SATURDAY'S SCORES
@#15 Virginia 12,
Eastern Kentucky 3
Radford 9-0,
@Jacksonville State 5-5
Morehead State 5, @Alabama A&M 0
@Southeast Missouri 8, Bowling Green 4
@Tennessee Tech 30, Illinois State 17
@Belmont 25, Fairleigh Dickinson 9
Eastern Illinois 10, @Memphis 9
@Louisiana Tech 4,
SIUE 1
@#13 Southern Miss 13-10,
UT Martin 4-13
#15 VIRGINIA 12, EASTERN KENTUCKY 3
CHARLOTTESVILLE, Va. - One day after knocking off No. 15 University of Virginia in the series opener, the Eastern Kentucky University baseball team suffered a 12-3 loss in game two on Saturday at Davenport Field.
Back-to-back, two-out doubles by Caleb Knight and Nate Eikhoff in the bottom of the first put two runs on the board for the Cavaliers (3-3). Virginia added two more in the bottom of the second.
Meanwhile, UVA starter Derek Casey didn’t allow a hit until the third inning when Daniel Harris IV singled through the right side. Casey then proceeded to strike out the next five batters that came to the plate. An infield single by Will Johnson broke up the streak.
Harris got the Colonels (1-5) on the board in the top of the sixth with a solo home run over the wall in right field. It was the first of the season for the freshman and made it a 5-1 game.
Harris finished 2-for-3 with a run and an RBI.
Virginia answered with a big sixth inning, scoring four runs to go in front 9-1 and put the game out of reach. Eastern scored two runs in the seventh on a Virginia throwing error and a RBI single from Ryland Kerr.
Casey (2-0) tossed seven innings, allowed five hits, three runs, one earned run, two walks and struck out 12.
RADFORD 9-0, JACKSONVILLE STATE 5-5
OXFORD, Ala. - Three Jacksonville State pitchers combined for the program's first no-hitter since 2003 and the 18th in the history of the program as the senior trio of Colton Pate, Grant Chandler and Trent Simpson combined to shutdown Radford in JSU's 5-0 win on Saturday at Choccolocco Park.
Pate, from Lincoln, Alabama, went the first six innings was sensational in his second outing of the year with eight strikeouts in the outing and allowed just two Highlanders to reach base. He moved to 2-0 on the season and has accumulated 13 strikeouts in 11 innings-pitched this season along with not allowing a run and one hit last weekend against Southern Illinois. Chandler was the first Jax State reliever out of the bullpen in the seventh and struck out three Highlanders in his six batters-faced. The Huntsville, Alabama native made his 77 career appearance before handing over the no-hit bid to Simpson in the ninth. Simpson, who had a home run in each contest, fanned a pair in the ninth and induced a ground ball out. He belted his fourth home run of the season in the fifth for JSU's fifth run of the contest.
Former Gamecock Bill White was the last pitcher to toss a no-hitter in 2000 against Alabama A&M. The last time JSU had a combined no-hitter was during the 1993 campaign after David Spence and Brad Angel combined to no-hit Miles College. It was the first no-no in the Ohio Valley Conference since 2013 with Murray State's Cameron Finch tossed a no-hitter against SIU Edwardsville.
With the win in the night cap, the Gamecocks (5-2) posted their second consecutive weekend series win and the sixth straight series win dating back to the final four OVC weekends in 2017. After JSU won on Friday in walk-off fashion with freshman Isaac Alexander's walk-off three-run home run, RU (3-4) bounced back to even the series in the first game on Saturday with a 9-5 win.
The pitching staff was staked to a 4-0 lead after the Gamecocks' offense pushed four runs across the plate in the opening at bat. Simpson, who started the contest in the designated hitter spot, delivered an RBO sacrifice fly to right, plating Nolan Greckel for the first run. Alexander, the hero on Friday, came up big in his first plate appearance with a down the right field line, scoring Andrew Naismith and Nic Gaddis. Naismith had an RBI following Simpson's fly ball. Gaddis tallied his fifth double of the season before Alexander's two-bagger. Naismith and Gaddis were two of three Gamecocks to have multiple hits. Freshman Cole Frederick carded two hits in the contest. In the twinbill, he had three hits along with Naismith. Senior Clayton Daniel recorded a pair of RBI in the doubleheader on a pair of hits. The Guntersville, Alabama product tallied his second career home run in the first inning of the opening game of the doubleheader.
