TUESDAY'S SCORES
@Eastern Kentucky 8, Marshall 4
East Tennessee State 17,
@Morehead State 14
@Belmont 8, Middle Tennessee 2
@Tennessee 3,
Austin Peay 0
@UT Martin 8, Southern Illinois 7
@#4 Vanderbilt 9,
Tennessee Tech 1
@#20 Mississippi State 5,
Eastern Illinois 2
@Arkansas 4,
Southeast Missouri 3
EASTERN KENTUCKY 8, MARSHALL 4
RICHMOND, Ky. - Junior Kyle Nowlin’s solo home run in the bottom of the sixth untied the game and sophomore Logan Starnes’ bases-clearing double in the bottom of the eighth broke it wide open as the Eastern Kentucky University baseball team defeated visiting Marshall, 8-4, on Tuesday afternoon at Turkey Hughes Field.
Billy Sager put Marshall (6-12) on the board first with a solo home run in the top of the third; however, EKU (6-11) tied it on an RBI groundout by junior Doug Teegarden in the bottom half of that inning and then took the lead on a two-run double by freshman Brendan Cutting in the bottom of the fourth.
The Thundering Herd got a run back in the top of the fifth and then knotted it up at 3-3 on an RBI base hit by Ryne Dean in the top of the sixth.
Nowlin led off the home half of the sixth, though, with a mammoth blast to left center field that gave the Colonels a lead they would not relinquish.
Junior Mandy Alvarez made it 5-3 in favor of the Colonels with a sacrifice fly to left that plated sophomore Shea Sullivan in the bottom of the seventh. After Marshall scored a run in the top of the eighth to, again, pull to within one, Starnes – who had just entered the game at catcher – delivered the knockout punch in the bottom of the eighth by lacing a double into left field that scored junior Kenny Hostrander and sophomores Ben Fisher and Taylor Blair.
Senior right-hander Cameron Langfels closed out the game in the top of the ninth.
Junior right-hander Chris Cervantes started on the mound for the Colonels and pitched 5.2 solid innings, allowing only three runs on three hits while striking out four. It was senior southpaw Ben Brooks (1-0), however, that earned the win by being the pitcher of record when Nowlin launched his decisive home run in the sixth.
Right-hander Heston Van Fleet (0-2) picked up the loss for Marshall, going 5.1 innings and surrendering four runs on five hits.
Hostrander finished the day 2-for-3 at the plate and scored three runs for the victorious Colonels.
EAST TENNESSEE STATE 17, MOREHEAD STATE 14
MOREHEAD, Ky. - East Tennessee State's baseball team scored 13 runs in the final four innings and erased a seven-run deficit in defeating Morehead State 17-14 at Allen Field Tuesday.
The Buccaneers, who recorded 23 hits, improved to 11-7. Morehead State, which hadn't faced ETSU since 2002, slipped to 10-7. The teams combined for 41 hits, 13 doubles, 23 runners left on base and six errors.
Morehead State built a 6-1 lead after two innings and led 11-4 heading to the top of the sixth. ETSU hit three-run homers in the sixth and seventh and added two to hold a 14-12 cushion in the eighth. MSU battled back to tie the contest 14-14 with a pair of scores in the eighth, but the Buccaneers scored three times in the top of the ninth.
ETSU used seven pitchers, with closer Dillon Cate getting the final five outs, including two strikeouts, to improve to 2-1.
Morehead State saw five pitchers take the mound. Sophomore lefthander Cable Wright was charged with four earned runs off three hits while walking three to be saddled with the loss. He slipped to 0-1. Along with Wright, three other Eagle hurlers allowed at least four runs.
Six ETSU hitters recorded at least three hits with first baseman Kevin Phillips going 4-for-6 with one of the three-run round-trippers. Third baseman Chris Cook, who led the team with five RBI, also plated three with a long bomb. Designated hitter Andrew Lasure, who entered the game 2-for-24 at the plate, had three hits and four RBI.
Morehead State, which had 18 hits, got three each from senior left fielder Chris Robinson, senior first baseman Kane Sweeney, senior right fielder Brandon Rawe and freshman second baseman Braxton Morris.
