SATURDAY'S SCORES
UT Martin 15, @Eastern Illinois 2
@Jacksonville State 10-8, Morehead State 3-11
@Murray State 8, Eastern Kentucky 4
SIUE 10, @Austin Peay 3
@Tennessee Tech 3, Belmont 2
Southeast Missouri 12-8, @Western Michigan 6-5
UT MARTIN 15, EASTERN ILLINOIS 2
CHARLESTON, Ill. - Another strong performance at the plate guided the University of Tennessee at Martin baseball team to a crucial 15-2 dismantling of Eastern Illinois on Saturday afternoon in game two of this pivotal three-game set.
The Skyhawks posted their fourth consecutive win and moved to 9-2 in their last 11 Ohio Valley Conference contests with the victory.
The visitors pushed one run across in the very first inning as center fielder Creighton Eldridge scampered home on a double play ball off the bat of Tanner Wessling to give UT Martin the 1-0 advantage.
Eastern Illinois (16-31, 9-14) evened the score in the second inning with a run of their own to knot things up 1-1. However, just as they have done all weekend long, the Skyhawks bounced right back to nab the lead with four runs in the top of the third. Keylen Steen launched a three-run bomb to right center for his second homer of the series and third on the season. JoJo Allen followed him up with a sacrifice fly to push the lead to 5-1.
UT Martin (23-23, 10-13 OVC) picked up another run in the fourth, as Wessling doubled home fellow senior Ryan Helgren to extend the Skyhawk advantage to 6-1. The Panthers added a run in the bottom half of the inning to cut the deficit to just four runs, 6-2.
The Skyhawk bats came alive again in the sixth inning with three more runs. Steen picked up his fourth RBI on the day with a base hit to left field, followed by a Josh Hauser RBI-single to give UT Martin the 8-2 lead. Ben Aslett continued his stellar weekend with an RBI on a sacrifice fly to bring home Steen for his fifth RBI of the series and put the Skyhawks ahead 9-2.
One of the hottest hitters in the Ohio Valley Conference, Dan Kerwin, continued his tear with a two-run shot to center in the seventh. Steen also notched RBI number five on the day with a two-bagger to right as the UT Martin lead reached double-digits with a 12-2 advantage after seven.
Kerwin picked up right where left off the inning before with another round-tripper. This time it was a three-run shot that brought home Aslett and Hauser for a five-RBI day for the Bradenton, Fla. native. Eastern Illinois picked up one run in the bottom of the eighth, but that was all the home team could manage as UT Martin took game two 15-3.
Dalton Westfall (5-4) picked up the start and was up to his usual tricks notching his fifth win of the season, while allowing just six hits and striking out seven in 6.0 innings of work. His seven punch outs moved him to second on UT Martin’s single season strikeouts record list as the right-hander has now notched 77 on the season. Shane Seckinger worked 2.0 innings and Kyle Laberge tossed a scoreless ninth to close out the victory. Michael McCormick (1-3) took the loss for the Panthers.
Offensively, Steen (4-5, five RBI’s), Wessling (4-5, three runs), Hauser (3-5, two runs), Kerwin (2-5, two home runs) and Aslett (2-4, one RBI) all recorded multiple hits as the Skyhawks have now cranked out 32 runs and 39 hits in the series.
JACKSONVILLE STATE 10-8, MOREHEAD STATE 3-11
OXFORD, Ala. - Jacksonville State scored 10 unanswered runs in the first game of the doubleheader with Morehead to claim the series opener, 10-3, to highlight the day at Choccolocco Park on Saturday.
The Eagles bounced back in the night cap with an 11-8 decision to even the series and force a series-deciding rubber game on Sunday at 1 p.m. After the two games, the Gamecocks moved to 24-20 overall and 11-12 in Ohio Valley Conference play. MSU now stands at 29-17 on the season and 13-8 in the league play.
Sophomore catcher and infielder Nic Gaddis powered the Jax State lineup in both games against the Eagles as the Trenton, Georgia native turned in a 5-for-9 day at the plate and drove in six runs. Gaddis' big hit of the day was a fourth inning grand slam that gave the Gamecocks a 5-3 lead - a lead that they would not rescind the rest of the way. Gaddis, who was behind the plate in the opening contest added another extra base hit in JSU's four-run fourth inning with a two-RBI double that gave his club some breathing room with a 9-3 lead. Gaddis moved to third base in the second game and collected three hits and scored a run.
Freshman Andrew Naismith finished the day with three big hits, highlighted by his eighth home run of the year in the fourth inning. The Auburn, Alabama first baseman had a pair of RBI in the first game and reached base five times on Saturday. Junior Clayton Daniel combined for three hits on the day, including his 23rd multiple hit game of the season with a pair of hits in the setback. He now has 71 career games with multiple hits.