MOREHEAD STATE 5, ALABAMA A&M 0
HUNTSVILLE, Ala. - Redshirt sophomore southpaw Dalton Stambaugh followed up his 7.0 innings, eight strikeout masterpiece last weekend against Ball State by turning in a gem on Saturday afternoon for Morehead State. The reigning OVC Pitcher of the Week tossed a complete-game, four-hit shutout as the Eagles (4-3) downed Alabama A&M (3-3) 5-0.
Picking up his second win of the season, Stambaugh scattered just four hits, striking out six, while walking none. Saturday's outing marked his first complete game and the longest outing of his career. Stambaugh's compete game was the first by an Eagle pitcher since Aaron Leasher accomplished the feat at SIUE on April 26, 2016.
Stambaugh's Eagle teammates gave him enough run-support and got the scoring started early to back him throughout the contest.
Morehead State started the scoring off in the top of the first as senior shortstop Braxton Morris singled to open the game before being advanced to second on a groundout by junior centerfielder Connor Pauly. Morris would come around to score as an error by the Bulldogs' Jonathan Smith allowed Morris to race home from second to give the Eagles the lead.
The Eagles would add two more runs in the seventh when Pauly would lace a double into the right field corner to score sophomore catcher Brody Shoupe and junior rightfielder Jake Hammon to extend the Eagle lead to 3-0.
Morehead State would add their final runs in the ninth as junior designated hitter Trevor Snyder ripped a base hit into leftfield to score junior leftfielder Niko Hulsizer. Senior first baseman Tyler Niemman would follow Snyder, adding a sac fly to plate senior third baseman Eli Boggess for the Eagles' final run.
In total, Morehead State would collect 10 hits in the contest, while also drawing four walks and a single hit-by-pitch. Morris and Pauly led the Eagles with two hits apiece, while Hulsizer, Boggess, Snyder, Niemann, Shoupe, and freshman second baseman Bryce Hensor would also collect a hit.
SOUTHEAST MISSOURI 8, BOWLING GREEN 4
CAPE GIRARDEAU, Mo. - Carlos Vega recorded six strikeouts in 3.1 shutout innings and Trevor Ezell went 3-for-5 with a home run, two runs and two RBI to lead Southeast Missouri (1-5) to a 8-4 come-from-behind win over Bowling Green (1-4) Saturday morning at Capaha Field.
The Redhawks trailed, 4-3, after six innings before using a big seventh inning to upend the Falcons.
SEMO scored all of its runs with two outs in the seventh. Danny Wright singled to left giving the Rehawks runners at first and second. Justin Dirden greeted reliever Chandler Stillings with a single to left field and Cole Bornhop scored. Ezell knocked in Wright for the go-ahead run on a base hit to left. Cleanup hitter Tristen Gagan followed with a double to right center. Ezell and Dirden both scored on the play to give SEMO a 7-4 advantage.
The Redhawks added one more run on another RBI-single by Dirden with two outs in the eighth inning to polish off their first victory of the season.
Starting right-hander Logan Spalt gave SEMO a quality start striking out five and walking none in 5.2 innings. Spalt also gave up four runs on seven hits in his no-decision.
Vega (1-0) dominated the rest of the way, allowing only one hit in the final 3.1 innings. He retired 10 of the 11 hitters he faced and sat BGSU down in order in the seventh, eighth and ninth innings en route to his first win of the year. Vega recorded four-straight strikeouts between the seventh and eighth frames.
Stillings (0-2) took the loss. He did not get an out and gave up two runs on three hits.