Sweeney hit a first-inning three-run homer and drove in a season-best five runs. He has now reached base in 24 consecutive games dating back to 2014. Rawe upped his hitting streak to eight contests and has improved his batting average more than 100 points in that span.
BELMONT 8, MIDDLE TENNESSEE 2
NASHVILLE - The Bruins defeated the Blue Raiders 8-2 on Tuesday at Rose Park. Although the Bruins only had a few hits, they found a way to get on base. There were three innings where the Bruins scored two or more runs.
The Bruins tacked on a run in the third to tie the game after a solo homerun to right field by MTSU's Jared Allen in the second inning.
In the bottom of the fourth, the Bruins scored two runs off a towering homerun by sophomore Dom Veltri straight over the right field screen.
The Bruins found a way to get on base in the bottom of the seventh with Dom Veltri reaching on a walk and a hit by pitch for Brennan Washington. Alec Diamond laid down a sacrifice bunt to help advance his teammates. Washington scored on a fielder's choice by Drew Ferguson, and Veltri scored moments later on an error by the pitcher.
Nick Egli led off the bottom of the eighth with a single to left field. After a walk and hit by pitch, a ground out plated Zach Lannan who was pinch running for Egli. With runners on second and third, another walk followed by a hit by pitch plated another Bruin. Veltri eventually scored via a fielder's choice.
The Bruins scored 8 runs off of 4 hits against the Middle Tennessee State Blue Raiders. The Bruins' record is now 9-8.
TENNESSEE 3, AUSTIN PEAY 0
KNOXVILLE, Tenn. - A rare midweek pitcher’s duel did not fall in favor of Austin Peay State University’s baseball team as it dropped a 3-0 decision to Tennessee, Tuesday night, at Lindsey Nelson Stadium.
Austin Peay (10-7) recorded five hits in the contest, but saw them scattered by the Tennessee pitching staff. The Govs only recorded back-to-back hits once in the contest – third baseman Logan Gray and catcher Ridge Smith each with two-out singles in the first.
Tennessee (9-8) got on the board first when third baseman Jeff Moberg hit a line drive home run to left field with one out in the fifth. The Volunteers added to their lead in the fifth after right fielder Vincent Jackson tripled to leadoff the frame. Shortstop A.J. Simcox brought that run home with a sacrifice fly, pushing the lead to 2-0.
Those were the only two runs Austin Peay starter Zach Hall (1-3) would surrender in his six-plus inning losing outing. He allowed just five hits and did not walk a batter while striking out four.
Tennessee starter Zach Warren (1-0) held the Govs scoreless through five innings, allowing three hits while striking out five to pick up the win.
UT MARTIN 8, SOUTHERN ILLINOIS 7
MARTIN, Tenn. - Down to its final out with the bases loaded in the bottom of the ninth, junior second baseman Nick Pribble tallied a two-run walk-off single to help propel the University of Tennessee at Martin baseball team to an 8-7 midweek win over Southern Illinois at Skyhawk Field.
UT Martin (4-12) faced early deficits of 4-0, 6-2 and 7-4 before answering with four unanswered runs in the final three frames to close out the game. Pribble’s game-winning hit completed a comeback where the Skyhawks had the bases empty with two outs in the bottom of the ninth before four straight batters reached base to close out the game.
Pribble didn’t enter the contest until the eighth inning but delivered a pair of hits for UT Martin this evening. Austin Taylor collected three hits with two RBI’s and a run scored while Taylor Douglas launched his second homer of the season while tallying two hits and two RBI’s. Andrew Castillo (two hits, one run scored), Luis Paublini (two runs scored, RBI), Mike Murphy (one run scored, one RBI), Nico Zych (one run scored) and Nick Gavello (run scored) all contributed to the Skyhawks offensively tonight.
On the mound, Patrick Bernard (1-2) seized his first win of the season after allowing only one hit over 3.1 shutout relief innings. He followed Quinton Stevens (two innings), Dalton Potts (two innings) and Dillon Symon (1.2 innings).
