 7-0. The Redhawks and Red Wolves (16-13) split their home-and-home series after ASU won on Feb. 25, 8-3, in Jonesboro. The Redhawks improve to 18-10 on the season.
Four Redhawk pitchers combined for the shutout, led by starter Skylar Cobb and Christian Hull, who pitched four innings in relief. Hull recorded seven strikeouts, tying a season-high set back on Feb. 22 against IPFW.
With two out in the third inning, Jason Blum, Scott Mitchell, and Matt Tellor drew three-consecutive walks to load the bases. Derek Gibson hit a single through the left side to score Blum and Mitchell and take a 2-0 lead.
Tellor led off the sixth inning with a double off the wall in left center field. He was bunted over by Gibson, and scored on a sacrifice fly off the bat of Andy Lennington. Southeast led 3-0 after six innings.
Southeast widened the lead in the bottom of the seventh inning. Cole Ferguson hit a leadoff single and was pinch ran for by John Logan Zink. Zink took second on a passed ball then took third on a single by Cole Bieser. Zink scored on a sacrifice fly by Blum. Bieser then scored from second base on a single by Mitchell to put Southeast ahead 5-0.
Southeast added two more runs for good measure in the bottom of the eighth. Dalton Hewitt and Alex Burridge both drew one out walks. Andy Lack singled to right, driving in Hewitt. Lack and Burridge both advanced on the throw back in to the infield. Burridge scored on a Blum single down the left field line to bring the score to 7-0.
The Redhawks held the Red Wolves to four hits while Southeast scattered 11.
Blum, Tellor, and Hewitt all recorded two hits in the game. Blum and Gibson each knocked in a pair of RBI.
Hull (2-1) recorded the win after four innings on the bump. Cobb worked three innings of hitless baseball. Cobb fanned three batters. Alex Siddle and Greg Mosel each pitched one inning Tuesday night.
Matt Burgess was the only Red Wolf with multiple hits in the shutout.
Bryan Ayers (0-1) lost his first career start Tuesday. Ayers pitched four innings, giving up two runs on three hits. A total of five ASU pitchers were used in the game.
#5 VANDERBILT 5, UT MARTIN 0
NASHVILLE - The University of Tennessee at Martin baseball team competed throughout this evening but No. 5 Vanderbilt claimed a 5-0 win at Charles Hawkins Field.
The Skyhawk pitching staff held the high-powered Commodore offense to just one scoring inning tonight but Vanderbilt made its five-run fourth inning last. All in all, the UT Martin pitching staff conceded just one earned run this evening.
UT Martin relievers Carter Smith, Alex Boshers, Stu Jones and John Houston did a remarkable job of limiting Vanderbilt (24-6). Those four combined to toss 4.1 scoreless innings while allowing only three hits.
Starting pitcher Chris Ross (0-3) pitched well early but ran into trouble in the fourth. All in all, the senior from Pembroke Pines, Fla. allowed just one earned run in 3.2 frames but was tagged with the loss.
Offensively, Taylor Douglas pieced together his team-best eighth multi-hit performance of the season, going 2-for-4 at the plate. Ben Upton also reached base twice (single, walk) to pace UT Martin (3-23).
Back-to-back two-out singles by Douglas and Taylor Cox provided the Skyhawk offense some life in the top of the first but UT Martin could not strike early.
Ross stranded a pair of runners in the bottom of the first and pitched around a two-out walk to keep Vanderbilt off the scoreboard in the second. He also did a masterful job in the third, working around a leadoff double to keep the game scoreless through three frames.
Vanderbilt’s lone scoring inning came in the fourth. A pair of errors helped the Commodores push across five runs before Smith stranded the bases loaded by inducing an inning-ending groundout.
Smith then made short work of Vanderbilt in the fifth before Boshers accounted for a scoreless sixth.
UT Martin placed a pair of runners on the basepaths in the top of the seventh. Andrew Massey pinch hit with one out and drew a walk. Two batters later, Kenny King delivered a pinch-hit single to put baserunners on first and second but the Skyhawks couldn’t get a clutch two-out hit.
Jones erased a leadoff single with a pick off and cruised from there in a shutout seventh. Houston then came on and pitched well, ending the inning with a flyout double play where centerfielder Fletcher Johnson threw out a runner trying to tag up going from first to second base.
However, the Commodore pitching proved to be too much for the Skyhawks, as UT Martin could not get a rally going in the top of the ninth.