Ezell, who hit safely in his sixth-straight game, added a solo home run to make it a one-run game in the bottom of the sixth. It was Ezell's first home run of the season and SEMO's third of the year.
Wright went 2-for-4 with a run scored and Dirden finished at 2-for-4 with three RBI ahead of Ezell in the lineup. Devon Wilson, who made his first career start in center field, went 2-for-3 with a run and one RBI. Connor Basler collected two hits, as well.
The Redhawks outhit the Falcons, 13-8, and went error free for the first time this year. SEMO has a total of 24 hits in two games against BGSU. Additionally, the Redhawks have scored nine runs during the seventh inning in the series.
Neil Lambert, Jeff Scott and Dylan Dohanos paced the Falcons with two hits each.
TENNESSEE TECH 30, ILLINOIS STATE 17
COOKEVILLE, Tenn. - Home runs were hit. Runs were scored. Records were broken. When all was said and done Saturday afternoon, Tennessee Tech came out on top, winning a crazy, four-hour and 51-minute shootout in game two of its three-game series against Illinois State, 30-17.
The Golden Eagles (4-1) broke five school records against the Redbirds (2-3), while two Tech players tied individual program marks. Already a vaunted offense, TTU showed off the power to the tune of a program-best 11 home runs on the day, shattering the previous mark of eight set back in 2008. The home squad also mashed five in the third frame alone, a single-inning record for the team.
Tech's 27 hits in the contest also set a new standard for the program, besting previous record of 26 set in 2016. Combined, the two teams totaled 47 runs (easily beating the past record of 40) and 14 home runs (much better than the previous mark of 10).
The win marked just the third time in program history that a Golden Eagle squad scored at least 30 runs in single contest.
Senior Trevor Putzig and junior Kevin Strohschein each tied the school record for home runs in a single game, blasting three apiece in the contest. Putzig led the way offensively, finishing 5-for-6 with career-highs of five runs scored and seven RBI. Strohschein tallied four RBI and four runs as part of a 4-for-7 showing.
Junior center fielder Alex Junior finished just a single shy of the cycle, recording a double, triple and home run as part of a 3-for-5 display out of the leadoff spot. He drove in three while scoring four times. Chase Chambers added four RBI to the mix while David Garza, Jason Hinchman and Brennon Kaleiwahea also tallied multiple RBI.
Making his first collegiate start, redshirt freshman outfielder Zell Walker totaled three RBI with a 2-for-4 day, scoring four time while also clubbing his first home run as a Golden Eagle. Fellow redshirt freshman Tyler Sylvester picked up his first career in his first collegiate appearance, tossing the final two innings of no-hit and scoreless ball, a rarity on the day.
Illinois State looked to be in control of things early, attacking right out of the gate with three runs in the top of the first. Tech answered with a solo shot off the bat of Putzig, but things stayed relatively quiet until the third.
Trailing 3-1, Tech kicked off a scoring frenzy and pseudo home run derby in the bottom of the third, beginning with a solo bomb down the right field line by Junior, his third of the year. Putzig made it back-to-back jacks with his second solo dinger of the game.
Strohschein narrowly cranked out another consecutive long ball in the next at bat, but had to settle for a double off the wall in right field. Chambers followed, getting the Golden Eagles back into the home run spirit with a 2-run moon shot to center field. Not to be outdone, junior John Ham went back-to-back with Chambers thanks to a long ball to right field. Three batters later, Walker helped the team make history with its fifth round-tripper of the inning, a two-run oppo taco to right field.
The 8-3 lead became 8-6 relatively quickly, but the Golden Eagle offense trudged forward, plating five more in the bottom of the fourth, without the benefit of a home run, for a 13-6 advantage. Once again, the Redbirds answered, this time retaking the lead, 14-13, with eight runs in the top of the fifth.
In the blink of an eye, things were tied at 14-14. On a full count, Strohschein torched a leadoff boomer to right center field to knot things up. While it represented the only long ball of the frame, it kicked off another scoring frenzy that equated to eight more Tech runs and a commanding 21-14 lead.