While the offense combined for 20 hits on the day, the Gamecock pitching staff was able to limit the MSU offense in the opening game. The Eagles, one of the top hitting team in NCAA Division I Baseball had eight hits in the first game off of JSU starter Derrick Adams and junior Grant Chandler combined. Adams, who went six innings had another high strikeout performance with eight in the outing and allowed four free passes. The Decatur, Alabama left hander allowed all of the MSU runs in the fourth. Chandler finished the final three frames, allowing just one hit and striking out a pair. He registered his first save of the season with his three innings of work.
In the second game, JSU played from behind early again as MSU posted three runs in the first inning and survived a Gamecock rally. The Gamecocks had a three-run fifth to get within striking distance at 7-5. The inning was aided by a pair of Eagle miscues, while the Oxford, Alabama duo of Trent Simpson and Joe McGuire had an RBI each. The Eagles responded with a three spot in the sixth to extend the lead to 10-5. JSU trimmed the deficit to 11-8 with three runs in the eighth on five hits, including a pair of doubles by Naismith and Matthew Hammers.
Eagle starter, Jake Ziegelmeyer, making his first start in the weekend rotation, went five innings for the win before handing over the pitching duties to Curtis Wilson for the next four innings.
MURRAY STATE 8, EASTERN KENTUCKY 4
MURRAY, Ky. - The Murray State baseball team used a four-run eighth inning to break a 4-4 tie and secured its second consecutive series victory Saturday afternoon at Reagan Field as the Racers rallied to defeat Eastern Kentucky, 8-4.
An Aaron Bence two-run single through the right side of the infield brought home a pair of runs with one out in the bottom half of the eighth and became the game-winning hit as he brought home Caleb Hicks and Davis Sims to score. Sims led off the inning with a double to left field while Hicks drew a one-out walk. MSU (24-23, 12-11 OVC) would tack on two more runs on a wild pitch that scored Jaron Robinson from third and on a passed ball that plated Bence.
Chad Gendron picked up his third win on the year as he pitched 1.1 innings of relief in the victory. Austin Dubsky got the start on the hill and pitched five innings and allowed two runs off six hits while striking out six. Chance Carner also appeared in relief in the game.
Sims led the Racer offense with a three-hit day at the plate while Bence went 2-for-4 with a pair of runs and Kipp Moore was also 2-of-4 at the dish.
The Colonels (22-25, 8-15 OVC) got on the board first in the game as they scored two in the top off the fourth on a single. MSU would rally to tie it at 2-2 however in the bottom of the fifth when Adam Bauer hit a two-run single to right field with two outs in the inning.
The Racers would later take the lead on an infield single from Moore in the sixth which made the score 3-2. MSU blew a chance however to do more damage in the inning as it had the bases loaded with nobody out and scored just the one run as EKU ended the threat with a double play.
EKU would retake the lead in the top of the seventh on a pair of runs in the inning. The first came on a triple to right center to tie the score at 3-3 and the second was the next at-bat with a sacrifice bunt, making the score 4-3. Bence would tie the score at 4-4 in the bottom half of the inning when he came home to score from third on a fielding error by the Colonels, attempting to throw out Bauer stealing second base.
SIUE 10, AUSTIN PEAY 3
CLARKSVILLE, Tenn. - SIUE baseball won its first road series of the year, defeating Austin Peay 10-3 Saturday in the second game of a three-game series.
The Cougars improved to 20-24 overall and 8-15 in Ohio Valley Conference play. Austin Peay also is 20-24 and is 11-14 in the OVC.
SIUE got a big inning and had strong pitching for the second straight day to beat the Governors.
The Cougars took a 1-0 lead in the second inning thanks to a head's up base running play. With two outs in the inning and runners at first and third, Aaron Goecks broke for second drawing a throw. Goecks got caught in a rundown and stayed long enough for Jordan Stading to score from third.
SIUE broke it open with a seven-run third inning. With one out, Alec Skender doubled to the left field corner. Keaton Wright walked and Brock Weimer was hit by a pitch to load the bases. Dustin Woodcock then hit a ball to first, but the throw home was wild to the plate, allowing two runs to score. Jared McCunn reached on a perfect squeeze bunt to the right side of the infield which scored Woodcock.
Goecks added a run with a sacrifice fly. Eric Giltz and Mario Tursi added RBI-hits in the inning to put SIUE up 8-0.
Austin Peay starter Jacques Pucheu lasted only 2 1/3 innings. He allowed seven runs on three hits. He walked four and fell to 1-1.
Wright, Weimer and Woodcock opened the fourth with three consecutive hits. Weimer and Woodcock each picked up RBIs to put SIUE up 10-0.
