SUNDAY'S SCORES
Southeast Missouri 7, @Eastern Illinois 6
@UT Martin 18, Morehead State 6
@Austin Peay 10, Belmont 8
@Jacksonville State 8, Tennessee Tech 3
Eastern Kentucky 17, @SIUE 9
@#3 TCU 13,
Murray State 2
SOUTHEAST MISSOURI 7, EASTERN ILLINOIS 6
CHARLESTON, Ill. - Down late, Southeast Missouri (17-13, 8-7) plated two runs on a Josh Haggerty base knock to go ahead on Eastern Illinois (6-25, 3-9) in the eighth. The Redhawks held on to win 7-6 and secure its first road Ohio Valley Conference series.
Joey Burris (1-1) pitched four relief innings, a career long, of scoreless, hitless baseball to secure his first Redhawk victory. He struck out a career-best four and walked two.
Redhawk starter Robert Beltran lasted only one and two-thirds innings, allowed five runs on six hits. Ryan Losman was first out of the pen and worked two and two-thirds scoreless innings with three strikeouts, both season bests.
The SEMO offense scattered 13 total hits to EIU's nine. Dan Holst and Danny Wright both registered a trio of hits. Haggerty finished with two hits and drove in two tying runs and the winning run in the game.
Michael Starcevich (1-4) allowed the winning run in the eighth to pick up the loss. He pitched the final three innings for EIU. Starter Chase Thurston pitched only two innings before being relieved by Brendon Allen. Allen worked four innings, allowing only a single hit to the Redhawks while fanning four hitters.
Joseph Duncan led off the bottom of the first with a line drive base hit to center. He was bunted to second and moved up to third on a fly out. Dougie Parks drove in Duncan with a perfectly placed base hit through the left side to go ahead 1-0 in the first.
With runners on the corners and one out in the top of the second, Haggerty recorded his first Redhawk RBI to plate Wright and tie the game.
The Panthers used three hits, a pair of Redhawk errors, and a costly wild pitch in the bottom of the second to take a 5-1 lead on Southeast.
SEMO responded with four runs of its own in the top of the third. Southeast opened the frame with three-straight base hits, the third of which was an RBI single by Tristen Gagan to drive in Chris Osborne. Brian Lees followed with a double to left to score another run. Gagan crossed the plate thanks to a wild pitch, cutting the lead to one. Kyle Bottger retied the game with a groundout that scored Lees, 5-5.
After a quiet two and a half innings of no scoring, EIU put something together in the sixth. The Panthers loaded the bases with a leadoff hit batsmen, a single, and a walk, prompting SEMO to go to the pen for Burris. The righty allowed a bases-loaded walk to put the Panthers back up 6-5 but proceeded to strike out the side to limit the damage.
In only his second start as a Redhawk, Haggerty came through again in the top of the eighth. After a successful sacrifice bunt to move runners into scoring positon by Bottger, Haggerty dove the first pitch of his at bat up the middle and into center to score both runners and put SEMO back on top 7-6.
Burris retired the final six straight Panthers to secure the victory and the series.
Jimmy Govern, Duncan, and Parks all had two hits for EIU while Parks drove in three to lead the team.
UT MARTIN 18, MOREHEAD STATE 6
MARTIN, Tenn. - A nine-run seventh inning rally by the University of Tennessee at Martin baseball team broke open what was a one-run game, as the Skyhawks finished off their three-game sweep over the Ohio Valley Conference’s second place team Morehead State.
After winning 1-0 on Friday night and 9-5 on Saturday, UT Martin bested the visiting team by an impressive 12 runs en route to the program’s first conference sweep since April 22-23, 2011 over Eastern Kentucky.
For the second consecutive day, it was the visiting team on the board first as the Eagles touched up UT Martin starting pitcher Dalton Westfall for two runs in the top half of the second inning to take the early 2-0 lead.
However, as they had done all weekend long, the Skyhawks bounced back with a pair of runs of their own in the bottom half of the inning as freshman Connor Aube singled home catcher Dan Kerwin to bring home one run. Tanner Wessling scored all the way from second on the same play thanks to a throwing error from Eagle second baseman Braxton Morris to even the score 2-2.
