SUNDAY'S SCORES
Tennessee Tech 8, @Eastern Illinois 3
@Jacksonville State 5, Murray State 1
Southeast Missouri 19, @Austin Peay 7
@UT Martin 9, Eastern Kentucky 4
Morehead State 8, @#23 Indiana 7
TENNESSEE TECH 8, EASTERN ILLINOIS 3
CHARLESTON, Ill. - The first inning was all the Tennessee Tech baseball team needed to grab another Ohio Valley Conference series Sunday afternoon, as the Golden Eagles (28-10, 11-7) scored four times in the frame on their way to an 8-3 victory over the Panthers (11-23, 5-10) of Eastern Illinois.
The Golden Eagles got started right away, using an EIU error with two outs in the inning to plate four runs. The first came on the error, as Brandon Thomasson reached base on the miscue. Two came off bases-loaded walks, one from shortstop Dylan Bosheers and one from center fielder Jake Rowland. Jordan Parris squeezed in an infield single, driving in the fourth run.
Tech grabbed another score in the second stanza, using a double by senior slugger Zach Stephens and RBI triple by Thomasson to give the Golden Eagles a 5-0 advantage.
Eastern Illinois tried to mount a comeback in the third inning, scoring twice and coming within striking distance. But reliever Ross Spurgeon shut the door down, keeping the Panther offense at bay for two and two thirds innings. He struck out three batters and surrendered just one hit on his way to his third win of the season.
In the seventh, the Golden Eagles broke the game wide open, beginning with a leadoff single to left field by Bosheers. Rowland followed with a four-pitch walk, chasing EIU starter Joe Greenfield from the game. Leadoff man Zach Zarzour drilled a two-run double to left center field later in the inning, upping Tech's advantage to 7-2. Tyler Brazelton finished the scoring with an RBI single up the middle.
The Panthers collected one more run in the bottom of the ninth, spoiling Tech reliever Kyle Keatts' perfect relief performance. The freshman allowed just the one run, covering four innings and striking out one while allowing only two hits. He earned his first career save on the day, becoming the first Golden Eagles since the 2012 season to record one other than closer Seth Lucio.
Offensively, four separate Tech players recorded multi-hit days, including Zarzour (2-for-6), Stephens (2-for-5), Daniel Miles (2-for-5), and Bosheers (2-for-4). Only one Tech starter did not score a run in the game, and six different Golden Eagles drove in at least one.
JACKSONVILLE STATE 5, MURRAY STATE 1
JACKSONVILLE, Ala. - Senior Taylor Shields allowed just one hit in eight innings to lead Jacksonville State to a 5-1 win over Murray State as the Gamecocks won the Ohio Valley Conference series over the 'Breds.
The Gamecocks improve to 21-14 overall and 11-4 in the OVC, while Murray State falls to 15-18 and 9-9 in the league. It was the first time under Jim Case the Gamecocks tossed a nine-inning one-hitter, and the first one-hitter since April 30, 2011, when the Gamecocks defeated SIU Edwardsville 4-0 after allowing one hit in a seven-inning game.
Shields (4-3) threw 95 pitches and allowed a double to the second batter of the game, before not allowing another hit after striking out six batters to earn his fourth win of the season. Connor Metcalf and Travis Stout recorded the final three outs after Shields was lifted in the ninth inning. Murray State's Sheldon Baxter (1-3) gave up four runs on eight hits to suffer the loss for the 'Breds.
The Gamecocks took the early lead in the second inning after Stephen Bartlett extended his hitting streak to 17 games after leading off with a double. Andrew Bishop followed with a single to score Bartlett. Bishop and Tyler Gamble later scored on a Murray State error as the Gamecocks took a 3-0 lead.
Jax State added a run in the sixth inning after Bishop reached on a one-out double and scored on Gambl's RBI single for a 4-0 lead.
Eddie Mora-Loera scored a run in the seventh inning on an infield grounder to extend the lead to 5-0, before Murray State scored in the top of the ninth inning for the final margin.
Gamble finished 3-for-4, while Bartlett, Bishop and Gordon each had a pair of hits to lead the Gamecocks' 11-hit attack. Anthony Bayus got the lone hit for Murray State.
SOUTHEAST MISSOURI 19, AUSTIN PEAY 7
CLARKSVILLE, Tenn. - In Southeast Missouri's first rubber game of the season, the Redhawk bats exploded for a season-high 19 runs and a season-high 20 hits over the Austin Peay Governors (14-22, 6-9 OVC) Sunday. Southeast climbs to 24-11 overall and 15-3 in Ohio Valley Conference play with the 19-7 victory.
Southeast Missouri and Jacksonville State both earned victories Sunday so the Redhawks remain in first place by two and a half games in the OVC standings.
The Redhawk offense started firing early. It was the third time in the series the Redhawks scored first. Jason Blum walked to begin the game. Cole Bieser singled up the middle to advance Blum to third. Blum scored on Matt Tellor's single through the left side to put Southeast on the board. Bieser scored from second base when Andy Lenninton threaded one through the left side, putting the Redhawks in front 2-0.