Illinois State managed to score single runs in each of the next three innings, but Tech bested that mark with a total of nine over the final three frames. The offensive onslaught that carried over to the final three innings included Garza's first wall jumper, as well as Strohschein's second and third canaries and Putzig's third pop tart. (With so many home runs, we've had to make up a few synonyms).
All-in-all, the record-breaking performance ended in the most important stat of them all, a W.
BELMONT 25, FAIRLEIGH DICKINSON 9
NASHVILLE - Belmont baseball notched a commanding defeat over the Fairleigh Dickinson Knights on Saturday afternoon. Belmont's bats came alive early and continued to be hot throughout during their 25-13 rout of the Knights at E.S. Rose Park.
After a scoreless first inning, Fairleigh Dickinson notched the first run of the game in the top of the second after two doubles. Belmont stepped up and put out the next three batters to end the inning. Belmont's bats came alive in the bottom of the second. Junior Devon Gardner (Maryville, Tenn.) started things off with a double to center field. Four Bruins would record hits on the inning with four RBIs to take the lead at 4-1.
The Bruins would never relinquish the lead for the remainder of the game. Senior Connor Etheridge (Springfield, Ill.) started on the bump for the Bruins. During his five innings he struck out six batters and only walked one.
Belmont would have their biggest inning in the bottom of the fourth. Junior Hunter Holland (Soddy Daisy, Tenn.) started the inning with a double to center field. The next five batters would register base hits forcing a Knight's pitching change. The Knights were able to stop the bleeding, ending the inning with a strikeout. Belmont took a 12-1 lead into the top of the fifth.
The Knights attempted to close the gap, having a big inning of their own in the top of the fifth. Their first three batters would rocket base hits before a three-run homer and a solo home run. Etheridge was able to end Farleigh Dickinson's hopes with a strikeout to retire the side, but not before the Knights put the pressure on the Bruins narrowing the lead to 12-7.
The Bruins kept their cool and continued to fire of hits. In the bottom of the fifth, freshman Jackson Campbell (Russellville, Ky.) registered his first hit with a bomb to left field for his first collegiate home run that drove in two runs. The very next batter, senior Cully Day (Mahomet, Ill.) blasted one of his own for back-to-back homers.
Freshman Stone Selby (Hohenwald, Tenn.) took over the mound in the top of the sixth. The Knights were able to get a walk and a hit to put themselves in scoring position. A sacrifice bunt and a single would send two runners home forcing a Belmont pitching change. Senior Austin Reynolds (Smyrna, Tenn.) took the hill and struck out his first batter before retiring the side.
Belmont notched another four runs in the bottom of the sixth. Senior Kyle Conger (Brentwood, Tenn.) blasted a three-run homerun to keep the Bruins offense hot. The Knights wouldn't score for the remainder of the game while Belmont would score three runs in the bottom of the seventh and eighth. Sophomore Matt Cogen (Franklin, Tenn.) got in on the action with a homer of his own in the bottom of the eighth.
Reynolds had an incredibly efficient outing pitching 3.2 innings, allowing only one hit, walked one, while allowing no runs and sat down five.
EASTERN ILLINOIS 10, MEMPHIS 9
MEMPHIS, Tenn. - A thirty minute delay pushed back the start of game two of the series between Eastern Illinois and Memphis. The Panthers were able to secure their third consecutive victory defeating the Tigers 10-9.
With the win Eastern Illinois advances to 3-2 on the season, while Memphis drops to 2-4 on the season.
The Panthers came out firing offensively to start the game scoring four runs. Joe Duncan led off the game for the Panthers with a double down the left field line. Jimmy Govern would then reach first on an error by third basemen Kyle O'Keefe which scored Duncan. Govern moved into scoring position on a Logan Beaman sacrifice bunt. A Hunter Morris single would extend the Panther lead to two scoring Govern. Jimmy Huber hit a two run single to give the Panthers a 4-0 lead in the first.
Eastern Illinois would add another run to their lead (5-0) in the fourth inning when Huber scored on a Duncan fielder's choice.