Morehead State (22-10, 8-4) tacked on two more runs in the third to reclaim the 4-2 lead, but for the fourth straight inning in which Morehead State had scored dating back to yesterday, the Skyhawks responded in the bottom half with some runs. Josh Hauser scampered home on another error from Morehead State, while Tanner Wessling laid down a beautiful bunt to the right side for an RBI-single. On the Wessling bunt, an errant throw also allowed Kerwin to come home and give UT Martin the 5-4 advantage.
The Eagles tied up the game in the fifth with an RBI-groundout by catcher Hunter Fain. The Skyhawks quickly took the lead back with two runs in the bottom of the inning, as an RBI-triple from Aube down the left field line and an RBI-single from pinch hitter Robert Worley tallied a pair of runs in the inning for UT Martin to give them the 7-5 lead.
For the third straight inning, the visiting team picked up a run in the sixth, as Morehead State cut the margin to 7-6 on a sacrifice fly from Niko Hulsizer.
UT Martin (12-16, 4-11) blew down the doors in the seventh inning to the tune of nine runs on seven hits as the Skyhawks took what was a close game to a double-digit advantage. An RBI-double from Steen, an RBI-single from Aube, a Ben Aslett two-run homerun, an RBI-double from Tyler Albright, an RBI on a hit-by-pitch from Steen, and a two RBI-double off the bat of Aube for his second hit of the inning rounded out the scoring for UT Martin in what was the biggest inning in OVC play this season. The nine total runs put UT Martin on top 16-6 after seven.
The Skyhawks tacked on two more in the eighth on a solo shot off the bat of Albright for his second home run of the season and an RBI-groundout from freshman Anthony Adduci to give the home squad the decisive 18-6 victory.
Alex Evans (3-3) came on in relief of Westfall in the third and picked up the victory, tossing 2.1 innings and allowing just one earned run. Kyle Laberge (1) tossed three scoreless frames out of the Skyhawk bullpen striking out four hitters and picking up his first career save. Curtis Wilson (4-3) took the loss for Morehead State.
Offensively, Aube (4-5, five RBI’s), Wessling (3-3, four runs scored), Hauser (3-5, two runs scored), Albright (2-6, one home run) and Helgren (2-6, three runs scored) all notched multiple hits in the win, while Steen (two), Kerwin (one), Worley (one), Adduci (one) and Eldridge (one) each recorded RBI’s as well for UT Martin.
In the entire three-game set, the Skyhawks racked up seven doubles, six triples and four homers on their way to scoring 28 total runs. The UT Martin bullpen allowed just two earned runs on 12.1 innings in the series as they closed the door to seal victories in all three contests.
AUSTIN PEAY 10, BELMONT 8
CLARKSVILLE, Tenn. - Austin Peay State University's baseball team fended off a mid-game rally to claim a 10-8 Ohio Valley Conference victory against Belmont, Sunday, at Raymond C. Hand Park. With the win, the Governors claimed the three-game OVC series, 2-1, for their second series victory this season.
Austin Peay (15-16, 7-8 OVC) raced out to a big lead using a combination of the long ball, small ball and a little help from the Belmont defense to build an 8-1 lead through four innings.
The long ball portion of the game came in the second inning when Gleason and Hamilton hit their home runs. Gleason’s shot led off the frame and gave the Govs the game’s first run. Two batters later, Hamilton delivered a two-run blast to right for a 3-0 lead.
The Govs then utilized a Belmont error to plate two runs in the third. Designated hitter Parker Phillips and Hamilton each walked with two outs and then attempted a double steal. The throw to second sailed into the outfield, allowing both Philips and Hamilton to score for a 5-0 lead.
Austin Peay then went to a small ball approach in the fourth after shortstop Max Remy walked and second baseman Garrett Giovannelli singled to start the inning. The Govs used a sacrifice bunt to move the runners before the Bruins walked left fielder Cayce Bredlau to load the bases. Third baseman Alex Robles hit a sacrifice fly in front of Gleason, who cleared the bases with his two-run single, giving APSU an 8-1 lead.
