TUESDAY'S SCORES
@Tennessee 14,
Belmont 8
@Austin Peay 7, Evansville 5
@Saint Louis 24,
SIUE 9
Eastern Illinois 6, @Chicago State 2
@Alabama State 9,
Jacksonville State 4
@Middle Tennessee 11,
Tennessee Tech 9
Memphis 7,
UT Martin 6 (Millington, Tenn.)
TENNESSEE 14, BELMONT 8
KNOXVILLE, Tenn. - In a game of ebbs and flows all evening, Belmont baseball couldn't find a way to overcome a pesky Tennessee squad Tuesday night at Lindsey Nelson Stadium. The Bruins mounted a valiant comeback, but ultimately dropped a 14-8 decision to the Vols.
Trailing by six early on, BU (23-24) plated seven unanswered runs to take the lead over UT (25-19) for a stanza. The Bruins offense was highlighted by a pair of three-hit outings from the veteran duo of Cully Day (Mahomet, Ill.) and Clay Payne (Powell, Tenn.).
Junior right-hander Austin Reynolds (Smyrna, Tenn.) earned his first starting nod on the bump in a Bruin uniform, getting the leadoff batter to go down swinging in his debut. He'd go on to retire the next Vol as well, but before finishing off the opening frame Reynolds relinquished a solo shot over the left field wall in the next at bat to allow Tennessee to take an early 1-0 lead. UT got another long ball off the righty in the second, this one coming in the form of two runs from Max Bartlett - increasing their lead to three runs.
The Bruins were very effective at the start of the first three innings, retiring the first two Vols to take the plate each time but struggled to seal the deal. For the third consecutive inning Tennessee found a way to score with two outs as rookie hurler Tyler Alderfer (Perkasie, Pa.) came in for relief and gave up a couple of runs on three hits and a walk to extend UT's advantage to 5-0.
Belmont's offense woke up in the fifth, producing six hits and five runs to make it a one-run game after trailing 6-0. Day started things off with a standup double for his second hit of the day. From then BU loaded the bases on a single and base on balls before Tennessee could ever retire a Bruin. The squad took full advantage of the situation, scoring four consecutive runs courtesy of redshirt-junior Rafael Bournigal (Mulberry, Fla.), sophomore Chas Hadden (Morristown, Tenn.) and senior Nick Egli (Brentwood, Tenn.). Junior Kyle Conger (Brentwood, Tenn.) capped off the scoring frenzy with a RBI single to left field to only put the Bruins down one, 6-5.
Another bases loaded situation allowed BU to capitalize on a couple of Tennessee miscues and take the lead, 7-6. Senior Clay Payne (Powell, Tenn.) led off the top of the sixth by lacing a single to left field and back-to-back walks put Bruins on every bag. A wild pitch and throwing error scored two Belmont runs, making it seven unanswered and ultimately putting the Bruins ahead for the first time.
Belmont's lead was erased in the home half of the inning as Tennessee crossed six runs of their own on a trio of hits and four free rides to go up, 12-7. BU was able to scratch one more across, but the Vols also continued to tack on the runs to come away victorious, 14-8.
AUSTIN PEAY 7, EVANSVILLE 5
CLARKSVILLE, Tenn. - First baseman Parker Phillips went 5-for-5 with three RBI and Austin Peay State University’s baseball team ended its four-game losing streak with a 7-5 victory against Evansville, Tuesday night at Raymond C. Hand Park.
Phillips became the third Govs hitter to post a 5-for-5 outing this season – all three occurring in the last two weeks. The redshirt freshman opened his day with a leadoff home run in the second that tied the game, 1-1. Phillips helped extend the lead in the third, driving in a run with a single before he scored on designated hitter Brett Newberg’s two-run home run., giving APSU a 5-1 lead.
Evansville (15-32) chipped away at Austin Peay’s lead with single runs in the fifth and sixth innings. The Purple Aces then used a pair of Govs miscues to tie the game in the eighth. After the first two batters of the inning reached base on an error and a hit batsman, third baseman Troy Beilsmith leveled the game with a two-run single.
Austin Peay (21-25) responded immediately with Phillips again supplying a hand. Third baseman Alex Robles was hit by a pitch to start the inning and rushed home on left fielder Cayce Bredlau’s double into the left field corner. Two batters later, Phillips doubled into the left center gap to drive in Bredlau and extend the Govs lead.
Robles moved to the mound to start the ninth inning and notched his season’s first save with a pair of strikeouts against the four batters he faced. The late burst made a winner of Govs reliever Michael Costanzo (3-2), who struck out three batters over two innings, allowing two runs (one earned).
In addition to Phillips’ 5-for-5 outing, catcher Alex Sala notched a hit in his first three at-bats after entering the game and ended the day 3-for-5 at the plate.
Evansville reliever Ryan Brady (0-3) was tagged for the loss after allowing two runs in an inning of work.
Beilsmith paced the Purple Aces offense with a 3-for-4, two RBI performance.