Memphis answered back in the bottom of the fourth with three runs. Evan Bell would get the Tigers into the scoring column with a two run homer. The Tigers were able to add another run in the bottom of the fourth to cut the Panther lead down to two on a Jason Santana sacrifice fly.
The Panthers immediately answered back in the top of the fifth tallying three more runs. Dougie Parks kicked off the rally with a one out double to left center. Parks would then be awarded third on a balk, which led to a Morris RBI single. Matt Albert followed up with a two run homer to give the Panthers a 8-3 lead.
Memphis would battle back in the bottom of the sixth inning. Kyle O'Keefe led off the inning for the Tigers with a leadoff single. O'Keefe would be thrown out on a five-four-three double play. A Jason Santana two-out single through the left side would spark a Tiger rally. Colton Neel would also single through the left side advancing Santana to second. Tyler Webb would then hit a two run double through the left side cutting the Panther lead to five.
Andrew Curran would get the Panthers on the board in the top of the seventh inning with an RBI single to short scoring Huber. Eastern Illinois would reach double digits in the scoring column on a Govern two out single scoring.
Memphis added three more runs in the 7th inning on a Nick Vaage two run single to left, and a Colton Neel sacrifice fly to cut the score to 10-8.
The Tigers would attempt the comeback in the bottom of the ninth scoring on an Alec Trela double to left center. Michael Starcevich however, was able to defend the Panther lead and pick up his second save of the year to lift Eastern Illinois over Memphis 10-9.
Jake Haberer earned his first win of the season tossing 1.2 shutout innings, striking out two, surrendering two hits, and a walk. Stracevich picked up his second save tossing 1.1 innings in relief, striking out two batters, allowing one hit, one run, and one walk.
Huber finished the day 3-for-3 with two RBIs, two runs, and a walk. Albert finished the day 1-for-4 with a homerun, two RBIs, two runs, one walk, and one stolen base. Curran finished 2-for-3 with two walks, one RBI, and a run.
LOUISIANA TECH 4, SIUE 1
RUSTON, La. - Ryan Byrd turned in five innings in his first start in an SIUE uniform and The Cougar bullpen didn't allow a run over three innings, but Louisiana Tech picked up a 4-1 win over SIUE Saturday in the second game of a three-game series.
The Cougars dropped to 1-4. The Bulldogs improved to 5-2.
Louisiana Tech shortstop Dalton Skelton hit a two-run home run as part of the Bulldogs' four-run third, which accounted for all of their scoring. Skelton finished the day 2 for 4.
Byrd (0-1) allowed four runs, three earned, on eight hits over his five innings. He struck out two and walked one. Brock Fulkerson worked two scoreless innings out of the bullpen and struck out two. David Llorens worked to one hitter and Chris Robinson added a scoreless frame, striking out one.
The Cougars loaded the bases in the fifth inning with one out thanks to consecutive singles by Jared McCunn, Jackson Layton and Mario Tursi. Eric Giltz grounded into an inning-ending double play.
Louisiana Tech starter Logan Robbins (2-0) pitched 5.2 scoreless innings. He allowed just five hits, did not walk a hitter and struck out six.
SIUE's lone run came in the top of the ninth against Bulldog reliever Graham Alrich. Brock Weimer doubled with one out and moved to third on a single by Chris Monasmith. McCunn picked up the RBI on a fielder's choice which scored Weimer from third.
Weimer finished 2 for 4 with the run scored.
#13 SOUTHERN MISS 13-10, UT MARTIN 4-13
HATTIESBURG, Miss. - The University of Tennessee at Martin baseball team split today’s doubleheader against No. 13 ranked Southern Mississippi, dropping the first game 13-4 but rebounding in the 13-10 victory over the Golden Eagles. The victory marked the first of the season for the Skyhawks and was the first over a ranked opponent since April 17, 2015 when UT Martin defeated nationally ranked Missouri State.
