SATURDAY'S SCORES
Eastern Illinois 8, @Belmont 2
@Morehead State 13-11, SIUE 5-9
@Tennessee Tech 16-12, Murray State 10-7
@Eastern Kentucky 8-9, Austin Peay 5-8
@Southeast Missouri 9-6, Jacksonville State 5-3
@#15 Missouri State 6,
UT Martin 3
EASTERN ILLINOIS 8, BELMONT 2
NASHVILLE - Bobby Wenthe capped a four-run first inning with a three run home run which was enough offense for Eastern Illinois as the Panthers won 8-2 over Belmont on Saturday afternoon to clinch the weekend series.
Jake Johansmeier (1-4) used the four run lead to his advantage as he scattered seven hits allowing one earned run in seven innings picking up his first win of the year. Luke Dietz closed the final two innings for his first save.
Brant Valach drove home the Panthers first run of the game. Wenthe then hit a home run for the third time in the last four games. All four runs were unearned as EIU took advantage of an early Bruins error. Belmont starter Aaron Quillen (4-3) worked seven innings allowing only those four unearned runs.
Belmont scored single runs in the second and fourth innings with both produced by sacrifice flys. Kyle Conger drove home the run in the second, Desi Ammons the run the fourth.
EIU tacked on four insurance runs in the final two innings with Caleb Howell driving home two runs in the ninth. Howell, Wenthe and Valach all went 2-for-4 for the Panthers. Adam Casson led EIU with a 3-for-4 day at the plate.
Alec Diamond, Tyler Walsh and William Dodd had two hits for Belmont.
MOREHEAD STATE 13-11, SIUE 5-9
MOREHEAD, Ky. - Senior leftfielder Nick Newell batted 6-for-10 with three doubles, and a home run in each game, as the Morehead State baseball team completed a series sweep over SIU Edwardsville with a pair of wins Saturday at Allen Field.
The Eagles scored 10 runs in the first three frames of game one to cruise to a 13-5 win, then used a three-run round-tripper by Newell in the eighth inning of the nightcap to erase a 9-8 Cougar lead and win 11-9.
Morehead State, which has won 14 of its last 15 games, improved to 25-14 and 11-7 in the Ohio Valley Conference. The Eagles are just four wins shy of tying the 2014 team's win total. SIUE, which entered the weekend in second place, slid to 12-20 overall and 12-9 in the league.
In game two, the Eagles built a 5-1 lead after three stanzas but then witnessed the visitors score the next seven runs. MSU plated a pair in the sixth and tied the game 8-8 on freshman designated hitter Tyler Niemann's leadoff homer in the seventh. It was just his second four-bagger this year.
Centerfielder Denton Reed singled off MSU reliever Aaron Goe to begin the eighth and scored on a single by designated hitter Keaton Wright.
Newell, who finished with eight RBI in the two games, got ahold of a 1-1 pitch by Brett Thomas with two outs in the eighth and smacked it over the right-field fence. Newell, who leads the OVC with 20 doubles, now has an 18-game hitting streak and is tied with senior rightfielder Brandon Rawe for the conference lead in hits with 64.
Rawe, who homered in game one, had a pair of hits in each contest to extend his hitting streak to a team-best 20 games. That ties former Eagle Bobby Burns for the longest in the last three seasons under McGuire.
Senior shortstop Robby Spencer and sophomore centerfielder Ryan Kent each upped their hitting streaks to 18 games as well. Spencer launched his team-high eighth home run in the third inning of game two.
MSU piled on 11 hits in the first three innings of the opener. Newell crushed a three-run blast over the fence in the first inning.
Reed, rightfielder Dustin Woodcock and second baseman Chase Green recorded 4-for-8 days at the plate for the Cougars. Reed and Woodcock notched home runs, and first baseman Alec Saikal drilled two homers in the second contest.