Pitcher Jacques Pucheu, making his first start as a Governor, retired the first seven batters he faced and 10 of the first 11 Belmont batters he faced did not reach base safely. However, he surrendered a two-out home run to designated hitter Nick Egli in the fourth to break up his streak.
Belmont (14-16, 9-6 OVC) ended Pucheu’s day in the fifth as they opened the frame with a walk followed by left fielder Alex Ward’s run-scoring double. The Govs bullpen could not shut the door before shortstop Kyle Conger hit a two-run home run just inside the right-field foul pole, slashing the Govs lead to 8-4.
The Austin Peay bullpen would bend in the sixth, using three pitchers in the frame, but would not break as it did not surrender the lead. That task was remarkable as the Bruins sent nine batters to the plate and saw five batters reach base via a walk or by being hit by a pitch. In addition, Belmont’s four runs in the frame were each scored without the benefit of a base hit. However, the potential go-ahead run was left stranded at third base as reliever Josh Rye induced a pop out to end the frame.
The Governors offense responded immediately, starting when Bredlau walked to start the bottom of the sixth. After a double play allowed Bredlau to reach third base, designated hitter Parker Phillips delivered the go-ahead run with a single to left field. One inning later, Giovannelli supplied an insurance run with a single up the middle for a 10-8 lead.
Rye (5-1), the eventual winning pitcher, would jump on the second chance to hold the lead, retiring the Bruins in order in the seventh and retiring the first batter he faced in the eighth before handing the ball to reliever Levi Primasing. The Govs lefty did not allow a run over the final 1.2 innings, striking out four of the eight batters he faced to secure his season’s second save.
Giovannelli reached base in all five of his plate appearances, Sunday, going 3-for-3 with two walks. He reached base in 12 of his 14 plate appearances during the three-game series. In addition, Gleason led the Govs with three RBI in Sunday’s finale as part of his 2-for-5 outing.
Belmont reliever Kyle Klotz (2-3) took the loss after allowing one run on two hits in his 1.1 innings of work. Ward led the Bruins offense with a 3-for-3 outing of his own, that included two RBI.
JACKSONVILLE STATE 8, TENNESSEE TECH 3
OXFORD, Ala. - Jacksonville State claimed its third Ohio Valley Conference series and its fourth straight win on Sunday with an 8-3 decision over Tennessee Tech at Choccolocco Park.
The win moved JSU to 17-12 overall and level in the OVC at 6-6. It was the fourth straight rubber game for the Gamecocks after the two clubs split the first two games. Jax State topped Tech on Friday, 7-2 before Tech bounced back to claim Saturday's contest. TTU, who was unblemished in the OVC before the weekend in Oxford, falls to 25-9 overall and 13-2 in the league. JSU has now won back-to-back series against TTU after taking the series last year in Cookeville, Tennessee.
Junior Trent Simpson broke up a 2-2 fifth inning deadlock with a grand slam over the left field wall. It was Simpson's seventh home run of the season and fourth at Choccolocco Park in his hometown. It was JSU's first grand slam since Taylor Hawthorne's bases-clearing home run last season against Southeast Missouri. JSU put together back-to-back one-out hits by Clayton Daniel and Chase Robinson before A.J. Reynolds was plunked to load the bases.
The other Oxford, Alabama native on the JSU club, senior Joe McGuire, was once again solid on the mound and kept the potent Tech offense off balanced for 5.1 innings. McGuire, who moved to 5-0 on the season, allowed five TTU hits and scattered three Golden Eagle solo home runs. He finished with six strikeouts and did not allow a walk. In his last four starts dating back to the Sunday game against Eastern Illinois, McGuire has pitched 24.2 innings and has allowed just 13 hits and fanned 21 batters and walked just three.
Tech posted took a 2-0 lead with solo home runs in the third and fourth innings and tacked on the third round tripper in the sixth. After collected 24 hits on Saturday, the JSU pitching quartet of McGuire, Nate Sylvester, Grant Chandler and Justin Hoyt limited the Golden Eagles to eight hits on Sunday. Chandler pitched two full innings before handing the game to Hoyt with one down in the eighth.
