SUNDAY'S SCORES
@Murray State 6, Austin Peay 4
SIUE 7, @Tennessee Tech 3
@Southeast Missouri 5, UT Martin 4 (12 innings)
@Belmont 5, Morehead State 4
@Illinois State 7,
Eastern Kentucky 3
MURRAY STATE 6, AUSTIN PEAY 4
MURRAY, Ky. - A perfectly placed bunt down the third base side by Taylor Mathews forced a wild throw over to first base by Austin Peay’s Hunter Lindley, allowing Derek Yoder and Kipp Moore to score the game-tying and game-winning runs, respectively as Murray State rallied for a 6-4 victory over the Governors Sunday to win the series.
The Racer (8-16, 4-5 OVC) bats were held silent for much of the game as they had just a pair of hits heading into the seventh inning and found themselves trailing to APSU 4-0 as the Governors’ starter Caleb Powell looked to be well in control. That’s when in the bottom of the seventh, MSU’s offense finally came alive as the Racers scored three runs in the inning.
Anthony Bayus led off the inning with a single down the left field line, which was followed by Yoder getting hit by a pitch. Two batters later, Mathews drove-in his first RBI of the game with a sac fly that was caught in foul territory by Austin Peay’s first baseman, allowing Bayus to score. A Nick Moore single to center scored Yoder the next batter to make it 4-2 Austin Peay. A pinch-hit double by Clay Kelly advanced Moore to third and Moore eventually scored on a passed ball which made it 4-3 heading into the eighth.
In the eighth, Yoder reached on a double down the left field line and advanced to third on a wild pitch that walked Kipp Moore. All of this setup Mathews’ heroics with two outs in the inning. A Kelly single to right scored Mathews to give the Racers an insurance run at 6-4.
Cody Maerz was electric in the ninth to close-out the game for MSU as he struck-out the side to propel the Racers to the game and series win. Maerz moves his record to 3-0 on the season with the win. Maerz pitched three scoreless innings for Murray State and allowed just one hit while recording four punch-outs.
Bayus, Nick Moore and Kelly all had two hits each in the win. Kelly went a perfect 2-for-2 on the day. Yoder was able to score a pair of runs in the victory. Bayus hit .455 (5-for-11) in the three-game series while Yoder went 3-for-9 (.333) with five runs scored.
The Racers were out-hit in the game 9-to-8 but stranded seven runners in the contest while the Governors left 14 on the bases. It is MSU's second series victory of the season.
Sheldon Baxter got the start on the day for MSU and the no decision. Baxter pitched 2.2 innings and allowed one run on three hits to go along with two walks and a strikeout. Brandon Hicks allowed two earned runs over 3.1 innings of relief and had a pair of strikeouts.
SIUE 7, TENNESSEE TECH 3
COOKEVILLE, Tenn. - SIUE scored seven unanswered runs Sunday to earn a 7-3 come-from-behind win over Tennessee Tech at Bush Stadium. The Cougars won the series and have won three consecutive Ohio Valley Conference series.
SIUE is now 8-1 in the OVC and 8-10 overall. Tennessee Tech dropped to 10-11 overall and 4-5 in the OVC.
Tennessee Tech first baseman hit a two-run home run in the first inning and Jake Farr picked up an RBI single in the second inning to put the Golden Eagles up 3-0. SIUE starter Mike Miller lasted just 1 2/3 innings. The three runs came on just two hits. He walked one and struck out one.
SIUE got its first run of the game in the top of the third. Mario Tursi singled to lead off the inning and advanced to third on a fielder's choice and an error. Collin Book drove in Tursi with a single to cut the advantage to two runs.
The turning point in the game may have come in the third inning with Tennessee Tech leading 3-1.
TTU catcher Jordan Hopkins was on second base when Anthony El Chibani sent a base hit through into left field. Nick Lombardo came up throwing as Hopkins tried to score. As Hopkins came to the plate, he collided with SIUE catcher Parker Guinn, who held on the ball despite being knocked off his feet.
Stoecklin argued that Hopkins shouldn't be allowed to stay in the game after not sliding. Stoecklin was ejected from the game as a result of the argument. The Cougars seemed to play more energized following the confrontation.
The Golden Eagles failed to score again in the game. SIUE's bullpen of Ryan Agnitsch and Zach Malach kept Tennessee Tech off the scoreboard for the final 7 1/3 innings.
Agnitsch tossed 4.1 innings allowing five and striking out two to improve to 2-0. Malach tossed the final three innings allowing three hits and striking out three for his team-leading third save this season.
Meanwhile SIUE pulled within a run the fourth inning. Dustin Woodcock and Alec Saikal opened the inning with back-to-back hits. Skyler Geissinger pushed a sacrifice bunt to right side of the infield to advance both runners into scoring position. Austin Verschoore worked a lengthy at-bat into an RBI-groundout to make it 3-2.
The Cougars took the lead for good with a three-run sixth inning. TTU starter Travis Moths walked Woodcock and then surrendered a hit to Saikal before leaving the game. Geissinger greeted reliever Cain Sloan with an RBI double to the gap in left center to tie the score 3-3. Verschoore singled for his second RBI of the game which put the Cougars in front 4-3. Tursi followed a sacrifice fly to make it 5-3.
