FRIDAY'S SCORES
@Morehead State 15, Eastern Kentucky 9
Murray State 10, @Eastern Illinois 8
Southeast Missouri 8, @SIUE 3
Belmont 8, @UT Martin 5
Tennessee Tech 14-10, @Austin Peay 3-8
Jacksonville State 8, @Southern Illinois 6
MOREHEAD STATE 15, EASTERN KENTUCKY 9
MOREHEAD, Ky. - The first five Morehead State batters struck out at the plate against Eastern Kentucky Friday, but once the Eagle offense locked in, it was all uphill as MSU pounded out 18 hits en route to a 15-9 win at Allen Field.
Morehead State won for the 10th time in the last 11 games and improved to 15-6 overall and 6-1 in the Ohio Valley Conference, while the Colonels fell to 13-10 overall and 1-3 in the league.
Junior third baseman Eli Boggess led the outburst with a solo homer in the third to get his team on the board, and he went on to get four total hits and drive in a career-best six runs. Junior pitcher Aaron Leasher allowed 10 hits, but struck out nine EKU hitters and got into the sixth inning with the lead to improve to 5-0.
Eastern Kentucky's Jack Peikos, who ranked right behind Leasher for the best ERA in the conference, fanned the first five batters and didn't allow a hit until Boggess' homer. He finished allowing six runs and absorbed the loss to fall to 2-3.
Junior second baseman Braxton Morris, the Eagles' leading hitter for average, nailed three hits and drove in two runs, while five others (Ryan Kent, Will Schneider, Trevor Snyder, Niko Hulsizer and Michael Patrick) all had two hits apiece.
Patrick's solo homer, his fourth of the year, cut the Eagle deficit to 4-2 in the fourth, and then Snyder delivered a two-run single to tie the game. Boggess' single to right field scored Hunter Fain with the go-ahead run later that frame, and MSU never trailed again.
Morehead State also added a pair of runs in the sixth and tacked on six in the seventh.
MURRAY STATE 10, EASTERN ILLINOIS 8
CHARLESTON, Ill. - The Murray State baseball team opened its three-game series at Eastern Illinois with a wild day at the park Friday. The Racers scored five runs in the sixth and ninth innings in game one of the day and scored 10 unanswered on their way to a 10-8, come-from-behind victory in the opener.
Game two of the day, which ended up being suspended due to darkness heading into the eighth inning, saw the Racers trailing 10-9. The second game will resume at noon Saturday, weather permitting, with the series finale beginning right after the conclusion of the second game.
In the finished game today, EIU (2-18, 1-3 OVC) was able to jump out to an early 1-0 lead with a run in the bottom half of the first inning. In the third, the Panthers were able to string together a six-run inning on eight base hits.
The Racers (13-8, 4-3 OVC) however were able to begin their rally later on in the game and cut the deficit to 7-5 with five runs in the sixth. A two-run double from Tyler Lawrence got MSU on the board for the first time and was followed with RBI singles from Kipp Moore and Jack Hranec to make it 7-4. A Jaron Robinson sacrifice fly later in the inning scored Davis Sims and it was 7-5.
Brandon Gutzler was able to begin the rally for the Racers with a two-out double to right center that brought home Reed Thompson and cut the deficit to 7-6. MSU then strung together three consecutive walks to tie the game at 7-7 as Moore drew the bases loaded free pass to tie the contest. Sims then delivered the game-winning blow as he hit a bases-clearing double to left field to put the Racers out front 10-7.
The Panthers were able to get a run back in the bottom of the ninth but John Lollar eventually shut the door on the comeback and picked up his first win of the year. Lollar pitched two innings of relief of starter Ryan Dills to pick up the victory. Dills tied a season-high by going seven innings and allowed seven runs while striking out six batters.
Gutzler led the Racers at the plate with a 4-for-5 day and also scored two runs. Hranec, Moore and Sims all tallied multi-hit games with two hits each in the win. Moore was able to score twice and Sims led the team with those three ribbies in the ninth. Lawrence also had a two RBI day.
Game two was an inverse of the first game as MSU was the one to jump out to the early lead, scoring four runs in the third and a run each in the fourth and fifth. This time, EIU was the one that was able to get a pair of five-run innings as the Panthers scored five each in the fifth and sixth innings to take a 10-9 lead before the game was called.
After EIU cut the Racer lead down to 6-5 after the fifth, the Racers were able to score three in the top of the sixth before EIU rallied to take the lead in the sixth.
Gutzler was 2-for-4 with four RBIs and a deep homer to left center field, his team-leading seventh of the year, before the game was called while Hranec and Sims were also 2-of-4 at the dish and Moore was 2-for-3.
Austin Dubsky got the start in the game and pitched 4.1 innings and allowed five runs while striking out five. Luke Brown, Chance Carner and Chad Gendron have all pitched in relief so far in the contest.