Southern Illinois led 4-0 after the first inning but Stevens kept the Salukis off the scoreboard in the second inning. Potts entered the game in the third inning and stranded the bases loaded, setting the tone for a big inning in the bottom half of the inning for the Skyhawks.
Castillo doubled with one away and advanced to third on a Zych groundout to the right side. Paublini then clubbed a single to center to score Castillo while Taylor followed with a single to put two baserunners aboard for Murphy, who came up with an opposite field RBI single to slice the Skyhawk deficit to 4-2.
The Salukis then chalked up two more runs in the top of the fourth before UT Martin got the runs back in the bottom of the fourth. Gavello dropped down a perfect bunt single with one out and Douglas followed with a two-run blast out to left field, making the score 6-4.
Southern Illinois added a run in the fifth but Bernard entered the game in the sixth and stranded a pair of runners in scoring position to keep UT Martin’s deficit at three runs. Bernard followed with another scoreless frame in the seventh before watching his offense post two more runs in the bottom half of the frame.
The first three Skyhawk batters struck out in the seventh but the third batter reached on a passed ball to extend the inning. Paublini followed with a walk and Taylor crushed a double to left field to score a pair of runs and make the score 7-6.
Bernard was unscathed in the eighth and retired the side in order in the ninth to set the stage for UT Martin’s comeback. The first two batters were retired before Taylor drew a five-pitch walk. Murphy followed with a five-pitch walk of his own and three pitches later, Matt Hirsch was hit by a pitch to load the bases and put the tying run 90 feet away. Pribble took a called strike to begin the at-bat then guided a pitch out to right field for a single, bringing Taylor and Murphy around to score as the Skyhawks cleared the dugout and erupted in celebration.
#4 VANDERBILT 9, TENNESSEE TECH 1
NASHVILLE - Playing its fourth game in as many days, the Tennessee Tech baseball team couldn't overcome a strong first inning by defending national champion and No. 4 ranked Vanderbilt Tuesday evening, as the Commodores (17-4) defeated the Golden Eagles (9-9) in Nashville, 9-1.
Vanderbilt got off to a hot start in the first inning, plating four runners thanks to four hits and two walks. The home squad put tallied another run in the third to grab a 5-0 advantage before the Golden Eagles snagged their first run of the game.
All-American shortstop Dylan Bosheers flared a double down the left field line, just out of reach of a sliding Rhett Wiseman. Freshman Chase Chambers followed with a single to left field, advancing Bosheers to third with no outs. Bosheers scored three pitches later on a ground ball by Jordan Hopkins.
Commodore starter Ryan Johnson and the rest of the staff shut the door the rest of the way, surrendering just one more hit over the final five innings. The Vandy bats notched four more runs along the way as well, providing the final score of 9-1.
Johnson picked up his second win of the season, tossing six innings with a strikeouts and one run given up. Matt Ruppenthal, Collin Snider and Kyle Wright combined to finish the final three innings.
Tech freshman Will Gardner took the loss in his first collegiate start, surrendering five runs on seven hits over two and two thirds innings. Kyle Keatts led all pitchers with three punch outs on the night, providing two and one third inning of relief while allowing just one earned run. Austin Tolle provided three scoreless innings to close out the game for Tech, giving up just two hits and striking out two.
Bosheers led the Golden Eagle bats with two hits on the day while scoring the lone run for the Tech squad. Vanderbilt second baseman Tyler Campbell led the winning squad with three RBI on two hits and leftfielder Bryan Reynolds added two RBI and two runs scored on a 3-for-3 day at the dish.
#20 MISSISSIPPI STATE 5, EASTERN ILLINOIS 2
STARKVILLE, Miss. - Eastern Illinois had one bad inning on Tuesday night costing the Panthers a chance for an upset over No. 20 Mississippi State. The Bulldogs scored four runs in the bottom of the third to win 5-2.
EIU falls to 0-14 on the year. MSU improved to 17-5.
