SUNDAY'S SCORES
@Morehead State 20, Eastern Illinois 14
Jacksonville State 16, @Eastern Kentucky 13
@UT Martin 9, Austin Peay 7
@Belmont 7, Murray State 1
Tennessee Tech 11, @Southeast Missouri 10
@Illinois State 7,
SIUE 1
MOREHEAD STATE 20, EASTERN ILLINOIS 14
MOREHEAD, Ky. - Despite digging itself into an early 7-0 deficit, the Morehead State baseball team scored 11 runs on the strength of four home runs in the fifth inning en route to a 20-14 victory over Eastern Illinois in the Ohio Valley Conference series finale Sunday at Allen Field.
Morehead State, which belted a season-high six round-trippers, improved to 30-18 overall and 15-9 in the league. The 2015 club is now just one win shy of tying the 1993 squad for the most victories in a season. MSU won the series, 2-1, for its fifth straight conference series victory. The run total tied last Wednesday's effort for the most in a game this year. The Panthers fell to 11-31 overall and 7-17 in the OVC.
Senior first baseman Kane Sweeney tied his season high with six RBI as he led off the fifth-inning outburst with a solo homer and crushed his fourth career grand slam later in the frame, his 10th and 11th blasts this year. Sweeney's reached-base streak increased to 25 games.
In fact, Morehead State's offense recorded the "cycle" in the fifth. Senior right fielder Brandon Rawe singled, catcher Chris Robinson doubled and homered, senior designated hitter Clayton Meyer also doubled, senior shortstop Robby Spencer tripled and senior Nick Newell added a round-tripper.
The offense came within one of its season-high for hits with 22. Eight of the nine batters recorded multi-hit days. Robinson was 4-for-6 with four RBI and three runs scored, while sophomore center fielder Ryan Kent extended his reached-base streak to a team-best 27 games with a three-run homer and five total RBI.
Rawe and freshman second baseman Braxton Morris recorded three-hit games, and Meyer added a pair of hits. He closed the week with 12 hits and 11 RBI.
Sophomore lefthander Cable Wright (3-1), who made his team-high 28th appearance and was one of six Eagle pitchers today, picked up the win after getting the final out in the fifth and tossing 2.1 innings of one-hit ball.
EIU reliever Andrew Grahn, who fell to 2-2, surrendered 10 hits and nine earned runs in a two-inning assignment. He was also one of six Panther pitchers in the contest.
EIU scored twice in the first, five times in the second and twice in the third to lead 9-4. The Eagles got four runs in the second and tied it 9-9 with a five-spot in the third before seeing the visitors pull ahead again 13-9.
Seven of the nine Eastern Illinois batters notched multi-hit efforts as the Panthers had 18 hits. Right fielder Caleb Howell, third baseman Brant Valach, who also nailed a home run, and catcher Hunter Morris picked up three hits. Second baseman Mitch Gasbarro led off a five-run second frame with a solo homer.
JACKSONVILLE STATE 16, EASTERN KENTUCKY 13
RICHMOND, Ky. - Jacksonville State completed its second consecutive Ohio Valley Conference weekend sweep on Sunday with a 16-13 slugfest over Eastern Kentucky at Turkey Hughes Field on the EKU campus.
Both teams combined for 29 runs on 36 hits in final game of the weekend after JSU took the first two games of the series on Friday and Saturday. The win pushed JSU to 13-11 in the league and moved in to a tie for fifth in the conference standings with two weekends left on the regular season docket. JSU and Tennessee Tech have the same league record after the Golden Eagles took two of three from OVC leader Southeast Missouri over the weekend. JSU (26-21) will host second place Morehead State next weekend before closing out the regular season at UT Martin. EKU slipped to 17-27 overall and 8-15 in OVC play. After sweeping Belmont at home last weekend and EKU on the road, it's the first time since the 2008 season that JSU has posted three-game conference series sweeps in back-to-back weeks since 2008.