Brock Fulkerson started and dominated through five innings. He allowed just a single hit into the sixth inning. Fulkerson pitched into the eighth inning. He allowed two runs on seven hits and improved to 3-5 with the win. Michael Shereyk finished the game on the mound for SIUE. He allowed a run in 1 2/3 innings.
Wright, McCunn and Tursi each finished with two hits for the Cougars.
Austin Peay first baseman Dre Gleason was 2 for 4 with an RBI to pace the Governors.
The win gave SIUE its first OVC road series win since May 2015, when the Cougars also won two of three at Austin Peay.
TENNESSEE TECH 3, BELMONT 2
COOKEVILLE, Tenn. - The Tennessee Tech baseball team (33-14, 19-3) continued its winning ways Saturday evening, taking the first contest of its three-game Ohio Valley Conference series against in-state rival Belmont (22-22, 14-11) by a final score of 3-2.
The Golden Eagle pitching staff was out in full force during the contest, as starter Michael Wood and closer Ethan Roberts combined to hold the Bruins to just two, unearned runs in the nine-inning affair. The two also struck out 12 batters while not issuing a single walk.
Wood was effective early in the contest, scattering five hits over the first four frames while allowing just the two unearned runs. The senior's final two and one thirds innings were pure dominance, as he retired the final seven batters he faced. Earning his eighth victory of the year, Wood fanned seven batters while firing 115 pitches.
Roberts, a sophomore hurler from Sparta, Tenn., came on for the final one and two thirds innings, making quick work of the Belmont batters after surrendering a double to the first batter he faced in the eighth. He quickly rebounded, striking out the final five batters of the contest to earn his OVC leading 12th save of the year.
Offensively, the Golden Eagles took the early 2-0 lead in the bottom of the second, starting with a leadoff double down the right field line by junior designated hitter Ryan Flick. Junior first baseman Chase Chambers followed with a single through the right side.
After senior catcher Chris Brown was plunked by a pitch to load the bases, senior second baseman Matt Jones delivered an RBI single through the right side. A second run scored in the frame on a ground ball double play, providing the 2-0 advantage.
Belmont cut the lead by one in the third, scoring an unearned run after Nick Egli reached on throwing error and dented home plate later in the frame. The visitors then tied the game in the fourth, scoring another unearned marker on a ground ball after a passed ball allowed Hunter Holland to advance from second to third.
Tech answered almost immediately, with Jones singling up the middle as the second batter of the bottom of the fourth. Then after fighting for a nine-pitch at bat, junior shortstop David Garza delivered the winning blow, lacing an RBI double to right center field that drove in Jones from first for the go-ahead run.
Wood and Roberts took over from there, blanking the Bruins over the final five innings while combining for nine strikeouts down the stretch.
With his 12th save of the year, Roberts moved into a tie with former closer Seth Lucio for the most saves in a single season in program history. Lucio notched 12 saves during the 2013 squad's OVC regular-season championship run.
Roberts has been on an absolute tear while pitching on the hill in the comfort of Bush Stadium at the Averitt Express Baseball Complex. The sophomore's last 17 consecutive outs recorded at Tech's home digs have come via the strikeout. In that time, he has posted three saves.
SOUTHEAST MISSOURI 12-8, WESTERN MICHIGAN 6-5
KALAMAZOO, Mich. - Southeast Missouri (24-21) swept its doubleheader at Western Michigan (18-22) Saturday afternoon, winning game one 12-6 and the nightcap 8-5.
SEMO won the first game in comeback fashion and kept the momentum going in game two, leading the contest in its entirety. The two wins are the first back-to-back road victories for Southeast this season.
In game one Southeast Missouri found itself trailing 6-1 going into the seventh inning but scored 11 unanswered runs over the final three innings to down the Broncos in game one of the twin bill, 12-6.
Despite scoring 12 runs, the Redhawks were narrowly outhit, 15-14. Chris Osborne led the offense going 4-for-5, tying a career high. He drove in two and scored three times. Danny Wright only went 1-for-4 but recorded three RBI in the contest. Tristen Gagan and Aiden McMahan each had two hits. Eight of the nine SEMO starters had at least a hit.
Clay Chanlder pitched four and a third innings in his 12th start, allowing five runs on nine hits to the Broncos. He fanned two and walked two. The start is the third straight in which Chandler has suffered a loss or no decision.
Chandler was relieved by Daniel Bergtholdt with one out in the fifth. Bergtholdt pitched one and a third innings and became the pitcher of record when SEMO took the lead in the seventh. He allowed one run on three hits in his outing and improves to 2-1 on the season.
Ryan Losman pitched a three-inning save Saturday. His three frames were all scoreless, allowing just three hits while striking out a trio of batters and walking one. The save is his second of the season.