EIU jumped out to a 1-0 lead scoring against MSU starter Lucas Laster in the second inning. Isaac Sampen doubled and came around to score on a single up the middle by Joseph Duncan.
Laster (3-0) worked a complete game allowing eight hits and two runs while striking out seven.
EIU starter Ben Hughes worked two solid innings and picked up the first out of the third. The EIU bullpen loaded the bases following the first out with two walks and a batter hit by pitch. Wes Rea delivered the big shot clearing the bases with a double to left center. Rea was 2-for-3 with 3 RBI. Rea would come around to score on a double by Reid Humphreys. Humphreys was 2-for-4.
EIU scored its second run in the fifth with Cale Hennemann driving home a run with a single. Mississippi State scored its run in the bottom of the fifth on a balk.
EIU was led at the plate by Brant Valach with a 2-for-3 day. Christian Slazinik (0-3) was tagged with the loss for EIU.
ARKANSAS 4, SOUTHEAST MISSOURI 3
FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. - The Southeast Missouri baseball team put up a valiant effort against Southeastern Conference foe Arkansas Tuesday evening. The Redhawks never trailed in the game until the Razorbacks hit a walk-off hit in the bottom of the ninth to down the Redhawks, 4-3.
Garret Stockton was phenomenal in his third start of the season, going a career-best six innings and struck out a career-high five batters. He left the game with a 3-1 lead but would suffer a no decision.
Southeast falls back to .500 at 9-9 on the season while Arkansas improves to 10-8.
Trevor Ezell extended his on base streak to 18 games after drawing a four-pitch walk to start the game. He advanced to second on a groundout by Jason Blum and scored on a two-out base hit to right by Dalton Hewitt to put Southeast on the board 1-0.
Arkansas immediately tied the game in the bottom of the inning. Clark Eagan drew a leadoff walk. Andrew Benintendi hit a one-out double sharply down the left field line. Eagen tried to score but was easily out at the plate after a terrific relay from Ezell and Brandon Boggetto. Benintendi advanced to third on the play and then scored on a double by Chad Spanberger, younger brother of Southeast's Cody Spanberger. After one inning, the Redhawks and Razorbacks were tied at one.
The tie was finally broken after four scoreless innings and it was in favor of the Redhawks. Arkansas brought in their first relief pitcher of the game to start the inning and Ezell greeted him with a base hit to right to lead off the inning. The shortstop botched a routine double play off the bat of Blum to put runners on first and second with no out. Garrett Gandolfo poked a single up the middle to score Ezell and give Southeast the lead. After a pair of strikeouts, Andy Lennington added to the lead with an RBI single past a diving third baseman to plate Blum and extend the lead to 3-1.
Wesley Pyles came in to pitch for Southeast to start the seventh inning and walked two straight batters. Brady Wright came in and inherited runners on second and third, no out, and a 3-1 count on Benintendi. Benintendi hit a blooper just beyond third base to score both runners and tie the game. Wright retired the next three batters to keep it all knotted at 3-3 going to the eighth.
The Redhawks had a superb opportunity to score in the top of the ninth but failed to do so to keep the game all tied up going to the bottom of the inning.
A one-out single allowed the winning run to reach in the bottom of the ninth. Matthew Wade entered the game with a 2-0 count on Benintendi who drew a walk. Spanberger then drilled a line drive through the right side, deep enough to score the winning run and walk-off, 4-3.
The Redhawks were out-hit 8-5 in the contest but Arkansas had two errors.
Lennington was the lone Redhawks with a two-hit game while also driving in a run.
Wright (0-1) suffered the loss after allowing the winning run to reach in the ninth. Wright was otherwise stellar on the mound, pitching two and a third innings, allowing the one run on two hits. Stockton went six innings, allowing one run on five hits. He fanned five and walked three.
Benintendi and Spanberger each had two hits and two RBI in the game.
Jacob Stone (1-2) picked up the win for Arkansas. He pitched one inning in relief. Razorback starter Keaton McKinney pitched five innings, allowing one run on only one hit. He struck out three and walked three. The Redhawks pegged Lance Phillips for two runs on three hits. He struck out four Redhawks.