On the day, Carson Shrode (four hits, one home run, two RBIs and four runs scored), Casey Harford (four hits, one home run, two RBIs and two runs scored), Blake Davis (three hits, one home run, five RBIs and two runs scored) and JoJo Allen (grand slam, four RBIs) all led the Skyhawks at the plate.
On the bump for UT Martin (1-6), the Skyhawk pitching staff fanned a total of 13 Southern Miss batters in the twin bill.
In the first game of the day, UT Martin was led by Harford’s two hit and two RBI performance while Shrode and Tyler Albright also tallied an RBI apiece in the 13-4 loss. Both Harford and Shrode pounded out a homer each in the game.
Winston Cannon (0-2) was tagged with the loss as he pitched 3.2 innings of work and fanned four Golden Eagles but allowed 10 earned runs in his time on the hill. Dom Bazzani made his season debut as he logged 0.2 inning and fanned one Southern Miss batter but gave up two earned runs in this time on the mound. Peyton Cain would toss 3.2 innings of relief, giving up just one earned run and striking out two in the process.
Southern Miss would get on the board in the first inning but UT Martin would answer in the top of the second as Shrode belted a solo shot to even things up 1-1. Alas, the Golden Eagles hammered out 11 unanswered runs over the next four frames.
The Skyhawk sixth led off with an Ethan Whitley single before Harford’s two-run moonshot. Jordan Stoner reached base on an error before Ben Aslett and Albright would hit back-to-back singles, Albright driving Stoner in narrowing the gap 12-4. Southern Miss found a run in the home half of the sixth, giving the final score of 13-4.
The Skyhawks looked to be in store for another big inning in the eighth frame as Harford led off with a single, advanced on a Stoner groundout and reached third on a wild pitch but a pair of strikeouts left him stranded.
Cain faced just 15 batters in his time on the mound, making quick work of the seventh (where he recorded both of his strikeouts for the game) and eighth innings.
UT Martin found its footing in the second game on the day as it led the whole matchup. Davis led the way with three hits, five RBIs and a homer while Allen recorded a grand slam. The combination of Shrode, Harford, Stoner, Whitley, Billy Edwards and Nick Wohlbold accounted for a total of 11 hits.
Sam Folks (1-0) was fairly efficient as he tossed six innings and was credited for five earned runs with a pair of strikeouts in his time on the hill. Zack Denney logged a strikeout in his inning of work while Konnor Aherin clocked two innings and fanned three Golden Eagles in his tenure on the bump.
The Skyhawks struck early as the game led off with Stoner reaching base via hit by pitch before he stole second base. Shrode pounded out a double to plate Stoner followed by a Davis home run, giving UT Martin a 3-0 advantage.
Southern Miss answered with just one run in the second inning before the Skyhawks pushed back in the third frame. Harford would single before stealing second base and was followed up by a Shrode double. Davis then fouled out but was able to give Harford a little daylight as he scored on a throwing error and was followed by Shrode putting the Skyhawks up by a 5-1 margin.
UT Martin had another multi-RBI inning in the fourth inning. Whitley led off with a single up the middle before he advanced to second base on a wild pitch. Allen then reached base on a fielder’s choice before Wohlbold tallied a single to plate Whitley. Next, Edwards doubled to push Wohlbold across home plate, giving the Skyhawks a 7-1 lead. Folks sliced right through the Southern Miss lineup in the fourth inning as he retired the side.
Another big inning came for UT Martin in the fifth frame as Shrode led off with a single up the right side followed by a Davis single up the left side. Whitley then reached base on an error, loading the bases as Allen stepped up to the plate. The count 2-1, Allen uncorked a grand slam to bust the game wide open and give the Skyhawks a 11-1 advantage.
The Golden Eagles would score eight unanswered runs over the next three innings before UT Martin unloaded again in the eighth frame. Wohlbold led off with an infield single followed by an Edwards walk. Shrode would be given the respect of being intentionally walked before Davis singled to left field and plated Wohlbold and Edwards. The Skyhawks would then have a 13-9 lead before Southern Miss tallied one more run to give the final score of 13-10.