SATURDAY'S SCORES
Morehead State 7, Alabama State 5 (Hoover, Ala.)
@Belmont 6, Northwestern 1
@Central Arkansas 6-8,
Eastern Illinois 1-1
Ohio 6-4,
SIUE 4-7 (Emerson, Ga.)
@Eastern Kentucky 2, Oakland 1 (Lexington, Ky.)
@Murray State 12, Buffalo 4
@#6 NC State 6,
Austin Peay 3
@Western Kentucky 14,
Jacksonville State 4
@Southeast Missouri 5, Western Illinois 4
@UT Martin 7, Arkansas-Pine Bluff 1 (Union City, Tenn.)
Bradley 7,
@Tennessee Tech 5 (11 innings)
MOREHEAD STATE 7, ALABAMA STATE 5
HOOVER, Ala. - The Morehead State Baseball team won for the fourth straight time Saturday, shaking off a five-error game in the field to top Alabama State 7-5, at the Hoover Met Stadium.
The Eagles moved to 5-2, while the Hornets slipped to 1-6.
Morehead State pitchers Curtis Wilson, Dom Masullo, David Calderon and Cable Wright only surrendered one earned run, but it took a wild pitch and a two-run single by junior second baseman Braxton Morris in the sixth for the Eagles to grab the lead for good.
Morris was 2-for-4, while senior rightfielder Will Schneider also went 2-for-4. True freshman Masullo, who entered in the fifth and did not allow a run over 1.2 frames, collected his first career win, while Wright nailed down the final four outs for his second save in 2017.
The Eagles vaulted on top 3-0 in the first via an RBI double by sophomore leftfielder Niko Hulsizer and a two-run double off the wall by sophomore DH Trevor Snyder.
Alabama State capitalized on three MSU errors in the third to knot the game 3-3. Following Morris' heroics in the sixth, the Hornets scored twice more via an error in the eighth. Sophomore third baseman Jake Hammon plated the final run when he singled home Schneider in the bottom of the eighth.
BELMONT 6, NORTHWESTERN 1
NASHVILLE - Sophomore hurler Dylan King was dialed in Saturday afternoon as Belmont baseball took on Northwestern in the second game of the Mule Mix Classic at E.S. Rose Park. The Bruins rolled past the Wildcats, 6-1, with help from a career-best 11 strikeouts tossed by King.
For the second consecutive day, senior outfielder Brennan Washington collected a pair of RBIs to give BU (2-4) the advantage. After back-to-back hits to left field, Washington followed suit by blasting a two-run a long ball over the left field fence in his first at-bat of the game to put the Bruins up, 2-0, in the opening frame.
With a lead right off the bat, King was able to relax on the mound and retire seven consecutive Wildcats. He sat down nine of the first 10 batters that he faced, including an impeccable second stanza where struck out the side.
While King got the job done on the mound, the Bruins did their part at the plate with the help of a sloppy fourth inning from Northwestern. Eight different Bruins appeared at the plate, but only mustered a couple of hits. However, a pair of wild pitches, a passed ball and a Wildcat error helped Belmont post four runs. Redshirt-freshman Matt Cogen connected on his second hit of the day, continuing to wear out left field with an RBI base knock painting the line. Cogen went on to register another hit later on in the day, going 3-for-5 at the plate and posting his fourth multi-hit game of the year – the only Bruin to record more than one of such so far this season. Belmont led Northwestern, 6-0, after the four-run inning.
NU registered its first hits of the day with two batters delivering singles to start out the top half of the fourth. With Wildcats now threatening for the first time of the day, King and Belmont's defense settled in and triggered the next three outs. King boasted seven Ks in just four innings of work thus far. Previously striking out eight in his season debut against Kent State exactly a week ago, the righty topped his career-best performance against the Golden Flashes by striking out 11 batters through six frames on the day.
Northwestern's Matt Gannon was called on to relieve the final four innings after starter Hank Christie and reliever Richard Fordon forced the Wildcats into a six-run hole. Gannan was able to quiet Belmont's offense for the remainder of the game, only relinquishing four hits during his stay on the hill. NU came close to plating a couple of runs after a Wildcat launched a ball to the right field warning track with two down and runners on second and third, but Washington made the crucial play to keep the team scoreless after seven.
The Wildcats were able to find home plate in the top of the eighth on a sacrifice flyout to left field, cutting their deficit to 6-1 with Washington now on the mound – but that's the only answer they had as Washington got the next batter swinging.
Belmont combined for 10 hits with seven Bruins each collecting one and Cogen taking the remaining three. King (1-1) earned his first win of the year while NU's starter Hank Christie wore the loss.