Kyle Mallwitz pitched very well in his start for WMU but suffered a no decision. He worked six innings, allowing just one run on only four hits to SEMO while striking out six and walking one.
Nic Laio (2-1) recorded the loss after giving up seven runs in the seventh, allowing the Redhawks to take the lead. Only three of the seven runs were earned. He was the first of four pitchers out of the pen for WMU.
The Broncos struck early in game one of the doubleheader. Connor Smith singled through the left side then scored on an RBI single by Tanner Allison to right. Following another two-out hit, Alex Goodwin doubled down the right field line to plate both runners and widen the early lead to 3-0 in the opening stanza.
With Broncos on the corners and two out, it was Goodwin again who singled up the middle and beat out a throw from Wright to plate the fourth run on an infield single in the third inning.
Tyler Frank led off the bottom of the fourth inning with a single to left. After advancing on a wild pitch, he came in to score on a double that fell in right off the bat of Andrew Stone, 5-0 Broncos.
Osborne picked up his second hit of the day on a double in the top of the sixth. He came around to score on a two-out base hit poked up the middle by Gagan, putting the Redhawks on the board, 5-1.
Stone singled to right, was bunted to second and advanced on a wild pitch in bottom of the inning. Smith drove in Stone to widen the lead to 6-1 in the sixth.
The Redhawks used six hits and two Bronco errors in the top of the seventh to rally and take a two-run lead. WMU took Mallwitz out in favor of Laio to begin the frame. The inning began with a leadoff single over the third baseman by designated hitter Josh Haggerty followed by a double by pinch hitter McMahan, his first Redhawk extra-base hit. An infield single by Connor Basler loaded the bases with no out. A fielding error by the first baseman allowed Kyle Bottger to reach and a run to score. Back-to-back singles by Osborne and Brian Lees plated two more runs. A bases-loaded catcher's interference and a hit batsman tied the game at six runs each. After a WMU pitcher change, Haggerty gave the Redhawks the lead with an RBI fielder's choice, 7-6. McMahan made it a two-run lead with his second hit of the inning to center, plating Gagan, 8-6 Redhawks.
Southeast padded the lead with a trio of runs in the top of the eighth. Dan Holst extended his on-base streak to 32 games with a one-out single. Following back-to-back walks to load the bases, a wild pitch, the second of the inning, allowed Holst to score. Wright followed with a two-RBI single through the left side to make it 11-6.
Osborne recorded his fourth hit, this time an RBI triple, in the top of the ninth to bring the score to 12-6.
Nate Grys, Allison, and Smith each scattered three hits for Western. Goodwin finished with two hits and drove in three of WMU's six runs.
In game two Southeast outhit the Broncos in the nightcap, 13-11. Holst and Bottger each recorded a trio of hits while Chris Caffrey had a couple. Holst, Osborne, and Bottger all drove in two runs each.
Justin Murphy worked four and two-thirds innings the start, not enough to qualify for the win. He gave up two runs on seven hits. Robert Beltran relieved Murphy in the fifth inning and worked the next two innings but surrendered three runs. Joey Burris (2-1) was awarded the win following a scoreless one and a third innings out of the pen, allowing just one hit late in the game.
Carlos Vega picked up his fifth save after coming in and pitching a 1-2-3 ninth inning.
WMU starter Jacob Piechota (2-3) pitched seven innings, giving up seven runs on 10 hits to Southeast.
After narrowly snapping his on-base streak in game one, Holst wasted no time making it 33 games with a leadoff single to start the game. He advanced on a groundout, stole third, and scored on a groundout to short by Lees to put SEMO on the board in the opening stanza, 1-0.
The Redhawks pushed four runs across in the top of the second. With two on, Bottger laced his first Redhawk triple to right center, clearing the bases. Basler pushed Bottger in with a groundout to short. Holst kept the early scoring going with a solo home run to right center, widening the Redhawk lead to 5-0 in the second.
SEMO made it 6-0 in the top of the fourth thanks to an RBI single by Holst, his third hit and second RBI of the game.
Beau Filkins broke up Murphy's shutout with a leadoff home run, his first as a Bronco, in the bottom fifth. Grant Miller later used an RBI infield single to make it 6-2.
An RBI groundout to first by Osborne in the top of the next inning got a run back for the Redhawks to make it a five-run game again, 7-2.
Three runs in the bottom of the seventh for Western cut the Redhawk lead down to two. Back-to-back doubles by Nate Grys (2 RBI) and Jesse Forestell sliced the lead to 7-5.
With two out and Basler on second, Osborne got a double to fall in right, getting a run back from the previous inning, 8-5.
Four separate Broncos all had two hits in the second game to contribute to WMU's 11 hits.