SAINT LOUIS 24, SIUE 9
ST. LOUIS - Saint Louis used a seven-run third and a 10-run seventh inning to down SIUE 24-9 in at the Billiken Sports Complex. It was the final nonconference game of the season for the Cougars. The loss snapped a three-game winning streak for the Cougars, who fell to 21-25. Saint Louis improved to 27-18.
SIUE scored in the top of the first inning when Chris Monasmith singled to drive home Jared McCunn. The Billikens answered with a run in the second. After the Cougars failed to score in the third, Saint Louis came back with seven runs on six hits and an SIUE error.
The Billikens had a 13-2 lead when SIUE cut into the lead with a four-run top of the seventh inning. Eric Giltz and Mario Tursi each had RBI-hits in the inning. Alec Skender drove home two runs with a single before he was thrown out trying to stretch the hit into a double. The Billikens answered with the 10-run frame against three SIUE pitchers.
A.J. Johnson started the inning, and allowed five runs in just 1/3 of an inning. Devin Colley failed to retire a hitter and allowed five runs. Mason McReaken finished the game. He allowed a run in 1 2/3 innings.
Brendan Miller (1-3) started and allowed seven runs in 2 2/3 innings. Tyler Hutchinson allowed four runs in an inning. Mike Miller surrendered two runs in 1 1/3 innings. Michael Shereyk worked a scoreless sixth inning.
SIUE scored nine runs on 14 hits. Skender, Monasmith, Tursi and Aaron Jackson and each finished with two hits for the Cougars. Skender collected three RBIs.
EASTERN ILLINOIS 6, CHICAGO STATE 2
CHICAGO - Eastern Illinois baseball used a complete team effort, combining solid pitching with timely hitting, and defeated Chicago State, 6-2, in their final non-conference game of the season on Tuesday.
Eastern Illinois improved their overall record to 18-31, while Chicago State dropped to 11-34 on the year.
After game remained scoreless between both sides through the first and second innings, Eastern Illinois started the scoring in the top of the third inning. Joseph Duncan beat out an infield single with two outs in the inning and started a rally for the Panthers as Chicago State’s starting pitcher, Josh Willis, began to lose control of the strike zone. The Panthers showed a good eye at the plate as Willis issued four consecutive walks that brought home a pair of runs and gave Eastern Illinois a 2-0 advantage. Eastern Illinois began to break the game open in the top of the fifth inning against the Chicago State bullpen. Duncan and Jimmy Govern started the inning with back-to-back singles, but a fielder’s choice cut down Duncan attempting to move up to third base. Matt Albert walked to load the bases ahead of Andrew Curran. Curran drove in a pair of runs with a two-run single up the middle. Frankie Perrone followed the Curran base hit with a two-run double and extended the EIU lead to 6-0.
EIU starting pitcher, Alex Cain, held the Chicago State offense scoreless through five and one-third innings pitched, but the Cougars broke up the shutout bid on a solo home run by Rick Salazar with one out in the bottom of the sixth to cut the Panthers’ lead to 6-1.
Chicago State added another run in the bottom of the seventh to trim the EIU lead to 6-2, but that would be as close as the Cougars would get the rest of the way as the Panthers’ bullpen held CSU scoreless in the eighth and ninth innings.
Cain picked up his first win of the season in the victory. In six innings of work, Cain allowed the lone run on seven hits, while striking out six.
Duncan led the Panthers offensively as he finished the game 2-for-5 at the plate.
ALABAMA STATE 9, JACKSONVILLE STATE 4
MONTGOMERY, Ala. - The Jacksonville State dropped a 9-4 midweek decision to Alabama State on Tuesday night at ASU's Wheeler-Watkins Baseball Complex.
The Gamecocks dropped to 25-21 overall on the season and will turn their attention to their final Ohio Valley Conference road trip, visiting Martin, Tennessee to face the Skyhawks of UT Martin. The series will get started on Friday at 6 p.m. from Skyhawk Field. The Hornets improved to 28-23 overall and claimed all three contests against JSU this season. ASU posted a pair of one-run wins over Jax State earlier in the season.
ASU scored six runs in the first three innings combined and starter Patrick Coffin limited JSU to four hits in the first six innings. Coffin retired 10 straight Gamecocks before freshman Chase Robinson's one-out base hit in the six snapped that string. Coffin allowed all four JSU runs and was touched for 10 hits and had 11 strikeouts in a complete game performance.
The Hornets' offense was aided by the long ball, including a pair of solo home runs by ASU's Hunter Allen. Allen delivered a home run in the third and added his second of the night in the sixth. Gustavo Rios homered in the home half of the fifth. ASU touched JSU Michael McCreless for six runs on four hits in 2.1 innings worked. McCreless fanned three and walked a pair. McCreless, who was saddled with the loss, was one of five pitchers used in the contest.