The two teams look to close out the series Saturday at Coaches Field with the final two innings of game two. Gutzler will be “leading off” the day for the Racers in the top of the eighth with Gendron on the mound. Right now, there is rain in the forecast tomorrow for Charleston, which would move the contests to Sunday.
SOUTHEAST MISSOURI 8, SIUE 3
EDWARDSVILLE, Ill. - Southeast Missouri baseball (11-8, 4-3) defeated SIUE (11-10, 2-5) by a score of 8-3 in Friday's series opener in Edwardsville.
The contest proved to be an offensive one as nine of the 23 hits went for extra bases including four combined home runs.
Southeast Missouri scattered 12 total hits. Four separate Redhawks each recorded two hits apiece. Dan Holst finished 2-for-4 with three RBI on a home run, his second of the season. Clayton Evans, Danny Wright, and Connor Basler all had two hits.
Clay Chandler improved to 4-2 on the season. He worked seven complete innings, allowed two runs on six hits while striking out three and walking one. Matthew Wade closed the game, pitching the final one and a third innings, allowing no runs on two hits.
SIUE starter Brock Fulkerson (1-3) recorded the loss on the mound. He pitched six innings, allowed four runs on eight hits and fanned five Redhawks.
In the second at-bat of the game, Chris Osborne blasted a two-run opposite-field home run to left, putting the Redhawks up very early, 2-0. The Redhawks proceeded to put two more runners on in the inning with no out but left them stranded.
SIUE got on the board by way of the long ball in the bottom of the third with a leadoff home run by Mario Tursi, slicing the Redhawk lead in half, 2-1.
The Redhawks added to the lead with a pair of runs in the top of the fourth inning. Wright laced a one-out double into right and moved up to third on a single by Kyle Bottger. After a pickoff of Bottger, Basler worked an 11-pitch at bat into a double off the wall in dead center, plating Wright. Basler stole third and trotted home on a liner up the middle into center off the bat of Evans, widening the lead to 4-1.
Dustin Woodcock hit his first home run of the season with one out in the bottom of the fourth to once again make it a two-run game, 4-2.
SEMO put up a four spot in the top of the seventh inning to double its run total. Evans and Osborne both walked then scored on a three-run jack to right center off the bat of Holst. Brian Lees followed with a double ripped into left then immediately scored on a base hit by Kylar Robertson, going ahead 8-2.
Jared Waldhoff entered to pitch in the top of the eighth inning for the Redhawks. The frame started with back-to-back singles. A one-out sacrifice fly by Woodcock made it an 8-3 game. SIUE proceeded to load the bases with two out but Wade worked out of the inning for Waldhoff without any more damage.
SIUE's Alec Skender and Tursi each had three hits on Friday. Woodcocks finished with two RBI.
BELMONT 8, UT MARTIN 5
MARTIN, Tenn. - A three-run homer from sophomore Chas Hadden (Morristown, Tenn.) propelled Belmont baseball past UT Martin, 8-5, in the first game of the series Friday night inside Skyhawk Field.
The Bruins (9-11, 4-3) and Skyhawks (8-11, 0-7) traded home runs to register both squads first hits of the day, Belmont's just happened to be worth a little more. UT Martin took the early lead as Belmont's starting hurler Tyler Vaughn (Jonesboro, Ill.) relinquished a solo shot over the left field fence in just the second batter he faced. However, Hadden (Morristown, Tenn.) had an answer of his own, launching his first homer of the season over the centerfield wall to bring in three runs for BU after consecutive Bruins were dealt free rides to give them the 3-1 advantage after two stanzas.
Belmont continued to pile on the runs in the third after loading the bases on consecutive singles from junior infielder Kyle Conger (Brentwood, Tenn.) and junior infielder Alex Ward (Murfreesboro, Tenn.) and another walk issued to redshirt-freshman Matt Cogen (Franklin, Tenn.). Senior designated hitter Nick Egli (Brentwood, Tenn.) continued his hot hitting with a RBI single that reloaded the bases and allowed Conger to score despite a Bruin grounding into a double play, putting BU up 5-1. The Skyhawks didn't dare allow the Bruins to extend their lead any more in the third, dipping into their bullpen and calling on right-handed pitcher Winston Cannon to replace their starting hurler, Kyle Laberge. Cannon quickly retired the next two Bruins and got out of the frame.
After the opening stanza, Vaughn dialed in and refused to give UT Martin any easy looks, holding the Skyhawks to just two hits in the next three innings. It wasn't until the fifth that UTM closed in on its deficit, 5-3, with a leadoff double followed up by a base knock brought in the first run. A couple of consecutive sloppy plays contributed by Belmont, including an error on third baseman Ben Kocher (Zionsville, Ind.) and a wild pitch, allowed the second run to cross.
