WEDNESDAY'S SCORES
Eastern Kentucky 9, @Northern Kentucky 6
@Eastern Illinois 8, Illinois College 2
@Kennesaw State 11,
Jacksonville State 4
@Tennessee Tech 10, Middle Tennessee 3
@SIUE 6, Bradley 5
@#13 Ole Miss 8,
Murray State 5
Austin Peay 5, Memphis 3 (Millington, Tenn.)
Lipscomb 12,
@UT Martin 2
EASTERN KENTUCKY 9, NORTHERN KENTUCKY 6
HIGHLAND HEIGHTS, Ky. - A four-run ninth inning broke a 5-5 tie and led Eastern Kentucky to a 9-6 victory over Northern Kentucky on Wednesday at UC Health Stadium in Florence.
NKU overcame a 5-1 deficit to tie the score in the seventh on a two-run double by Logan Spurlin and a sacrifice fly by Cody Kuzniczci. The first three Eastern Kentucky batters reached base in the top of the ninth and freshman Taylor Blair followed with what proved to be the game-winning two-run double down the left field line. The next two batters drove in a run each with a single. Kenny Hostrander’s run-scoring base hit made it 9-5.
The Colonels (15-18) were clinging to a 2-1 lead when Bryan Soloman came up with two on in the fifth inning. His dinger over the right field wall scored Sean Hagen and Doug Teegarden. It was Soloman’s fifth home run of the season.
Hagen, Hostrander and Ben Fisher each finished with two hits for EKU. Blair and Hostrander each drove in two runs while Teegarden, Soloman and Hagen scored two times each. Soloman had one hit in four at bats and a walk to go along with his three RBIs.
Cole Bauml went 2-for-4 for Northern Kentucky. Spurlin finished 1-for-5 with two RBIs.
Brian Mroz started for EKU and pitched well. He allowed just one run on four hits in four innings. Logan Hershenow (1-1) pitched a scoreless eighth inning to earn the win.
Drew Campbell (0-2) suffered the loss after allowing three runs on one hit and three walks in one inning.
EASTERN ILLINOIS 8, ILLINOIS COLLEGE 2
CHARLESTON, Ill. - The Panther baseball team defeated Illinois College, 8-2, on Wednesday afternoon at Coaches Stadium. EIU improves to 10-22 on the year.
EIU jumped out to an early 6-0 lead after two innings of play before the Blueboys (13-9) got on the scoreboard in the fifth inning. Illinois College cut its deficit to four (6-2), scoring two runs on three hits.
The Panthers added two runs on three hits in the sixth inning to push their lead to six (8-2). Alex Cain drove in the first run with a double down the right-field line before he crossed home plate later in the inning on a John Devito ground out for the final run.
The Blueboys had one more hit (8-7) than EIU and left one more runner on base (10-9). EIU had one more error (2-1) in the contest.
Cain led the Panther offense as the freshman outfielder went 2-for-4 with four RBI, a run and a double. Trey Russell and Marshawn Taylor both scored two runs in the win.
Andrew Grahn (1-0) earned his first career win, striking out five batters while allowing four hits and two runs in five innings of work. All told, the Panthers used five pitchers who combined to throw 11 strikeouts and issue two walks.
Clayton Carr (0-1) took the loss for Illinois College, surrendering two runs and one hit in one inning of work. The Blueboys used eight pitchers who combined to record two strikeouts and six walks.
Austin Peck led the Blueboys offense as he went 2-for-3 at the plate. Dalton Kerans went 1-for-2 with a run and a RBI.
KENNESAW STATE 11, JACKSONVILLE STATE 4
KENNESAW, Ga. - Alex Liquori had three hits and drove in three runs to lead Kennesaw State to an 11-4 win over Jacksonville State on Wednesday evening.
Cole McArthur scattered five hits and had three strikeouts in four innings on the mound to earn the win for the Owls. JSU's Tony Urban gave up seven runs and walked three in just two innings to suffer the loss for the Gamecocks.
The Owls took the early lead after scoring four runs in the first inning after Bo Way and Brennan Morgan each drove in a run, and Liquori drove in two more runs with a double to give KSU a 4-0 lead.
Kennesaw State extended the lead in the second inning after Way drove in two more runs with a triple to build a 6-0 lead, before the Gamecocks got on the scoreboard in the top of the third inning.