Trailing 7-0 after five innings, sophomore Nic Gaddis collected his second home run in the last four games with a two-run home run over the left field wall in the sixth for the first runs of the night. The Trenton, Georgia third baseman had grand slam in the first game of the Saturday twinbill against Morehead State. It was fourth of season for Gaddis.
His home run sparked the JSU offense as JSU added a pair of runs in the seventh as freshman Chase Robinson crossed the plate on a wild pitch. Robinson, who had a pair of hits for JSU, was pushed to third base on Clayton Daniel's double down the left field line. The double extended Daniel's hitting streak to 12 consecutive games, the longest one of the season by a Gamecock. Junior Taylor Hawthorne followed Daniel with an RBI double. Hawthorne had a 3-for-4 night at the plate. The Prattville, Alabama native had a pair of singles before the double.
Trent Simpson, Andrew Naismith and Hayden White all had hits in the contest.
MIDDLE TENNESSEE 11, TENNESSEE TECH 9
MURFREESBORO, Tenn. - The Tennessee Tech baseball team put forth a late charge against in-state rival Middle Tennessee Tuesday afternoon, but the Blue Raiders (21-27) held on to defeat the Golden Eagles (34-16) in their non-conference finale, 11-9.
Tech was forced to fight back from an early deficit after the Blue Raiders plated six runners in the bottom of the first. The Golden Eagles were quick to respond at first, answering with three runs of their own in the top of the second.
Senior second baseman Matt Jones crushed a two-run long ball to left field for the first TTU runs of the game. Then, junior catcher Brennon Kaleiwahea followed with his own home run, jacking a solo shot to left field for back-to-back dingers.
The Blue Raiders snagged a run in the third while the Golden Eagles earned one back in the fifth, making it a 7-4 contest. In the bottom of the fifth, Middle Tennessee seemingly blew the game wide open, scoring three more runs to take back a six-run advantage, 10-4.
Unfazed, Tech answered once again, this time with a three-spot in the sixth. After a leadoff single by Jones, Kaleiwahea came through again, ripping and RBI double to left center field. Junior left fielder Collin Harris drew a walk next, setting up sophomore center fielder Alex Junior for a two-run double to right field.
The Golden Eagles filled in two more runs in the scoring column in the seventh, scoring on a wild pitch and a ground out by Jones to pull within one run of the lead.
Middle Tennessee closed things out from that point on, however, scoring once in the bottom of the seventh and holding Tech off the board in the eighth and ninth.
Offensively, Jones led the way with three RBI on two hits. Sophomore right fielder Kevin Strohschein and Kaleiwahea each tallied multiple hits as well.
MEMPHIS 7, UT MARTIN 6
MILLINGTON, Tenn. - The University of Tennessee at Martin baseball team dropped a back and forth thriller with American Athletic Conference rival Memphis 7-6 on Tuesday night. The Skyhawks were one strike away from tying the program’s Division-I record for victories in a season, but could not shut the door in the final frame.
UT Martin (23-25, 10-14 OVC) was the first on the board as senior Tanner Wessling continued his stellar senior campaign with an two-run double down the left field line to bring home fellow senior Ryan Helgren and shortstop Josh Hauser to kickstart the Skyhawk offense and put them in front 2-0 early.
Skyhawk starting pitcher Sam Folks was effective through the first three innings, but ran into his first bit of trouble in the bottom of the fourth. The Tigers tacked on three runs in the inning to put them ahead for the first time in the game by a 3-2 score.
It did not take long for UT Martin to answer back and reclaim its lead, as Helgren brought home a run on a sacrifice fly and Wessling picked up his third RBI of the day with a single through the left side in the top of the fifth inning to put the Skyhawks back out in front 4-3.
Memphis (26-23, 6-12 AAC) used two runs of their own in the bottom half of the inning to jump back in front 5-4. UT Martin brought home another run in the top of the sixth as Hauser scampered home on a throwing error by the Tigers to knot the game at 5-5.
Freshman Connor Aube represented the go-ahead run in the top of the eighth inning and used a base hit to reach first. After swiping second base and then advancing to third on a wild pitch, Aube came home on a sacrifice fly off the bat of second baseman Tyler Albright to give UT Martin the 6-5 advantage.
The Skyhawks looked poised to win game number 24 on the season but a pair of timely base hits in the bottom of the ninth inning by Memphis brought home two runs and reversed the script on the visiting squad as the Tigers claimed the 7-6 walk-off win.
Folks tossed a solid 5.0 innings, allowing four earned runs and striking out four Tigers along the way. Jake Patzner made a rare relief appearance and was extremely effective keeping Memphis off the board in 2.0 innings of work. Shane Seckinger also tossed a scoreless frame for the Skyhawks. Alex Evans (7-5) was on to close the game, but was unable to shut the door and took the loss. Blake Bennett (2-0) picked up the victory for Memphis.
At the plate, Hauser (3-4, one run), Wessling (2-5, three RBI’s) and Dan Kerwin (2-5) all recorded multi-hit performances for UT Martin.