CENTRAL ARKANSAS 6-8, EASTERN ILLINOIS 1-1
CONWAY, Ark. - The Eastern Illinois baseball team continued their series at Central Arkansas with a doubleheader on Saturday. Central Arkansas bested the Panthers in both games of the twin bill, winning by scores of 6-1 and 8-1. With the pair of losses, EIU dropped to 0-6 on the season. Central Arkansas improved to 5-1 overall on the year.
In game one Central Arkansas scored early in the opening game of the doubleheader and used the lead to propel them to a 6-1 to begin the day on Saturday.
Keaton Presley singled to lead off the bottom of the first in the opener and stole second to work his way into scoring position. After moving up an extra 90-feet on a groundout, Presley scored on a wild pitch to give the Bears a 1-0 advantage.
Central Arkansas extended their lead to 5-0 after scoring four runs on five hits in the bottom of the second inning. The Panthers responded with a run in the top of the third. Duncan started a two-out rally with a single to right and quickly stole second to move into scoring position. The move worked in favor for the Panthers as Dane Toppel plated Duncan on the next play with an RBI single to right.
Central Arkansas took advantage of a pair of EIU errors in the bottom of the fourth inning to score the final run of the game and took the opener 6-1.
Michael McCormick took the loss for the Panthers as he fell to 0-1 on the year. McCormick allowed five earned runs in 5.2 innings pitched. Jake Haberer tossed 2.1 scoreless innings out of the bullpen with three strikeouts.
Toppel finished the game 2-for-4 at the plate with one RBI to lead the EIU offense.
In game two, a six-run second inning by Central Arkansas lifted the Bears to an 8-1 victory in the nightcap of Saturday’s doubleheader.
After Central Arkansas worked the bases loaded with just one away, an RBI single by Brooks Ballisterri plated the first run of the game. A walk brought home another run to give UCA a 2-0 advantage. Presley followed the walk with a two-run double down the left-field line. Central Arkansas scored two more runs in the inning to take a 6-0 lead over the Panthers.
Eastern Illinois tried to chip away at the Central Arkansas lead in the top of the third. Justin Smith started a rally with a one-out single up the middle. Andrew Curran snuck a bunt down the third base line for a single and moved Smith into scoring position. Duncan scored Smith on the next play with an RBI single to left.
Central Arkansas scored a run in the bottom of the third and another in the bottom of the seventh to complete the doubleheader sweep.
Dustin Wilson (0-2) earned the loss on the mound for the Panthers, allowing seven runs in 4.1 innings pitched. Chase Thurston had a solid outing out of the bullpen, as the senior only allowed one run in 3.1 innings pitched.
OHIO 6-4, SIUE 4-7
EMERSON, Ga. - SIUE split a baseball doubleheader with Ohio Saturday dropping the opener 6-4 before rebounding to win the late game 7-4 at Lake Point Sports complex.
The Cougars are now 4-3 this season. Ohio also is 4-3.
The Cougars got all the runs they needed in the fouth inning in game two. SIUE sent nine men to the plate and scored five times on four hits to go up 5-0 and never trailed in the game. Dustin Woodcock drove in a pair of runs with a two-out single. Alec Skender, Eric Giltz and Sam Knell each picked up RBIs in the inning.
Ohio got on the board in the sixth inning when outfielder Evan Bourn drove home a run with a two-out single.
Giltz drove in his second run of the game with a sacrifice fly in the seventh inning to make it 6-1 SIUE. Keaton Wright singled in the eighth inning for 7-1 Cougar advantage.
The Bobcats collected three runs on three hits in the eighth to draw within three runs at 7-4. Devin Colley pitched final 1 1/3 innings for the Cougars to earn his first save of the year.
Danny Ehrsam improved to 2-0 after starting and allowing a run over six innings. He struck out five and did not walk a batter. Woodcock, Weimer and Goecks each picked up two hits for the Cougars in the win.
Ohio used a three-run seventh inning and a two-run ninth to score a come-from-behind win in the first game.
The Cougars had built a 4-1 lead. SIUE got on the board in the first thanks to a two-out, two-run single by Chris Monasmith which scored Keaton Wright and Jared McCunn. Both had reached on two-out singles.
Wright drove home Woodcock in the fifth inning to put the Cougars up 3-1. Mario Tursi made it 4-1 when he singled to score Monasmith in the sixth inning.
The Bobcats tied the score with the three-run seventh and then took the lead in the top of the ninth. Ohio reliever Jake Roehn struck out the side in the bottom of the ninth. Roehn tossed two innings for the win for Ohio.