Joe McGuire hit his first career home run with a solo home shot to right field to cut the lead to 6-1, but the Owls got the run back in the home half after Liquori scored on an infield grounder for a 7-1 lead.
Paschal Petrongolo led off the fourth inning with a solo home run to right center to cut the lead to 7-2, and the Gamecocks added another run in the sixth after Griff Gordon scored on Ryan Sebra's RBI single to make the score 7-3.
Jax State added a run in the seventh inning after Gavin Golsan scored on Eddie Mora-Loera's sacrifice fly to cut the lead to 7-4, but the Owls answered in the home half of the seventh with three runs and an insurance run in the eighth for the final margin.
McGuire finished the game with three hits, while Stephen Bartlett extended his hitting streak to 14 games after finishing with a pair of hits, while Golsan also had two hits to lead the Gamecocks.
TENNESSEE TECH 10, MIDDLE TENNESSEE 3
COOKEVILLE, Tenn. - It seemed only fitting that on a night in which everything came together for the Tennessee Tech baseball team, one of the most revered school records would see its end and a long streak would also come to pass, as the the Golden Eagles (26-9) defeated the Middle Tennessee Blue Raiders (15-18), 10-3 Wednesday evening.
A starter from his very first day in a Golden Eagle uniform, senior Zach Stephens stepped into the batters box in the fifth inning like it was just any other at bat. And until a hanging curveball on the eighth pitch of the at bat, it was. But after throwing fastball after fastball, MTSU pitcher Nathan Foriest switched things up to his own dismay. Stephens took the off-speed offering deep over the left center field fence, crushing his 52nd career home run while also propelling the Golden Eagles into the lead for good, up 4-3.
The long ball broke a tie that the first baseman held with former Tech baseball great A.J. Kirby-Jones for most career home runs in a Golden Eagle uniform. The moon shot was part of a 2-for-5 day at the plate for Stephens, who now sits just two home runs away from breaking the all-time Ohio Valley Conference career record currently held by former Western Kentucky great, Mike Williams.
Already Tech's career leader in runs driven in, Stephens now owns 203 career RBI after the contest, needing just six more to break the OVC's career record also held by Williams. The senior also remains just two hits from breaking Tech's all-time career hits record of 253 held by former Golden Eagle Chad Oberacker.
Outside of Stephen's career day at the dish, the entire Tech team peformed exceedingly well in the victory, clinching the first season series sweep of Middle Tennessee by the Golden Eagles since 1998.
Pitching played a strong roll in the Tech win, as five pitchers combined to record 14 strikeouts on the night. Starter John Gora struck out five Blue Raiders, tossing three innings and allowing three earned runs. Reliever Cain Sloan came in for the next two innings, punching out three and allwoing just one hit and one walk while earning his first career victory in a Golden Eagle uniform.
Freshman Kyle Keatts took over for the sixth innings, surrendering one hit while striking out one. Senior righty Stanton Taylor covered innings seven and eight with two Ks and two hits. And finally, junior Justin Alexander finished off the game, fanning all three batters in the ninth to give Tech its 26th win of the year.
Both sides battled evenly through the first four frames, fighting to a 3-3 stalemate thanks to RBI from Stephens, junior David Allen, and Brandon Thomasson.
That was as close as things got for the Blue Raiders, as the Tech squad put together a huge two-out rally in the bottom of the fifth inning. Leadoff man Zach Zarzour started things off, singling to left center field. He would later be caught stealing, following a Tech strikeout, and the Middle Tennessee squad looked sure to head to the top of the sixth still nodded up with the Golden Eagles.
Things did not go according to plan for MTSU, however, as the Stephens kicked off a six-run rally with his solo shot to left center field in the next at bat. Senior Daniel Miles followed with a walk and Thomasson drove him in with a crushed double off the right center field wall. Junior shortstop Dylan Bosheers was hit by a pitch in the next plate appearance for Tech, putting two runners on base for the Golden Eagles.
Jordan Hopkins laced a double to left center field, clearing the bases and setting up Tyler Brazelton for a chance. He didn't get one, as MTSU's Nathan Foriest plunked Brazelton and put runners on first and second. That brought in another Blue Raider pitcher, Jonathan Frebis. A passed ball led Hopkins and Brazelton to reach scoring position and Allen ripped a two-run double down the right field line and at the conclusion of the inning, Tech suddenly held a 9-3 advantage.