The Gamecocks nearly matched their season-high in hits against a conference foe as the 16 runs off 17 hits. A total of five Jax State hitters recorded multiple hit games, including a pair with three hits. Senior Ryan Sebra has the best bat of the day with a 4-for-6 contest and scored three times. Junior Paschal Petrongolo matched his season-best with four RBI on three hits, including a grand slam that highlighted an eight-run fifth inning for JSU.
For the weekend, Petrongolo was 6-for-17 (.438) and drove in seven runs. He tallied a pair of doubles and home run in the three games at EKU. Freshman second baseman Clayton Daniel completed the weekend 8-for-13 after three hits on Sunday. The Guntersville, Alabama-native had a pair of doubles and a triple against Colonel pitching.
JSU had it first of two big innings in the third as it pushed across four runs to take a 5-2 lead in the third. The big Jax State hit was a three-run home run by Tyler Gamble. Junior Elliot McCummings also had an RBI single in the inning, scoring Sebra, who followed Gamble round tripper with a double. EKU would get the deficit to 5-4 in the bottom half of the inning and would score for the fourth straight inning with a four-run fifth to take a 9-5 lead.
With a 13-9 lead through five JSU added a pair of runs in the sixth on a pair of hits with an RBI single by Peyton Williams the big hit in the frame. Williams had a pair of hits and three RBI in the contest. The Jax State pitching staff would shut down the Colonels for three innings until the eighth. The Maroon and White trimmed a 16-9 lead down to a three-run game with a productive eighth inning. EKU pushed four runs across the plate on four hits in the inning.
Both teams sent 15 different pitchers to the mound as JSU's Justin Hoyt was awarded his first win of the season after throwing just an inning. For the third straight day, senior Travis Stout notched his 12th save of the year, which moved him in to the top-10 of the NCAA in saves this season.
UT MARTIN 9, AUSTIN PEAY 7
MARTIN, Tenn. - The University of Tennessee at Martin baseball team took advantage of four multi-run innings and a strong start on the mound to claim a 9-7 victory over Ohio Valley Conference rival Austin Peay this afternoon.
With today’s win and yesterday’s triumph, UT Martin (15-30, 7-17 OVC) wins the conference season series against Austin Peay for the first time since 1994. The Skyhawks have now won three of their last four games.
There were several heroes in the UT Martin lineup today, led by Austin Taylor (3-for-3, three runs scored, a RBI and a walk). Nico Zych had two hits and three runs scored while Andrew Massey had a pair of hits and a career-best three RBI’s. Nick Gavello also added a pinch-hit two-run homer in the fourth inning while Nick Pribble drew a walk, was hit by a pitch and had a sacrifice fly and sacrifice bunt for the Skyhawks.
Redshirt freshman Dillon Symon (1-2) pitched the best game of his young career today, allowing just one unearned run on two hits while striking out three batters over five innings. He earned his first career win after Alex Martin (six strikeouts over three innings) and Patrick Bernard (one inning) came on in relief. Bernard notched his eighth save, which is a new UT Martin single-season record and is tied with three others for the most saves in a career.
Symon worked a clean first inning before an unearned run crossed the plate in the second inning. UT Martin answered right back in the bottom half with a pair of runs with Zych and Taylor serving as the catalysts. Zych led off with a walk and would later advance to third on a Taylor single. Pribble tied the game with a sacrifice fly before Massey singled in Taylor to tilt the score in the Skyhawks’ favor at 2-1.
Symon stranded a pair of Governors in the third and needed only 12 pitches to retire Austin Peay in order in the fourth frame.
Zych (single) and Taylor (walk) once again reached base to lead off the fourth. Both players advanced 90 feet when Pribble dropped down a sacrifice bunt. Massey picked up an RBI on a groundout and Gavello stepped in with a homer out to left field to give UT Martin a 5-1 edge.
Austin Peay (23-23, 14-13 OVC) was once again held off the scoreboard in the fifth, thanks to Symon pitching around a pair of one-out walks. The Governors scored once in the sixth but UT Martin secured two more runs in the bottom of the sixth. Once again, Zych and Taylor led off the inning by reaching base, as both singled. Pribble then drew a walk to load the bases with no outs before Zych scored on a wild pitch. Mikey Nantze then brought home Taylor thanks to a sacrifice fly to right field to make the score 7-2.