Wright and Monasmith each finished with two hits for SIUE. Tristan Walters (0-1) suffered the loss for the Cougars. He allowed two runs on two hits in two innings of work.
EASTERN KENTUCKY 2, OAKLAND 1
LEXINGTON, Ky. - Sophomore Alex Holderbach doubled in a run in the bottom of the eighth to send the Eastern Kentucky University baseball team to a 2-1 win over Oakland University on Saturday at Whitaker Bank Ballpark in Lexington, Kentucky.
After having beaten the Golden Grizzlies 3-2 on Friday, the Colonels have secured the series victory.
With Ben Fisher on second and two outs in the bottom of the eighth, Holderbach drove a ball to left center to plate what proved to be the winning run.
Alex Hamilton (1-0), who was stellar in relief, retired the side in order in the top of the ninth to secure the victory. He tossed four and one-third innings without allowing a run. The senior gave up three hits, walked two and struck out six.
Oakland broke a scoreless tie in the top of the fifth on a RBI single to center by Zach Sterry. Starter Aaron Ochsenbein struck out the next batter before walking Ben Hart to load the bases. Hamilton came on in relief and got a ground ball to end the inning, and the threat.
Ochsenbein allowed just one run on seven hits while throwing four and two-thirds innings. He walked three and struck out three.
EKU (2-5) evened it up in the bottom of the sixth. Shea Sullivan broke up a no-hit bid with a single to center and then moved to second on Brendon Overton’s single. Ryland Kerr tied it 1-1 when he poked a single through the left side on a hit and run. Sullivan had to hurdle the ball, but scored easily.
Five different Colonels registered one hit each. Kerr finished 1-for-3 with an RBI. Holderbach went 1-for-4 with one driven in.
Tyler Janish had a 3-for-4 day for Oakland (1-6) and scored a run.
MURRAY STATE 12, BUFFALO 4
MURRAY, Ky. - The Murray State baseball team picked up its first home win of the season Saturday afternoon at Reagan Field as the Racers slugged four home runs in the contest and defeated Buffalo 12-4 to even the three-game series at 1-1.
Tyler Lawrence hit two-run homers in the first and eighth innings and Jack Hranec and Ryan Perkins also added blasts in the victory as the Racers (5-1) collected 12 hits in the victory. Lawrence went 2-for-3 with four RBIs on the day while Perkins was 2-of-4 with three runs and three ribbies. Brandon Gutzler led MSU with three hits in the win while Caleb Hicks also had a multi-hit day as he went 2-for-4 at the dish.
After the Bulls (2-3) got off to a fast start for the second consecutive game, taking a 2-0 lead in the top of the first, the Racers responded with four runs in the bottom half of the inning to take the lead for the first time in the series and didn’t give it back.
Lawrence’s second home run of the season and Hranec’s first did most of the damage in the inning. A pair of fielding errors by Buffalo also aided MSU in the inning. For the game, the Bulls committed four errors which led to four unearned Racer runs.
Gutzler’s RBI single in the second made the score 5-2 in favor of the Racers before Buffalo was able to make it a one-run game with a run in both the fourth and fifth innings. However, a pair of unearned runs by the Racers in the seventh inning pushed the lead back out to 7-4 before MSU was able to shut the door with a five-run bottom of the eighth.
Lawrence and Perkins both hit bombs in the inning to do all of the damage for the Racers in the frame, as Perkins’ was a three-run shot, his third of the season and second in the last two games.
Hranec picked up the win in relief for the Racers as he pitched four solid innings and allowed one run off four hits while striking out six batters. Hranec appeared in relief of starter Ryan Dills who worked four innings and struck-out seven and allowed three runs. Derrik Watson pitched a scoreless ninth inning for MSU in the win.
#6 NC STATE 6, AUSTIN PEAY 3
RALEIGH, N.C. - Austin Peay State University’s baseball team saw a late offensive rally fall just short in a 6-3 loss to nationally-ranked North Carolina State, Saturday, at Doak Field.
Austin Peay (3-3) will look back at the opening three innings and wonder what could have been. The Governors had six base runners in the first four innings and seven at-bats with runners in scoring position. However, APSU could not capitalize on the prime opportunities.
Govs starter Michael Costanzo (1-1) held North Carolina State at bay through three innings, surrendering only a solo home run in the second inning and a walk to the first 11 batters he faced. He started the fourth with a walk but retired the next two batters to nearly snuff out the Wolfpack’s rally.