Thomasson managed to finally go yard in the seventh inning after smacking a sac fly at the wall in the third and a double off the wall in the fifth. The solo shot marked the 10th of the season for the senior, giving him the lead in the OVC. It also propelled Tech to its final score of 10-3.
Thomasson finished 2-for-3 with three RBI and two runs scored while Stephens finished 2-for-5 with two RBI and two runs scored. Allen also had multiple hits, going 2-for-4 with three RBI.
SIUE 6, BRADLEY 5
EDWARDSVILLE, Ill. - A four-run fifth inning vaulted SIUE baseball to a 6-5 win over Bradley in nonconference baseball action at Simmons Baseball Complex.
The win snapped a seven-game losing skid for the Cougars, who improved to 11-20 overall. Bradley fell to 17-11.
The Cougars picked up two base hits and took advantage of four hit batters and a walk in the fifth inning. Alec Saikal drove home two with a single. Devin Caldwell added an RBI single in the inning and Keaton Wright drove in a run with a sacrifice fly.
Sophomore J.D. Williams made his first start of the year for the Cougars, throwing a career-high four innings. He allowed two runs on four hits. He tied his career high with five strikeouts.
Zach Malach (1-1) allowed a run over three innings of relief. He struck out three and earned the first win of his Cougar career. P.J. Schuster added a scoreless eighth inning despite allowing two hits. Jarrett Bednar gave up a pair of runs in the ninth, but closed out the game to earn his first save.
The game was tied 2-2 when the Cougars put the up the four-run inning. Bradley got a run back in the sixth to cut the Cougar lead to 6-3. Bradley designated hitter Greg Partyka hit a two-run home run in the ninth to trim the lead to 6-5.
Bradley reliever John Nasshan (1-1) allowed three runs in just 1/3 of an inning to suffer the loss.
Saikal led the Cougars at the plate. He was 2 for 4 with three RBIs.
Bradley catcher Drew Carlile led the way for the Braves. He was 3 for 5. Partyka, Max Murphy, and Spencer Gaa each had two hits.
#13 OLE MISS 8, MURRAY STATE 5
OXFORD, Miss. - Murray State pushed across three runs in the fourth and two more in the seventh, but it was a six-run bottom of the fourth inning that proved to be the difference as #13 Ole Miss handed the Breds an 8-5 defeat Wednesday evening at Swayze Field.
The Breds (14-16) got on the board first as Anthony Bayus and Tyler Lawrence walked to start the fourth. After a wild pitch, Kollin Dowdy drove in the both runners with a double just inside the bag at first. Two batters later, Dalton West groundout out to first to score Dowdy.
The Rebels (27-8) answered back in the home-half of the inning to push across six runs, four of which were unearned. Branley Bell drove in the first run with a single up the middle, before John Gatlin plated the second run with a fielder’s choice. The flood gates opened with two outs as a ball was misplayed up the middle, allowing the tieing run to score. Austin Bousfield’s bunt base hit gave the Rebels the lead, and Austin Anderson extended it with a two-run single into right center.
OM added to its lead as J.B. Woodman doubled and scored on Braxton Lee’s bloop single to left.
MSU got the bats going again in the seventh as Taylor Mathews singled to right and Ty Stetson singled through the left side. Matt McGowan drove in a run with a single to left center. Bayus walked, and Lawrence followed with an RBI single up the middle. MSU nearly tied the game, but a diving catch by the first baseman kept the Breds off the board.
The Rebels got a run back in the bottom of the inning as Anderson walked and scored on a Will Allen double into the right-field corner.
Cameron Finch (3-3) took the loss after allowing four runs, two earned, in just one-third of an inning. Matt Denny (1-1) picked up the victory in relief after giving up one run on one hit and two strikeouts over two innings. Wyatt Short earned his second save after striking out the two hitters he faced.
Stetson paced the offense by going 2-for-4, while Dowdy drove in a pair of runs.
AUSTIN PEAY 5, MEMPHIS 3
MILLINGTON, Tenn. - Designated hitter Dre Gleason’s two-run single in the eighth inning propelled Austin Peay State University’s baseball team to a 5-3 victory against Memphis, Wednesday night, at USA Stadium.