Guinn connected for his OVC-leading sixth home run of the year in the ninth for the final margin.
Saikal finished the day 3 for 4. Book and Woodcock each had two hits.
Chambers was 2 for 5 with the homer and two RBIs to lead Tennessee Tech.
SOUTHEAST MISSOURI 5, UT MARTIN 4 (12)
CAPE GIRARDEAU, Mo. - Southeast Missouri baseball held a 4-2 lead heading to the ninth inning but the UT Martin Skyhawks tied it to force extra innings. Freshman Trevor Ezell drilled a double into the right center gap in the 12th inning to walk off, 5-4, and secure the three-game sweep of the Skyhawks.
With the sweep, the Redhawks improve to 13-9 on the season and 7-2 in Ohio Valley Conference play. UT Martin falls to 4-16, 2-7 OVC.
This was the Redhawks' first extra-inning game of the 2015 season.
After a scoreless first inning on both ends, the Redhawks plated a trio of runs in the second. With bases full of Redhawks and one out, Ezell drew a walk to drive in the first run of the game. Jason Blum followed with a walk of his own to score another run. Clayton Evans tagged and scored from third on a sacrifice fly by Garrett Gandfolo to bring the score to 3-0 after two innings.
UT Martin got on the board with a solo home run to lead off the fourth inning by Nick Pribble.
The Skyhawks scored again in the fourth inning to bring the score within one. Mikey Nantze drove Nick Gavello in on an RBI base hit; 3-2 Redhawks after three and a half innings.
Southeast extended the lead in the seventh inning on the third bases-loaded walk of the day to make it 4-2.
Since the second inning, the Redhawks did not have a single hit until Evans hit a two-out double in the eighth.
Matthew Wade entered in the ninth inning to close the game for Southeast but UT Martin had other plans. The Skyhawks made it a one-run game on a one-out base hit by Austin Taylor. The game was tied and Wade's save was blown on a sacrifice fly to right field, 4-4.
The Redhawks had an excellent opportunity to win the game in the bottom of the ninth inning with bases loaded and one out but failed to capitalize on the situation and sent the game into extra innings.
The Skyhawks loaded the bases in the top of the 12th inning but Greg Mosel entered the game and shut the Skyhawks down to preserve the tie.
Brendon Neel pinch hit to lead off the bottom of the 12th inning and doubled to right center. Branden Boggetto popped up on a bunt attempt for the first out of the inning followed by Evans flying out to right. The batting order rolled over as Ezell stepped in and drove the first pitch he saw into the right center gap to plate Neel and win the game for Southeast, 5-4.
The Redhawks out-hit UT Martin 8-7. The Skyhawks committed two errors.
Evans finished 3-for-6 in the game with one run scored. The game hero, Ezell, was 2-for-5 with two RBI in the contest.
A win is still eluded by Redhawk starter Alex Winkelman. He pitched eight complete innings, allowing two runs on three hits. He struck out four and walked two. Mosel (2-1) earned the win. He pitched two-thirds of an inning in the 12th.
Andrew Castillo went 3-for-6 for the Skyhawks while Nantze finished with two hits.
Matt Poteete (0-1) suffered the loss in the game. He pitched one and two-thirds, allowing the game-winner and two hits.
BELMONT 5, MOREHEAD STATE 4
NASHVILLE - Matt Beaty once again delivered with two clutch RBI singles to help push the Bruins past the Morehead State Eagles in a 5-4 victory and the series sweep on Sunday.
Patrick McGrath improved his record to 2-1 on the season and gained another win on the mound. In five innings pitched, McGrath allowed one earned run on four hits and struck out two batters.
Belmont scored two runs in the bottom of the first off one hit. The first run was walked in and the other scored off a wild pitch.
The Bruins returned to the plate in the bottom of the fourth looking for improvement. Brennan Washington (Murfreesboro, tenn.) led the hits off with a two out double to right field. Alec Diamond followed with a single up the middle to score Washington and tie the game. Matt Beaty stepped up to the plate and delivered with a single up the middle to plate Diamond for the 4-3 lead over the Eagles.
Once again in the bottom of the 6th, Matt Beaty came to the plate with two outs and singled to center field to plate Ferguson who had reached on a walk extending the Bruins lead to 5-3.
Matthew Kinney received the first save for the Bruins pitching staff in his 9th inning appearance. Kinney faced three batters and struck out one.
The Bruins swept the series from the Morehead State Eagles and improved their season record to 12-8 and 5-0 in Ohio Valley Conference Play.
ILLINOIS STATE 7, EASTERN KENTUCKY 3
NORMAL, Ill. - Eastern Kentucky ended its three-game series at Illinois State with a 7-3 loss on Sunday.
The Colonels took the lead in the first when Kyle Nowlin scored on a wild pitch and TJ Alas scored on an Illinois State error. Kenny Hostrander’s sacrifice fly in the fourth put the visitors in front 3-2.
The Redbirds scored the final five runs of the game. Jean Ramirez scored on a wild pitch in the fifth to tie the game and Jared Hendren’s RBI single in the seventh gave the home team the lead for good.
Alas finished 1-for-2 with two walks and a run scored. Paul DeJong led ISU with a 4-for-5 day. He drove in one.