But North Carolina State designated hitter Tommy DeJuneas laced a line drive to left field that found the wall for a double to drive in a run. It was the first of three consecutive run-scoring doubles by NCSU that pushed the lead to 4-0 before a Govs error tacked on a fifth run.
Austin Peay broke through in the seventh when catcher Alex Sala took the first pitch he saw over the wall in left for a leadoff home run.
The Governors would have to wait until the eighth to put together their first extended rally. Right fielder Chase Hamilton and third baseman Parker Phillips led off the frame with back-to-back doubles, Phillips’ driving in a run. First baseman Dre Gleason extended the rally with a RBI single, cutting the deficit to 5-3. However, the Govs could not find another base hit and the rally fizzled out.
Costanzo went four innings, allowing five runs (four earned) on four this while striking out seven. Reliever Zach Neff tossed the final four innings, adding two strike outs while allowing a run on four hits.
The Govs offense finished with eight hits, left fielder Alex Robles ending the day 3-for-4 with singles in his first three at-bats. Gleason went 2-for-4 with two RBI for the only other multi-hit outing.
Wolfpack reliever Mathieu Gauthier picked up the win after allowing one run on two hits. Starter Cory Wilder was left with no decision after four scoreless innings.
DeJuneas and catcher Jack Conley each went 2-for-4 with a RBI in North Carolina State’s eight-hit offensive outing.
WESTERN KENTUCKY 14, JACKSONVILLE STATE 4
BOWLING GREEN, Ky. - Western Kentucky evened the weekend series on Saturday with a 14-4 win over Jacksonville State at Nick Denes Field on the WKU campus.
After JSU claimed Friday's series opener, 3-2, the two clubs will meet on Sunday in the rubber game of the series. First pitch is set for 1 p.m.
The Gamecocks (3-2) pushed the first run across the plate in the second as freshman Chase Robinson lifted a deep foul ball for the sacrifice fly to score Josh Bobo, who was one of two Jax State players with multiple hits. Bobo, from Attalla, Alabama, turned in a 3-for-4 day at the plate with singles in his first three plate appearances. Bobo started the run-scoring frame with one of his singles and eventually scored. The Gamecocks had no trouble getting the leadoff man on base throughout the contest as they had the leadoff man on base in eight of the nine innings. WKU starter Paul Kirkpatrick did a nice job of working around the leadoff hits as he would allow all four JSU runs over the span of his six innings of work.
The Hilltoppers (3-3) started their scoring with two runs in the home-half of the second and extend the lead to 5-1 after three innings. The highlight of the WKU third was a two-run home run by Hunter Wood. Wood would end the day with six RBI after a grand slam in the seventh.
Trailing 6-1 after four innings, JSU had its best run-producing inning with three runs in the fifth to cut the deficit to 6-4. Jax State touched Kirkpatrick (1-0) for four consecutive hits, including an RBI double by junior Clayton Daniel. Daniel plated sophomore Nic Gaddis and freshman Nolan Greckel, who both had singles ahead of Daniel's extra base hit. Junior Taylor Hawthorne drove in the final two runs with a single to centerfield. Greckel joined Bobo as the only other Gamecock with multiple hits.
The JSU pitching staff struggled to get WKU outs as starter Colton Pate (0-1) went just three innings after allowing five runs on eight hits. The Hilltoppers posted 19 hits against JSU pitching on Saturday. After JSU sliced the lead to 6-4 in the fifth, freshman Cody Dodd had a quick WKU fifth, but the home squad put together back-to-back four run innings in the sixth and seventh.
Peyton Stracener and Corley Woods made their pitching debuts for JSU, while senior Michael McCreless saw his first action of the 2017 season.
SOUTHEAST MISSOURI 5, WESTERN ILLINOIS 4
CAPE GIRARDEAU, Mo. - Southeast Missouri baseball (4-2) forged a late-inning comeback to win 5-4 over Western Illinois (0-6) Saturday afternoon at Capaha Field.
After strikeout of the Leathernecks' lead off hitter, WIU registered three-straight hits including back-to-back home runs to take an early 3-0 lead. Robert Beltran recovered quickly and tallied two more strikeouts to prevent further damage early on.
The score remained stagnant until Dan Holst drew a two-out walk in the bottom of the third. A failed pickoff attempt followed by a second throwing error in an attempt to cut Holst off at third allowed SEMO to get on the board, 3-1.
Holst made his presence known again in the bottom of the sixth with a lead-off single followed by swiping second. After two strikeouts, Kyle Bottger laced a ball up the middle to pull the Redhawks within one, 3-2.
WIU responded in the following half inning with their own leadoff base hit and steal of second. After a swinging strikeout, the Leathernecks tacked on a run after a suicide squeeze to take a two-run lead on the Redhawks, 4-2.