MSU starter Craig Pearcy surrendered 10 hits but only three runs in the first five frames in the opener to move to 2-3. Freshman righty Brent Stoneking tossed the final four and earned his second career save. The loss was pinned on P.J. Schuster, who was roughed up for 10 runs on 14 hits.
In the second game, reliever Aaron Goe allowed the go-ahead run in the eighth but was the beneficiary of Newell's heroics to move to 4-0. Thomas was saddled with the loss.
TENNESSEE TECH 16-12, MURRAY STATE 10-7
COOKEVILLE, Tenn. - Offense was the name of the game for the Tennessee Tech baseball team Saturday afternoon, as the Golden Eagles (18-19, 11-10) exploded for 28 runs in a doubleheader sweep of Ohio Valley Conference rival Murray State (14-27, 9-9).
The Tech squad swept the entire three-game series over the weekend, taking game one on Friday by a score of 11-4 before lighting up the scoreboard on Saturday with victories of 16-10 and 12-7. The sweep marks the first of the season for the Golden Eagles and marks their eighth win in their last 10 games.
Much like the night before, game one on Saturday received its first dent in the scoring column courtesy of redshirt freshman Ryan Flick. The designated hitter crushed a two-run home run to right center field (a ball that eventually found a landing place in left field of Tech Softball Field) in the bottom of the second inning. Tech tallied one more in the frame after a triple down the right field line by Jake Farr and follow-up double to drive him in off the bat of Anthony El Chibani.
Murray State answered with a two spot in the next half inning, and after an RBI double in the bottom of the fourth put the Golden Eagles up 4-2, the home team's bats really got hot, dropping six runs in each of the next two frames.
Back-to-back walks by Flick and Farr, as well as a single to center field by Josh Pankratz, loaded the bases for El Chibani. The sophomore outfielder drew his own free pass, working a full count into an easy RBI. Sophomore Tyler Brazelton followed with an RBI single to left field before the Racers finally managed its first out of the inning.
All-American shortstop Dylan Bosheers doubled to right center field on the third pitch he saw, driving in two as part of a record-breaking day for the senior. A four-pitch walk to freshman Chase Chambers and the second out of the inning brought Flick back to the dish and the youngster did not disappoint, ripping a two-run single through the right side. Just like that, Tech had built a 10-2 lead.
The Racers tallied one in the sixth, but the Tech offense was just getting started. Pankratz led off the inning with a double down the third base line. A single by El Chibani put runners on the corners to set up Brazelton for an RBI single to right field. After watching pitches miss their mark, senior David Allen took a tough offering off the center of his back, shaking the dust off to load the bases for Bosheers.
The fellow senior proved he had his teammate's back (no pun intended), hammering the first pitch he saw clear over the Quillen Field sign in left field for a monster grand slam and his sixth home run of the season. The Golden Eagles would sneak one more run across in the frame to up its lead to a 16-3 advantage.
The visitors made things a little interesting in the eighth, tallying seven runs of their own to close the gap to six, but the deficit proved to be too much as Tech took game one by a final score of 16-10.
Evan Fraliex put together a fine performance on the hill, tossing six inning of four-hit baseball. The sophomore hurler allowed just two earned runs while striking out four on the day, earning his fourth victory of the season.
Bosheers was the lead man in the first contest, setting a career-high with six RB on two hits. The senior also made Golden Eagles history on the day, passing both Austin Wulf and Chad Oberacker to jump into second place on the all-time hits list with his sixth inning grand slam. He finished the day at 255 hits, trailing only his former teammate (and OVC record-holder for home runs, RBI and total bases), Zach Stephens.
Flick added four RBI himself, reaching base in all six plate appearances. The freshman went 3-for-3 with two runs scored, two walks and a hit-by-pitch. El Chibani and Brazelton each drove in two as well in the first game, combining for five runs scored and five hits.