The Governors scored three runs on one hit in the seventh but once again, the Skyhawks put up another crooked number on the scoreboard. Hirsch (single) and Douglas (hit by pitch) both reached safely to start the inning. Hirsch scored on a Taylor single and Pribble followed with a hit by pitch to load the bases once again. Massey was next up to the plate and he singled to right to score Douglas and extend UT Martin’s advantage out to 9-5 through seven frames.
Austin Peay accounted for two runs in the top of the eighth but Bernard earned the save after facing four batters in the ninth.
BELMONT 7, MURRAY STATE 1
NASHVILLE - Patrick McGrath has another solid outing on the mound helping the Bruins to a 7-1 win over the Racers and the series sweep. The Bruins won 7-1 on Sunday at Rose Park.
McGrath pitched seven innings for the Bruins placing multiple goose eggs on the board throughout. He allowed only three hits in the seven innings and struck out three.
Brennan Washington went three for four at the plate with a run and RBI, all three hits were singles.
The Bruins started swinging their bats and making good contact in the third inning with Washington leading off the inning. Washington singled up the middle to start off the inning. Alec Diamond followed up with another single up the middle and advanced to second. With runners in scoring position, Drew Ferguson hit a double plating both runners. He advanced to third on a throwing error. The last run scored off of a ground out.
In the fourth inning, Washington delivered once again with a single through the left side to plate Tyler Walsh who previously reached on a bunt single.
A solo shot by Tyler Fullerton which was barely fair down the left line tacks another run on the board for the Bruins in the fifth.
After two innings held scoreless, the Bruins returned in the top of the eighth expanding their lead with a two RBI triple down the right line by Diamond. This was Diamond's first triple of the season and 59th hit.
Murray State drops to 14-35 overall and 9-15 in the OVC. They recorded one run on six hits. They plated their only run in the top of the ninth by ways of a fielder's choice.
The Bruins improve their record to 25-21 overall and 13-10 in the OVC.
TENNESSEE TECH 11, SOUTHEAST MISSOURI 10
CAPE GIRARDEAU, Mo. - For the second straight day, the Tennessee Tech baseball team used both timely hitting and an incredible performance from the bullpen to mount a comeback and rally from a four-run deficit, downing Southeast Missouri Sunday afternoon, 11-10.
The Golden Eagles (22-23, 13-11) captured the series with the victory over the Redhawks (30-17, 20-7), capping their fourth consecutive Ohio Valley Conference series win while also handing the first-place Southeast Missouri squad its first series loss in league play.
Tech mounted two rallies in the affair, beginning with a two-run second inning that gave the visiting team a 2-1 lead. Freshman first baseman Chase Chambers drove in the first run for the purple and gold, grounding out with a runner on third for an RBI. Fellow freshman Trevor Putzig followed it right up with an RBI single up the middle.
Southeast Missouri flipped the switch on the Golden Eagles over the next four frames, scoring five runs to retake the lead and put up a sizable five-run advantage. With Redhawk hurler Alex Winkelman throwing a gem, the Tech offense turned to some veteran leadership to right the ship. And that's just what happened.
It started with the pitching, as senior reliever Jeb Scoggins took the hill for the Tech squad in the fourth inning and proceeded to shut down the always dangerous Redhawk offense for five innings. The right-hander struck out a career-high 10 batters of the next five and two thirds innings, walking just one in that span. Scoggins allowed five runs in total in the game, but just one was earned.
It was the sixth inning that provided the Tech offense the opportunity to control its destiny, and it took full advantage. Redshirt freshman Ryan Flick started the Golden Eagle comeback bid, drilling a leadoff single to center field. Senior catcher Jordan Hopkins followed with a single to right field, and before long, junior second baseman Jake Farr had joined his teammates on the base paths courtesy of a walk.
