WEDNESDAY'S SCORES
@Morehead State 10, Shawnee State 4
@Southern Illinois 3,
Austin Peay 0
Miami (Ohio) 6,
@Eastern Kentucky 3
MOREHEAD STATE 10, SHAWNEE STATE 4
MOREHEAD, Ky. - The Morehead State baseball team plated nine runs in its final four at-bats and its bullpen allowed just one run in five innings en route to a 10-4 victory over Shawnee State (Ohio) on Wednesday afternoon at Allen Field.
The Eagles, who compete in the Ohio Valley Conference, improve to 18-18 overall and 6-6 at home with their sixth win in the last nine games. The NAIA Bears, who play in the Mid-South Conference, fall to 25-21 overall and 13-14 on the road.
Sophomore right-hander Matt Ellenbest, the second of four Morehead State pitchers, allowed just one hit in three scoreless innings for his first Division I victory. He has lowered his season ERA from 6.39 to 4.35 by allowing just one earned run in six appearances this month.
Morehead State's offense needed just eight hits in the victory, but took advantage of five bases on balls and five hit batsmen. The Eagles scored twice on just one hit in the fifth, four times on just one base knock in the sixth and two more times on a pair of hits in the seventh.
The teams combined for 21 hits, but just one for extra bases. SSU posted 13 base knocks, but stranded nine runners. Morehead State left 10 men on base.
Senior designated hitter Bobby Burns extended his season-best hitting streak to 12 games with an eighth-inning single. Senior third baseman Jeff Birkofer led MSU with a 2-for-4 performance and three runs. Three Eagles were credited with two RBI each.
Junior shortstop Brady Page recorded a game-high three hits for Shawnee State, while five of his teammates tallied two base knocks apiece. Senior third baseman Daniel Katayama registered a game-best three RBI, including a two-run single in the fourth.
Sophomore right-hander Taylor Smith, the fourth of six Shawnee State hurlers, was pinned with the loss. He yielded two hits and three earned runs in two innings.
SOUTHERN ILLINOIS 3, AUSTIN PEAY 0
CARBONDALE, Ill. - One inning proved the difference as Austin Peay State University’s baseball team lost a 3-0 tilt against Southern Illinois, Wednesday, at Itchy Jones Stadium.
Southern Illinois (20-17) struck for three runs in the third inning for the game’s only scoring. With two outs, the Salukis waited out reliever Mark Hendrick, earning a pair of walks and loading the bases. Hendrick seemed to escape the inning when shortstop Jake Welch hit a fly ball toward the left center gap. Center fielder Chase Hamilton raced over and appeared to make a snow-cone catch, but could not hold on and three runs scored.
Austin Peay (14-23) could not solve Southern Illinois starter Austin McPheron (2-1), who tossed six scoreless innings and held the Govs to three hits for the win. The Salukis bullpen allowed two hits over the final three innings, closer Tyler Dray pitching a hitless ninth for his sixth save.
Only right fielder Rolando Gautier had success against the Southern Illinois pitchers, posting the Govs first three hits and finishing the day 3-for-4. Designated hitter Alex Robles and Hamilton had Austin Peay’s other two hits. Third baseman Ridge Smith failed to reach base safely for the first time in 28 games, dating back to Feb. 25.
Southern Illinois was led by Welch’s 2-for-4 outing and catcher Matt Jones’ 2-for-3 performance.
Hendrick (0-2) suffered the loss after allowing three unearned runs in 0.2 innings, walking two and allowing one hit.
MIAMI (OHIO) 6, EASTERN KENTUCKY 3
RICHMOND, Ky. - Eastern Kentucky lost 6-3 to Miami (Ohio) on Wednesday night at Turkey Hughes Field. Bryan Soloman finished 2-for-5 with two RBIs for the Colonels.
Miami (15-20) jumped out in front early with three runs in the first two innings. Steve Sada had a two-run double in the second.
EKU (17-20) closed the gap to one in the third. Bryan Soloman drove in a run with a ground ball. Ben Fisher followed with a run scoring single to right field. However, Sada drove in another run in the fourth with a double down the right field line for a 4-2 Redhawk lead.
Miami added a run in the sixth on an RBI single through the right side by Matt Honchel and another in the ninth when Dan Walsh singled to left field. Walsh and Gary Russo had three hits each for the Redhawks. Sada finished 2-for-3 with three RBIs.
Eastern Kentucky brought the tying run to the plate with two outs in the ninth but came up short. With two on and two out, Soloman doubled down the left field line to score Luke Wurzelbacher. The rally attempt ended one batter later when Fisher flew out to right center.
Nine different pitchers toed the rubber for Eastern, none of which pitched more than one inning. Starter, Brian Mroz (4-1) suffered the loss after allowing one run on three hits in one inning of work. Ryan Haynes (2-0) earned the win after tossing three scoreless innings of relief for Miami. He allowed one hit, walked one and struck out three.