The piping hot Golden Eagle offense didn't let up in the second contest of the day, immediately jumping out of the gate to a tune of eight runs over the first three innings. In the top of the first, the Golden Eagles loaded the bases with a hit-by-pitch, single and Murray State error.
Chambers picked up the first RBI of the game, working a five-pitch walk to put the Golden Eagles into the lead. The next Tech runner crossed the plate on a wild pitch and the third score of the inning came off the bat of none other than Ryan Flick. The freshman just missed out on his second home run of the day, settling for a sacrifice fly to the warning track in center field.
In the bottom of the second, the Golden Eagles doubled its advantage over the Racers, using RBI singles by Allen and Chambers, as well as a miscue by the visitors, to take a 6-0 lead. Tech added to its already sizable lead in the next frame as well, once again off the bat of Flick.
This time the slugger did manage his second long ball of the day, crushing a leadoff, solo shot off the green monster in center field. Jake Farr would score later in the inning on a wild pitch to make it an 8-0 ball game.
Murray State proved to be a tough out on the day, scoring five unanswered runs over the next two innings to trim the Tech lead to just three runs. But the Golden Eagle offense remained too hot to handle, pushing their edge back to six in the bottom of the sixth.
Brazelton singled on the first pitch he saw, and after a David Allen sacrifice bunt, watched as the Racers intentionally walked Bosheers to get to Chambers. The freshman waited to make them pay, but was never offered a real chance as he drew a four-pitch walk to load the bases.
Senior catcher Jordan Hopkins took the plate, expecting to take advantage of a golden opportunity. Instead, the Tech squad caught a huge break, as a wild pitch not only got away from the Murray State catcher (allowing one run to score), it also landed in the Golden Eagle dugout, advancing each runner one more base by rule and leading to a second run on the play. Hopkins cleared the bases with an RBI single to cap the inning give Tech an 11-5 lead.
Bosheers provided the final marker for the Tech offense in the game, clubbing his second moonshot of the day to left center field. The Racers tallied two markers in the top of the ninth, but Jeb Scoggins shut the door to help finish the sweep and keep the Golden Eagle momentum rolling forward.
Tech reliever Trevor Maloney took his third victory of the season, coming on for three and one third innings to end the Murray State comeback bid. The junior allowed just a single hit over the span, stymieing the Racer bats and ending virtually any chance at a win for the visiting team.
EASTERN KENTUCKY 8-9, AUSTIN PEAY 5-8
RICHMOND, Ky. - Despite falling behind 6-0 in game two, Eastern Kentucky came back to win 9-8 and sweep an Ohio Valley Conference doubleheader from Austin Peay on Saturday. The Colonels won game one 8-5.
With the two wins, EKU (14-21, 7-10 OVC) wins the OVC series 2-1.
APSU (21-16, 12-9 OVC) scored its first four runs of game two without a hit, drawing eight walks in the first two innings. A two-run triple by Alex Robles in the second made it 6-0.
Eastern Kentucky cut the deficit in half with three runs in the second inning. Run scoring ground outs by Kyle Nowlin and Ben Fisher in the third made it a one-run game, 6-5. Patrick Massoni’s solo home run in the fourth pushed the Governors in front by two. Mandy Alvarez scored on an error in the bottom of the fifth to make it a one-run game again, 7-6.
EKU finally tied it and took the lead in the bottom of the sixth. With two on and no outs, Blake Sides laid a sacrifice bunt down the third base line. The APSU third baseman threw wide of first base and two runners came home on the error to tie the game 8-8. A sacrifice fly by Doug Teegarden was enough to complete the comeback and put the home squad up 9-8.
Spencer Jackson and Ben Brooks combined to keep the Governors off the score board the rest of the way. Jackson allowed one hit and one walk in one and two-thirds innings of relief. Brooks allowed one hit and one walk in the final one and one-third innings to earn his second save of the season.
Alvarez and Fisher both finished with two hits in four at bats. Massoni went 2-for-4 with a walk, a run and three RBIs for Austin Peay.