The Redhawks managed to snag one out before the next Tech batter took control, as Putzig ripped a single up the middle on a full count to drive in one and help chip the lead down to 6-3 in favor of the home squad. Sophomore right fielder Anthony El Chibani drove in the next Golden Eagle marker, grounding out to first base for the second out of the inning, but knocking the SEMO advantage to just 6-4.
With leadoff man Tyler Brazelton approaching the plate, Southeast Missouri pulled its starter in favor of a right-handed reliever. It hardly mattered, as the sophomore left fielder drew a five-pitch walk to load the bases for one of the biggest moments of the game.
Sitting at 0-for-3 on the day with two strikeouts, senior center fielder David Allen took his turn in the batter's box in the game's most pivotal moment working a full count and fouling off a potential third strike. On the seventh pitch of the at bat, Allen loaded up and unleashed a power surge rarely found in the senior's swing, smacking a grand slam to left field for the biggest hit of the veteran's career and giving the Golden Eagles an 8-6 lead.
The senior wasn't done either, gathering a triple in the eighth inning to set up Flick for an RBI ground out and a very important insurance run. In the top of the ninth, Chambers would add to the Tech lead as well, crushing a solo shot to right center field for his sixth home run of the year and a 10-6 lead for the Golden Eagles. As he had done all day, Allen drove in one more run in the ninth as well, sending a sacrifice fly to center field to give Tech an 11-6 lead.
And, as it would turn out, the Golden Eagles would need every single one of those insurance runs.
A Tech miscue in the bottom of the ninth provided an early base runner for the home squad right off the bat. Scoggins recorded a quick out before surrendering back-to-back singles that loaded the bases. The senior dug deep and after starting the next batter off with three straight balls, rallied in the at bat to notch his 10th punch out of the night and bring the Golden Eagles within one out of victory.
Southeast Missouri refused to go down without a fight, however, as the Redhawks used a two-run single to bring the score within three and chase a tired Scoggins (who threw over 100 pitches on the day) from the ball game. SEMO gathered two more runs on a double off of reliever Trevor Maloney, prompting one more pitching change for the Tech squad.
Entering the contest for his first career save attempts, junior Kyle Godwin needed just two pitches to put an end to Southeast Missouri's comeback bid, forcing a pop up to third base to put a cap on an incredible ball game.
Godwin gathered his first career save with the appearance while Scoggins took home his third victory of the year.
Offensively, it was Allen who played hero, going 2-for-5 with two runs scored and career-high five RBI. Putzig also enjoyed a great day at the plate, the second in-a-row for the youngster, gathering three hits in four at bats while scoring two runs and driving in two. Chambers also tallied two RBI as well.
ILLINOIS STATE 7, SIUE 1
NORMAL, Ill. - Illinois State starter Steve Heilenbach allowed a run on seven SIUE hits Sunday as the Redbirds closed out the four-game series with a 7-1 win over the Cougars at Duffy Bass Field.
Illinois State won three of the four games in the weekend nonconference series. The Redbirds improved to 24-22. SIUE dropped to 16-25.
Heilenbach walked one, struck out three, and needed just 99 pitches to throw his first career complete game. The ISU starter didn't allow a hit over the first 3 2/3 innings.
The Rebirds got all of the offense they need in the second inning against SIUE starter Ryan Agnitsch. The Redbirds scored on four hits, two hit batters, and a walk. Dennis Colon and Jared Hendren each had two-RBI hits in the inning for ISU.
Colon finished 2 for 4. Hendren was 3 for 4.
Agnitsch settled in to throw five innings. He allowed five runs on six hits. He struck out four. He retired 10 of the last 11 hitters he faced.
Brendan Miller llowed two runs over the last three innings. He struck out two and walked two.
The Cougars scored their only run in the top of the ninth inning. Colin Book singled with one out in the inning and then advanced to second on a ground out. Alec Saikal singled to center to drive home Book.
Saikal finished with 2 for 4 with the RBI. Parker Guinn had the only other hit for SIUE.