Hadden continued to spark Belmont's offense as the Bruins used a variety of plays to tack on a pair of runs in the seventh and spread their lead to 7-3. Hadden collected his team-best 13th walk of the season to lead off the inning. The Morristown, Tenn. product then went on to steal second and put pressure on the Skyhawks. From then on senior catcher Clay Payne (Powell, Tenn.) walked for senior Tyler Walsh (Evansville, Ind.) to perfectly execute a sacrifice bunt – advancing runners to second and third. Conger then delivered a sacrifice of his own with a fly ball to right field bringing home Hadden for the first run. Payne made it a four-run game on a passed ball.
For the sixth time in the last seven games, Egli registered multiple RBIs with a dinger of his own to centerfield, adding another run to the Bruins lead, 8-3.
UT Martin plated a couple of runs to chip away at their deficit in the bottom of the eighth to come within three, 8-5, but that's as close as the Skyhawks would get.
TENNESSEE TECH 14-10, AUSTIN PEAY 3-8
CLARKSVILLE, Tenn. - They looked different when dissected, but at the end of the day, Tennessee Tech baseball's two games at Austin Peay Friday had one very important thing in common; they were both victories.
The Golden Eagles (19-6, 8-0) kept their perfect start to Ohio Valley Conference in tact in Clarksville, Tenn., sweeping a doubleheader at in-state rival Austin Peay (11-11, 4-4) with victories of 14-3 and 10-8. It marks the program's best start to conference play since the 1956 Tech squad started 9-0 and finished 10-1 in the OVC while winning the league and earning a trip to the NCAA District III Playoffs.
The 19-6 mark through the first 25 games represents Tech's best start since going 20-5 in 2014. The Golden Eagles won 40 games in 2014, as well as in 2013 when the team also started 19-6.
Tech put on two separate shows in game one, one with the bats and another on the hill, dominating the Govs on both sides. The Golden Eagles pounded out 17 hits to the tune of 14 runs while Michael Wood and Marcus Evey kept the Austin Peay offense at bay.
In terms of run production, the game was clinched before the home team even touched a bat. After a strikeout to start the game, Tech quickly put together an attack to cross four runs across the plate, starting with a double to left field by Trevor Putzig. After advancing to third on a wild pitch, Kevin Strohschein drove in the first TTU run with a sac fly to left field.
Junior Ryan Flick kept the inning alive with an 0-2 single to right center field, setting up teammate and fellow junior Chase Chambers for a bang. The first baseman blasted the first pitch he saw clear over the wall in right center field, making it a 3-0 Tech lead.
That would quickly change, as senior Chris Brown launched a solo bomb so far over the right field fence, the Austin Peay outfield never moved. It marked the first time of the year that a pair of Golden Eagle hit back-to-back jacks in a game.
Austin Peay would collect a run in the second, but Flick answered in the third with a long ball down the right field line, one of the team's five dingers in the contest. It marked the fourth time this season the Tech squad would launch at least five home runs in a game.
The Govs scored another marker in the third, but strong defense and dominate pitching from Wood kept the home team off the scoreboard until the ninth inning. Wood finished with seven strikeouts over seven innings of work, scattering seven hits, one walk and two earned runs. He picked up his league-leading fifth victory of the year, moving to 5-1 overall.
Tech continued to add to the lead, never allowing the Govs to really get back in the contest. After scoring two more runs in the fifth, and providing a 7-2 advantage, the Golden Eagle defense took the air out of Austin Peay's sails in the sixth.
After Dre Gleason led off the inning getting plunked, Alex Robles ripped a ball towards third base, seemingly a base hit that would give the home squad two on with none out. Putzig speared the fall while sliding toward second base, quickly tossed it to Matt Jones and the second baseman made the transfer and flip to first for an incredible double play.
The Govs put two more runners on in the frame, setting up Alex Sala for a big chance at getting some momentum back. The APSU catcher launched a shot to right center field that seemed destined to be a two-run double or triple, but Golden Eagle center fielder Alex Junior tracked the ball from the beginning and made an incredible, Sports Center Top 10 worthy, leaping grab into the warning track to end the frame and scoring threat.
Tech plated three more runs in the seventh as Flick doubled – his NCAA-leading 17th of the season – to set up Chambers for an RBI single. Brown then followed up blasting his second tuna sandwich of the contest, this time to left center field. His first multi-homer game of his career proved a special one, as the switch hitter became the first Golden Eagle in program history to hit a long ball from each side of the plate in the same game.
A four-spot in the eighth just added to the fiery finish for Tech in game one, highlighted by a two-run bombzini by Strohschein.
Evey finished the final two frames on the hill for Tech, fanning five Gov batters while allowing just a single run on a leadoff home run in the ninth.