Austin Peay had bases loaded in the bottom of the inning with two out after two walks and a single. It appeared the Redhawks were out of the inning on a pop up to Andy Lack at short but catcher's interference was called on Cole Ferguson to continue the inning and force in a run. Traivs Hayes hit the next batter to drive in the tying run. A single to right by P.J. Torres put the Governors ahead 4-2 in the first. The inning ended on a foul out to Ferguson behind the plate.
A leadoff walk, a single to right, and a hit batsman loaded the bases for Southeast. Bieser singled up the middle to score both Lack and Clayton Evans to retie the game; Blum took third on the play as Bieser was thrown out trying to stretch a double. Blum then scored on a double ripped down the left field line by Tellor. Derek Gibson reached on an error by the third baseman. Ferguson climbed in to the box and belted the first pitch he saw over the 373' sign in left center for a three-run home run to put the Redhawks ahead 8-4 in the second inning.
For the fourth-consecutive frame in the bottom of the second, a leadoff walk was dished out. Two singles loaded the bases with no out for the Govs. A sacrifice fly by Dre Gleason scored one run followed by an RBI fielder's choice to make the score 8-6 after only two complete innings.
Evans hit a leadoff single to center followed by a walk to Blum in the third. Austin Peay then made their second call to the bullpen. Tellor singled to center field to load the bases with only one out. Gibson hit a ball off a diving first baseman's glove that then deflected off the second baseman's glove, allowing two runs to score on the play. Lennington flew out to dead center to score Tellor on a sacrifice fly and widen the Redhawks lead to 11-6.
The Redhawk offense was not going to take a break in the fourth inning. Branden Boggetto drew the Redhawks' third leadoff walk in four innings. After two flyouts, Blum doubled to right center, scoring Boggetto. A walk to Bieser followed by Tellor's second two-RBI double of the game made the score 14-6 in the fourth.
The Redhawks first scoreless inning came in the fifth.
However, the Govs touched home in the bottom of the inning. A leadoff double and a wild pitch put a runner on third. The Redhawks were feeling dj vu when a pop up to short was then called catcher's interference again, putting runners on the corners with one out. Garrett Copeland singled to center to score Gleason. A 5-4-3 double play got Southeast out of the inning. 14-7 Redhawks.
Southeast widened the lead a little more in the sixth inning. Evans and Blum both singled to start the inning. Bieser hit the third consecutive single to score Evans. Blum scored on a sacrifice fly from Tellor. 16-7 Redhawks.
With that run scored, Blum tied a school record for runs scored in a game. Bieser and Kenton Parmley both scored five runs against IPFW on Feb. 26, 2012.
Ferguson blasted his second home run of the game over the left field wall to lead off the seventh inning and put the Redhawks ahead 17-7.
Hayes' day was done as Brady Wright took the mound in the eighth inning. Hayes finished with seven complete innings of work. Hayes allowed seven runs, five of which were earned, on seven hits. Hayes fanned six batters, a season-best, and walked four in the game.
The Redhawks tacked on two more runs in the ninth inning. Ferguson and pinch hitter Ryan Barnes drew walks to lead off the inning. Lack singled through the right side to score Ferguson. Evans grounded out to short to push the Redhawks' 19th run across the plate, a season-best for the team.
Wright got pinch hitter Griffin Ganick to ground in to a game ending double play, the Redhawks' fourth of the game, to secure the win 19-7 win for the Redhawks and the series win over the Austin Peay Governors.
The Redhawks scattered 20 hits to the Govs' 10 in the game. The 20 hits was also a season-high for the Redhawks.
Tellor finished with a career-best five hits with five RBI and two runs scored in the game. Blum was 2-for-2 with five runs scored, an RBI, four walks, and a hit by pitch. Blum was on base a total of seven times. Bieser and Evans both had 3-for-6 days with Bieser registering three RBI. Ferguson's two home runs made up his 2-for-5 day with four RBI and he scored three times with a walk.
Blum, Tellor, and Bieser, the Redhawks first three hitters in the lineup, all had seven plate appearances in the game.
Hayes improved to 5-0 this season with the victory. Wright closed the game with two scoreless innings, allowing only two hits.
Cayce Bredlau was the only Gov with a multi-hit game after going 3-for-5 and he scored a run twice.
The Govs' starter, Levi Primasing (2-3) recorded the loss after working only one and a third innings. Primasing gave up six runs, five earned, on six hits. Austin Peay used a total of six pitchers in the game; all of which gave up at least a run to the Redhawks.
UT MARTIN 9, EASTERN KENTUCKY 4
MARTIN, Tenn. - The middle of the University of Tennessee at Martin batting lineup and shutdown efforts on the mound helped the Skyhawks overcome a four-run deficit and lay claim to a 9-4 victory over Ohio Valley Conference rival Eastern Kentucky at Skyhawk Field.
The heavy hitters in the Skyhawk lineup carried UT Martin (4-29, 3-15 OVC) to the win. No. 3 hole hitter Taylor Douglas went 3-for-3 with a walk and hit by pitch, driving in four runs while scoring once himself. Cleanup man Taylor Cox went 3-for-4 with a walk, three RBI’s and a run scored.