The Gamecock offense held its own with TTU's against the Golden Eagles' arms with a weekend batting average of .315. JSU posted 11 hits off Tech in Sunday's win with Simpson, Daniel, Chase Robinson and Payton Young combining for eight hits.
After Tech got one of the runs off the grand slam back in the sixth on Kevin Strohschein's one-out home run, JSU expanded the lead in the bottom frame with RBI singles by senior Josh Bobo and Reynolds. Freshman Andrew Naismith and junior Hayden White produced RBI in the fourth to equalize the contest.
EASTERN KENTUCKY 17, SIUE 9
EDWARDSVILLE, Ill. - Four different Colonels homered as the Eastern Kentucky University baseball team avoided the sweep against the Southern Illinois University Edwardsville Cougars with a 17-9 win on Sunday.
EKU (19-14, 5-7 OVC) fell behind early as the Cougars scored two runs in the bottom of the first. SIUE added two more runs in the second inning to take a 4-0 lead.
Alex Holderbach led off the third inning with a single for the Colonels. Two batters later, Ben Fisher knocked out his 17th home run of the season to cut into the lead and make it a 4-2 game.
SIUE (17-14, 6-9 OVC) answered back with a three-run bottom of the third to regain control of the contest, 7-2.
The fourth inning is where the Colonels took over. Ryland Kerr started the inning with a single through the left side, and Taylor Blair drew a walk in the next at-bat. Brenden Overton singled down the left field line in the next at-bat to score Kerr. A passed ball allowed Blair to advance to third while Overton made his way to second. Holderbach then singled to center field, bringing Blair home. After a Daniel McFarland walk, Nick Howie shot a sacrifice fly into right center to bring Overton home. With runners on the corners, Fisher drew a walk to load the bases. Shea Sullivan followed him at the plate and sent the ball over the wall in left center for a grand slam to put EKU in front, 9-7. The Colonels would not trail again in the game.
Eastern added to its lead with a two-run Holderbach homer in the fifth, a Blair solo shot home run in the sixth and a bases loaded single from Fisher in the seventh to take a 13-8 lead into the eighth inning.
A scoreless eighth gave way to a four-run ninth for the Colonels as a Kerr double scored Howie and Fisher, and a Blair single brought Sullivan and Kerr home. The Cougars scored one run in the bottom of the inning, but could not rally as the Colonels won, 17-9.
Caleb Johnson earned his first win of the season with his six and a third innings on the mound in relief. Johnson allowed one earned run while striking out six batters. Holderbach led the way on the offensive end for EKU, going 4-for-6 with three RBIs and a home run. Fisher and Kerr each picked up three hits, while Sullivan finished with four RBIs.
#3 TCU 13, MURRAY STATE 2
FORT WORTH, Texas - Tyler Lawrence hit a first inning single to center field and recorded career hit number 238, passing Wes Cunningham for first place on the all-time career hits list in Murray State program history. Lawrence also drove in Kipp Moore on the play to give the Racers an early 1-0 lead.
The lead would not last long however as the No. 3 ranked Horned Frogs (26-5) proved to be too explosive on their way to a 13-2 win Sunday afternoon over the Racers in Fort Worth, Texas. The win was the 12th consecutive for TCU.
After the Horned Frogs tied the game with a run in the first, TCU got a four-run bottom of the second to take a 5-1 lead and wouldn’t falter from there on. TCU also got a four-run fifth and three runs in the sixth on the day.
The Racers’ (15-16) lone other run came in the fifth inning on an RBI double to right center from Brandon Gutzler that scored Adam Bauer from first. Gutlzer was the only Racer in the loss with a multi-hit day as he went 2-for-4 at the dish. Moore was 1-of-2 and Bauer went 1-for-3 in the series finale.
Jack Hranec took the loss in the game as he got the start on the mound. Hranec allowed five runs in an inning-plus of work Sunday. Chance Carner, Alec Whaley and Derrik Watson all appeared in relief in the game. Carner pitched three solid innings and allowed just one unearned run.