Game two went much different for the Golden Eagles. The roller coaster ride looked highly promising for the visitors early, as Strohschein blasted a solo boomer to right field for first-inning, 1-0 lead.
Starter Jake Usher looked purely dominant early, fanning the side in the first, all on swings. He struck out his fourth straight Gov to start the game in the second and set down eight of the first nine batters he faced. His one walk came back for Tech after Brown picked off Kyle Wilson at first base.
In the fourth, Tech seemingly took control of things with another jack job by Brown, who pounded a two-run shot to center field. Garza followed three batters later with an RBI triple for a 4-0 lead and Usher in a groove.
The script quickly flipped as Austin Peay rallied after a leadoff strikeout in the bottom half of the fourth. APSU pounded four doubles in the inning, taking its first lead of the day, 5-4. The Govs looked to wipe out the fight in the Tech dugout with a two-run home run in the fifth, making it a 7-4 deficit for TTU.
The Golden Eagles showed just why they had yet to lose a game in league play, however, dropping five runs in the top of the seventh to recapture the lead. The home team forced an early out, but Flick fought for a crucial, eight-pitch walk to start the rally. Chambers and Brown each followed with singles to load the bases.
With a new pitcher taking the hill, junior Collin Harris played his own game, lacing the first pitch he saw off the wall in right field for a two-run single to pull the Golden Eagles to within one. Jones followed immediately on the next offering with a two-run double to the wall in center field, driving in the go-ahead run for an 8-7 Tech lead. An RBI double by Garza provided an important insurance run, upping the Tech advantage to 9-7.
Sophomore closer Ethan Roberts entered the contest with lead, taking over for Nick Osborne who tossed a scoreless sixth. While the youngster surrendered one run in the seventh on two hits, he quickly shut the door on any more offense, allowing just one more hit the rest of the way. A ninth-inning insurance marker for Tech provided the final scoring touch to a 10-8 victory that saw Roberts earn his league-leading sixth save of the season. Osborne earned his second win of the year.
The second W of the day provided Tech with its fourth straight game scoring at least 10 runs, the longest streak since posting seven such consecutive games in 2014. Tech won all 14 of the contest as part of a 10-game win streak. The win also represented the team's seventh straight victory on the year.
Robert's sixth save of the year tied the Sparta, Tenn. native with Jeb Scoggins (2015) for the fourth-most in a single season in school history.
JACKSONVILLE STATE 8, SOUTHERN ILLINOIS 6
CARBONDALE, Ill. - A seven-run seventh inning lifted Jacksonville State to an 8-6 win over Southern Illinois in the series opener on Friday afternoon at Itchy Jones Stadium on the SIU campus.
The Gamecocks improved to 11-9 overall with the Friday win and will look to claim the series on Saturday at 2 p.m. The Salukis dropped to 11-11 overall on the season. Weather issues could be a factor with Saturday's matinee.
After the two teams played to a scoreless deadlock until SIU fifth, SIU and JSU combined for 14 runs over the final four innings. The Salukis took advantage of the Gamecocks' ineffectiveness on the mound as JSU starter Derrick Adams walked in the first run of the contest. JSU's pitching staff turned in a season-high 10 walks on the day, which aided in SIU's ability to erase an 8-1 JSU lead after the Gamecocks exploded for seven runs in the seventh.
The JSU offense lifted the club with 10 hits on the day, seven of which were for extra bases. Jax State had five doubles, a triple and a home run. JSU equalized in the sixth after a one-out double by junior Nolan Greckel opened the door for the game-tying situation. Junior Taylor Hawthorne delivered his first triple of the season, driving in Greckel. Hawthorne, back in the lineup after an illness last weekend, reached back three times with a pair of walks.
The run in the sixth sparked the Gamecocks as they would send 11 batters to plate, scoring seven runs on five hits in the frame. Junior Hayden White started the inning with a double and moved to third on freshman Andrew Naismith's infield single off the turf. SIU starter Chad Whitmer walked Payton Young to load the bases. Senior Joe McGuire, who is scheduled to pitch on Sunday, delivered a ground rule double down the left field line, scoring the go-ahead runs. Greckel had an RBI ground out with the infield drawn in. Clayton Daniel, who had two hits on the day, laced a single to right field, scoring JSU's fifth run of the day. After Hawthorne drew a walk, junior Trent Simpson posted a three-run home run to left.
With a seven-run cushion, JSU limited SIU to two runs in the seventh after an inning-ending double play, the Gamecocks' third of the day. Freshman Cody Dodd, who entered in relief of Adams, picked up his second win of the year after tossing one full inning. Simpson and Grant Chandler saw action on the mound before Justin Hoyt was summoned to close out the game after SIU cut the lead to 8-6 in the ninth. Hoyt secured his third save of the season with just nine pitches thrown in the ninth.