In the bottom of the seventh, a throwing error pushed Connor Basler to third after a bunt single to lead off the inning. Clayton Evans eventually drove Basler in to pull within one.
With their backs against the wall, the Redhawks were helped by a dropped fly ball in right field to open the ninth. With a runner on first, Tristen Gagan launched a two-run home run to left to give the Redhawks the late lead, 5-4.
Matthew Wade entered in the top of the ninth and shut down the Leathernecks to earn his third save of the season.
Beltran's day ended after 5.1 innings, allowing five hits and three earned runs while striking out six. Carlos Vega (1-0) recorded the victory for Southeast. He worked two and two-thirds innings and was the pitcher of record when Gagan gave the Redhawks the lead.
UT MARTIN 7, ARKANSAS-PINE BLUFF 1
UNION CITY, Tenn. - Redshirt-junior Dalton Westfall tossed a spectacular 8.1 innings en route to his second straight victory without allowing an earned run, as the University of Tennessee at Martin baseball team improved to 4-1 on the year defeating Arkansas-Pine Bluff 7-1.
The Skyhawks (4-1) used a five-run outburst in the first three innings to hand over an early lead to Westfall. Being more active on the basepaths proved to be a recipe for success as UT Martin swiped six bases in the win.
After a quick top of the first inning for Westfall, the UT Martin bats picked up where they left off yesterday racking up a quick two runs to take the 2-0 lead. Josh Hauser led off the inning with a walk and then stole second base before Tyler Albright continued his torrent stretch with an RBI-single into centerfield. An Anthony Adduci single up the middle later in the inning drove in Tanner Wessling and put the Skyhawks on top 2-0.
Freshman Robert Worley led off the second inning with his first career home run, as his bomb to right-center extended the Skyhawk lead to 3-0. Hauser later walked in the inning and then successfully stole second and third before clean-up hitter Tanner Wessling singled him in to give UT Martin the 4-0 advantage. The Skyhawks again tacked on a run in the third when Hauser singled in freshman Connor Aube to push the lead to 5-0.
That is all the run support Westfall needed as he completely shut down the Golden Lions (0-5) offense all day. The Buckhannon, W.Va. native was dominant for a second straight outing pitching 8.1 innings, allowing only two hits and striking out another 12 hitters. The lone run scored by UAPB came after catcher Keylen Steen was called for interference and a swinging strikeout scampered away on what would have been the third out of the inning.
Second baseman Albright picked up a two-RBI single in the seventh inning when his basehit drove in both Aube and Steen to give UT Martin the finishing touch on what was their fourth straight victory.
Westfall (2-0) picked up the victory and extended his streak to 15.1 innings without allowing an earned run. C.J. Lewington (0-1) made his first start in 2017 for Arkansas-Pine Bluff and took the loss.
Albright (3-4, three RBI’s) and Wessling (2-4, one run, one RBI) continue to pace the Skyhawks offense this season. Wessling’s .529 average ranks third in the Ohio Valley Conference, while teammate Albright’s .526 ranks just behind him at fourth.
BRADLEY 7, TENNESSEE TECH 5 (11)
COOKEVILLE, Tenn. - he Tennessee Tech men's baseball team overcame one, late two-run deficit, but couldn't do it twice Saturday afternoon, as the visiting Bradley Braves edged the Golden Eagles in 11 innings, 7-5.
Trailing 5-3 headed into the bottom of the ninth inning, Tech put together a furious rally after Bradley recorded a strikeout on six pitches to start the frame. Junior David Garza kicked it off with a floating single to right field.
Following right behind, sophomore Kevin Strohschein laced his own single down the left field line to keep the hope alive, moving Garza to second. Senior Chris Brown took his turn with the bat next, dropping a single to shallow center field to load the bases.
Bradley gathered its second strikeout of the inning on a tough call on the outside corner of the plate, brining junior Trevor Putzig to the plate with two outs and the bases loaded. The third baseman delivered, ripping a single through the left side and driving in not one, but two runs to tie the game at nine.
The Braves brought in Cole Cook to get out of the inning with further damage and force extra innings. Both sides had opportunities in the 10th, but ultimately traded zeroes on their way to the 11th.
With one out and a man on first, Bradley's Derek Bangert blasted a two-run shot into the wind in left field, providing the necessary edge for the victory and Tech's first loss of the season.
Putzig, Garza, Strohschein and Collin Harris each notched two hits in the contest, with Putzig leading the way with two RBI. Alex Junior scored a team-high two runs in the loss.