Nico Zych (run scored) and Max Balter (RBI, run scored) also had multi-hit efforts wihle Chase Young scored twice and had an RBI out of the No. 2 spot in the lineup. Nick Molina (two runs scored) and Andrew Massey (one run) also added to the Skyhawk offensive attack.
On the mound, John Houston (2-1) continued his dominance this season by picking up the win after fanning four over three shutout frames of relief. Houston now has had a hand in every UT Martin victory in 2014 (two wins, two saves). Starting pitcher Alex Martin only allowed Eastern Kentucky to score in one inning but did not factor into the decision after allowing four runs on seven hits through six innings.
Martin held the Colonels scoreless through the first two frames but Eastern Kentucky (17-19, 7-8 OVC) hit a pair of two-run homers in the third inning to go ahead by a 4-0 margin.
The Skyhawks didn’t waste much time getting on the scoreboard thanks to a two-out rally in the bottom of the third. Young drew a two-out walk and on the next pitch, Douglas lined a double down the left field line to score Young. Cox then guided a 1-0 pitch into centerfield to bring in Douglas and cut the UT Martin deficit in half at 4-2.
Martin pitched around a leadoff single in the fourth and his offense supplied him another run in the bottom half. In a matter of seconds after making a diving catch to his left to end the top of the fourth and save a run, Zych led off with a double to deep left center and advanced to third on a Massey groundout. Balter then grinded out a single to right field to plate Zych and bring the Skyhawks within one run.
Martin then did a masterful job of escaping trouble in the top of the fifth. Eastern Kentucky loaded the bases but Martin came up with a big strikeout to end the inning and keep the score at 4-3.
The Skyhawks turned their first of three late double plays in the game to end the sixth. Cox then tied the game with a towering solo homer to lead off the bottom of the sixth, his first round tripper of the season and second of his career.
Houston then came in for his first inning of work. After the first two Colonel batters reached (double, hit by pitch), Houston worked out of the jam by getting a called strikeout and a 4-6-3 double play.
UT Martin then took its first lead of the game in the bottom of the seventh. Molina singled up the middle to lead off the inning and was sacrificed to second on a bunt by Drew Erie. After Douglas was intentionally walked, Cox sent a single up the middle to score Molina and give the Skyhawks the 5-4 edge.
Houston dialed up a pair of strikeouts in his scoreless eighth and UT Martin broke the game open with a big bottom of the eighth. Massey and Balter singled and after Molina was hit by a pitch, the bases were loaded for Young with two away. He was then issued a four-pitch walk, scoring Massey and extending UT Martin’s advantage out to 6-4. Douglas then roped his second double of the game and team-high 12th two-bagger of the season to clear the bases and push the Skyhawk lead out to 9-4.
Houston took advantage of another double play in the top of the ninth before tallying a game-ending strikeout to nail down the win.
MOREHEAD STATE 8, #23 INDIANA 7
BLOOMINGTON, Ind. - The Morehead State baseball team defeated its second nationally-ranked opponent in six days on Sunday with an 8-7 decision over No. 23 Indiana at Bart Kaufman Field. MSU opened up a six-run advantage in the eighth inning and held on for the win.
The Eagles, who own a 7-8 record in the Ohio Valley Conference, improve to 17-18 overall and 12-9 on the road. The Hoosiers, who sit atop the Big Ten Conference at 8-1, slip to 21-11 on the season and 8-2 at home. IU also sees its nine-game winning streak come to an end.
With 20 regular-season games remaining, Morehead State has already surpassed last year's overall-win total (16-40) and doubled its road-victories total (6-25). The Eagles have won five of their last eight contests, despite a week filled with four contests against Top 25 foes.
MSU took control of the series finale with a five-run second. Junior center fielder Clayton Meyer evened the score with an RBI double. Junior first baseman Kane Sweeney, who was hitless in his previous 14 at-bats, highlighted the frame moments later with a two-run homer.
The Eagles added three much-needed insurance runs in the eighth. Junior left fielder Nick Newell provided the spark with a two-run double before Meyer beat out an infield single to give Morehead State another run.
Indiana, which scored its first two runs on a homer by junior catcher Kyle Schwarber in the first, stormed back with four runs in the ninth. Junior left fielder Scott Donley popped a grand slam with two outs to trim the deficit to one, but MSU escaped the jam to register the win.
Morehead State sophomore Willie Sligh settled for a no-decision, despite allowing only two earned runs in 4.2 innings. He scattered six hits and yielded just two walks while striking out one. The right-hander retired eight of 10 batters after the long ball by Schwarber.
Senior left-hander Noah Smallwood, sophomore right-hander Tyler Keele and freshman left-hander Cable Wright combined on two scoreless innings before sophomore right-hander Craig Pearcy went the final 2.1 frames for his team-leading seventh save of the season.
Schwarber finished with a game-best three hits for the Hoosiers, who collected 40 base knocks in the three-game weekend series. Sophomore right-hander Evan Bell, the second of four Indiana hurlers, suffered the loss after allowing four earned runs in two innings.