A five-run sixth inning propelled EKU to the win in game one. A pair of bases loaded singles platted four of the five runs. Kenny Hostrander drove in a pair with a single to center field. Three batters later, Kyle Nowlin found a hole through the left side to drive home two more and finish off the big inning.
Nowlin finished 2-for-4 with a run, a walk and two RBIs. Hostrander also went 2-for-4, scored twice and drove in two.
APSU loaded the bases in the seventh, but came away empty. Massoni’s two-run home run in the eighth and an RBI triple by Wesley Purcell cut the Governor deficit to two, 7-5.
Alex Hamilton (3-3) picked up the win after allowing just two runs on six hits in six innings of work. He walked two and struck out four. Hunter Dunn earned his first save of the season after pitching the final one and one-third innings without allowing a base runner.
Massoni was 2-for-3 with a walk, two runs and two RBIs. Dre Gleason had a 3-for-4 performance with a run and an RBI.
SOUTHEAST MISSOURI 9-6, JACKSONVILLE STATE 5-3
CAPE GIRARDEAU, Mo. - Southeast Missouri baseball swept the Jacksonville State Gamecocks in a doubleheader Saturday. Southeast won game one 9-5 and took game two, 6-3. With the doubleheader sweep, Southeast swept the three-game series with Jacksonville.
It is the first time since these teams first met in 2004 that Southeast has swept Jacksonville State in a three-game series. Southeast is now on a five-game winning streak.
Southeast improves to 25-14 on the season and 16-5 in Ohio Valley Conference play. Southeast holds on to sole possession of first place in the league. JSU falls to 19-19 and 7-11 in OVC play.
In game one Jacksonville State touched home in the first inning when Tyler Gamble hit a sacrifice fly to right, scoring Gavin Golson and giving the Gamecocks a 1-0 lead.
Another sacrifice fly, this time by Hayden White, extended the lead to 2-0 in the second inning. Jacksonville had bases loaded with no out before the sac fly but a 4-6-3 double play ended the early Gamecock rally.
Trevor Ezell blasted a leadoff home run to right field in the bottom of the fourth inning to put Southeast on the board and narrow the Gamecock lead to 2-1 after four complete innings.
As in Friday's game, Southeast used a big fifth inning to take their first lead of the game. Ryan Rippee led off the inning with a double that split the right-center gap. Scott Mitchell drew a walk followed by Jason Blum sacrifice bunting both runners over. Clayton Evans was hit by a pitch to load the bases with one out. The game was tied at 2-2 when Ezell drew a bases-loaded walk. Game one's hero Branden Boggetto gave the Redhawks the lead with a two-run double down the left field line. Garrett Gandolfo made it 5-2 with a sac fly to left.
With two out and runners on second and third, Evans drilled a base hit to left, scoring both runners and widening the lead to 7-2 in the sixth inning.
A leadoff home run by Ryan Sebra and a two-run jack by White slimmed Southeast's lead to 7-5 in the seventh.
The Redhawks got both runs back in the bottom of the inning. With runners on the corners and no out, Andy Lennington hit a base hit to score Boggetto. Rippee grounded into a bases-loaded double play that Gandolfo scored on. Southeast led 9-5 going to the eighth inning.
Southeast outhit Jacksonville State 10-6 in the opening game of the doubleheader. Boggetto and Rippee each had a pair of hits in the game while Ezell, Boggetto, and Evans each had two RBI.
Travis Hayes (6-4) picked up the win. Hayes worked eight complete innings, allowing five runs on six hits. He fanned four batters and walked three. Ryan Lenaburg pitched the ninth inning to close the game.
Paul Angel had the only multi-hit game for the Gamecocks, going 2-for-4.
Jake Walsh (1-2) recorded the loss. Walsh worked four and a third innings, allowing five runs on three hits.