Austin Peay (13-20) scored two runs in the sixth but surrendered that lead in seventh. However, the Govs responded in the eighth to regain the lead. Right fielder Rolando Gautier led off the inning with a double to right center. Pinch hitter Chase Hamilton followed and walked to put two aboard with no out.
The Govs moved the runners with left fielder Ridge Smith’s sacrifice bunt, before a strikeout put two outs on the board. Gleason came to the plate and hit a floating drive inside the left field line, allowing Gautier and Hamilton to score, giving APSU a 4-3 lead.
Austin Peay would tack on an insurance run in the ninth thanks to a Memphis error. Shortstop Logan Gray singled to start the inning and moved to second on catcher P.J. Torres sacrifice bunt. Memphis pitcher Nolan Blackwood attempted to pickoff Gray at second, but his throw sailed into center field, allowing Gray to advance to third. Second baseman Garrett Copeland made the miscue count with a sacrifice fly, giving APSU a 5-3 advantage.
Govs reliever Ryan Quick made the late burst stand up. He would allow two base runners in both the eighth in ninth innings, but worked his way out of the jam both times to pick up his season’s first save.
The game was scoreless through five innings. Austin Peay used five pitchers in the opening five innings, holding Memphis to three hits. Meanwhile, Memphis starter Dylan Toscano held the Govs to two hits through the opening five frames.
Austin Peay broke the stalemate thanks to a Memphis error in the sixth. Bredlau and Smith both hit one out singles and then successfully completed a double steal. Memphis’ catcher threw to second to attempt to prevent the effort, but his throw sailed into center field. Bredlau scored and Smith advanced to third on the play. Gleason made Memphis pay for the miscue with Gleason’s ground out that allowed Smith to score for a 2-0 advantage.
Memphis (18-16) responded one inning later as its first four batters reached base against reliever Tommy Hager. The Tigers took advantage of an Austin Peay error as well as two softly hit balls that barely escaped the Govs infielders, one permitting a run to score. Reliever A.J. Gaura took the mound and struck out the first batter he faced before allowing runs on an outfield single and fielder’s choice, giving Memphis a 3-2 lead.
Gaura (1-1) was credited with the victory after one scoreless inning of relief. Gleason led the Govs offense with a 2-for-3, three RBI outing while Gray went 2-for-4.
Toscano (3-2) suffered the loss after allowing four runs on five hits in seven-plus innings. Right fielder Jake Little and first baseman Tucker Tubbs each had two hits to pace the Memphis offense.
LIPSCOMB 12, UT MARTIN 2
MARTIN, Tenn. - The University of Tennessee at Martin baseball team ran into a buzzsaw this afternoon as the Lipscomb Bisons stayed hot in a 12-2 win at Skyhawk Field.
The Skyhawk offense was led once again this afternoon by Taylor Douglas, who slammed a pair of doubles and scored a run. He was also one of seven UT Martin pitchers to see time on the mound today, notching a pair of strikeouts in a scoreless inning of work.
Max Balter (RBI) and Mikey Nantze (run scored) also guided the Skyhawks (3-27) this afternoon.
UT Martin starting pitcher Chris Flores (0-1) was charged with the loss today after allowing five runs in 2.2 frames. Alex Boshers (two runs in 1.1 innings), John Skubina (four runs in one inning), Chris Ross (one shutout inning), Stu Jones (one scoreless inning) and John Houston (one inning, one unearned run allowed) also saw time in addition to Douglas.
Flores mostly coasted through the first two innings before running in to trouble in the third. Lipscomb scored seven runs in the third to take an early advantage.
Boshers then accounted for a scoreless fourth after he induced a strikeout and an inning-ending double play to strand a pair of Bisons.
Lipscomb – who is 22-12 and has won 20 of its last 24 games – then added four runs in the fifth to go on top by an 11-0 margin.
Ross held the Bisons scoreless after retiring the side in order in the sixth. The Skyhawks would then get a pair of runs back in the bottom half of the inning.
Nantze gritted his way to a leadoff walk and four pitches later, Douglas doubled down the left field line to put a pair of runners in scoring position. Balter then grounded out to the right side to bring in Nantze and Douglas would eventually come around to score on a wild pitch.
After Jones recorded a scoreless seventh and Houston allowed zero earned runs in the eighth, Douglas just missed his third homer of the season when he launched a double off the left field wall with two away in the bottom of the eighth. However, UT Martin could not slice its deficit in the inning and could not spark a rally in the ninth.