In game two Southeast used a pair of two-out, two-run home runs in the opening frame to take a 4-0 lead on Jacksonville in the first inning. The two-run shots came from Lennington and Rippee. JSU starter Colton Campbell only recorded two outs before he was taken out of the game.
Boggetto extended the lead to 5-0 in the fifth inning with his third home run of the series.
JSU got on the board in the sixth inning. Elliot McCummings doubled in Gamble make the score 5-1.
The Gamecocks made it 5-2 when Clayton Daniel hit a sac fly to score Josh Bobo.
A bases-loaded infield single by Mitchell plated Southeast's sixth run to extend the lead to 6-2.
A two-out home run by Paschal Petrongolo in the ninth inning brought the final score to 6-3.
The Redhawks once again outhit the Gamecocks 10-7. Gandolfo, Lennington, and Blum all had two hits a piece in game two.
Boggetto finished the week hitting .429 (6-for-14) with three home runs, a double, and five RBI.
Alex Winkelman picked up his second win of the season and improves to 2-2. Winkelman pitched six and two-thirds innings. He allowed two runs on six hits, striking out eight and walking four.
Colton Campbell (1-2) pitched only two-thirds of an inning and recorded the loss. He allowed four run on three hits in the first inning.
#15 MISSOURI STATE 6, UT MARTIN 3
SPRINGFIELD, Mo. - The University of Tennessee at Martin baseball team gave the No. 15 ranked team in the nation all it could handle this afternoon but the Missouri State Bears claimed a 6-3 win against the Skyhawks at Hammons Field.
One day after knocking off the nationally-ranked Bears in the series opener, UT Martin (11-25) looked to drum up another rally in the late innings today. After Missouri State scored four runs in the bottom of the sixth to go ahead by a 6-0 margin, the Skyhawks scored three runs in the next two innings to get back in the game. However, Bear closer Bryan Young held UT Martin scoreless in the ninth inning.
Mikey Nantze accounted for the Skyhawks’ lone RBI today while Nico Zych, Jake Deason and Fletcher Johnson each scored a run to lead UT Martin at the plate.
Despite being assigned the loss, redshirt freshman right-hander Dillon Symon (0-1) pitched effectively in his first career start on the mound this afternoon. He allowed two runs on six hits over four innings before parting ways for four Skyhawk relievers. Chris Flores, Cole Schaenzer, Quinton Stevens and Daniel Shaw each tossed one inning and combined to allow two earned runs to close out the game for the Skyhawks.
Missouri State (26-9) scored on a sacrifice fly in the first inning before Symon stranded the bases loaded in the second frame. The Bears scored on a solo home run in the third but Symon posted another shutout inning in the fourth, his final full inning of work. Flores came on in relief with runners on first and second and no outs in the fifth before inducing a 4-6-3 double play and another groundout to keep the score at 2-0 through five frames.
Matt Hirsch and Johnson accounted for back-to-back singles with one away in the top of the sixth but UT Martin could not push a run across the plate. In the bottom half of the inning, Missouri State accounted for four runs – two of which were unearned.
The Skyhawks got on the scoreboard in the seventh inning. Zych drew a one-out walk and advanced to second base on an errant pickoff attempt. Deason then pinch hit and reached on a throwing error, allowing Zych to score. Three pitches later, Nantze fought off an 0-2 pitch for a double down the left field line to plate Deason and make the score 6-3.
Stevens was responsible for a shutout seventh, recording the final out when Taylor Douglas rifled in a strike to second base to nab a Missouri State baserunner trying to extend a single into a double.
UT Martin trimmed its deficit in the eighth thanks to a pair of Bear errors. Johnson reached on a leadoff walk and advanced to second on another failed pickoff attempt. Nick Pribble followed with a single and Johnson came around to score on a throwing error on the same play to make the score 6-3.
Shaw entered the contest midway through the eighth and held Missouri State off the scoreboard. Deason led off the ninth with a single but Young recovered to get the final three outs on three pitches.