TUESDAY'S SCORES
@Tennessee Tech 27, Lipscomb 7
Southern Illinois 3,
@Belmont 0
Eastern Illinois 4, @Lindenwood Belleville 1
@#8 Ole Miss 7,
Murray State 6
@Memphis 3,
Southeast MissourI 2
@#5 Vanderbilt 19,
Austin Peay 6
Jacksonville State 4, @UAB 2
TENNESSEE TECH 27, LIPSCOMB 7
COOKEVILLE, Tenn. - Just three days after a record-setting offensive performance, the Tennessee Tech baseball team was back at it again Tuesday afternoon, exploding with the bats again on its way to a huge victory over in-state rival Lipscomb.
On Saturday, Tech went nuts at the plate, erupting for a 30-17 victory behind a program-record 11 home runs and new school standard of 27 hits. On Tuesday, the Golden Eagles (5-2) rewrote the record books again, connecting for 29 hits in a 27-7 win over the Bisons (3-5).
The bottom two spots in the order provided over half of the offensive production on the day, with sophomore Cody Littlejohn enjoying a breakout performance. The second baseman finished 4-for-6 with eight RBI, falling just one shy of the Tech single-game record. He also scored four runs while tallying three doubles and a grand slam.
Also enjoying a career-day at the dish, catcher Brennon Kaleiwahea drove in seven runs while scoring three times. The senior backstop tallied four hits in six at bats, including his first long ball of the year.
There was a little family reunion in the ballpark, as senior Chase Chambers squared off against his younger brother, Lipscomb freshman outfielder Chandler Chambers, for the first time in his career. The Golden Eagle first baseman was nearly perfect on the day, tallying five hits in six at bats for two RBI and four runs scored. He also finished just a triple shy of the cycle.
Senior third baseman Trevor Putzig drove in four more runs on two hits after taking home both Ohio Valley Conference Player of the Week and Collegiate Baseball Newspaper National Player of the Week honors on Monday. Sophomore designated hitter Anthony Carrera joined Chambers in just missing out on hitting for the cycle, falling just a round tripper short.
Subbing in at third base as a pinch hitter later in the contest, redshirt freshman Hunter Higdon had a day to remember. After doubling in his first plate appearance, he followed it up by smashing his first career long ball to right field.
On the hill, junior Alex Hursey garnered the victory, his first in the purple and gold. Out of the bullpen, redshirt freshman Tyler Sylvester turned in a solid showing, gathering all four outs he recorded via the strikeout. Sophomore Seth Noel followed by flinging a perfect seventh frame.
Rookie Jacob Parham took over in the eighth, punching out all three batters he faced with just 14 pitches. Grant Phillips covered the final inning, striking out the side in the process.
The game seemed to be like any other early, with the Golden Eagles scoring a single run in the bottom of the first on a sacrifice fly by Trevor Putzig.
Things quickly changed in the second, however, as 14 batters took to the plate for the home team. Tech plated 11 runs in the frame, highlighted by Littlejohn's four-run circus clout off a fresh Lipscomb reliever.
Tech plated five runs in the fifth and eighth innings as part of the offensive explosion. In fact, the only inning the Golden Eagles didn't dent home plate, the seventh, the team still managed an extra base hit.
SOUTHERN ILLINOIS 3, BELMONT 0
NASHVILLE - Belmont dropped a 3-0 decision to Southern Illinois in a midweek game Tuesday afternoon.
The Salukis scored in the first inning and never looked back. After a lead-off walk, Kopach advanced and ultimately scored on a sacrifice fly.
Belmont's offensive struggles started early, having a three up three down inning in the bottom of the first.
Neither team would get much going in the next two innings. Freshman Jackson Campbell (Russelville, Ky.) registered the first hit for the home team with a double to left center field. With two outs and one runner in scoring position, senior Cully Day (Mahomet, Ill.) stepped up to the plate, but would ground out to retire the side.
SIU would extend the lead in the top of the fourth, notching two more runs. The first batter reached on a Belmont error and was put in scoring position after the next batter rocketed a double to center field. The next two Salukis would drive both base runners home.
Belmont's second hit of the night came off the bat of senior Hunter Holland (Zionsville, Ind.). His single to left field sparked some offense for the Bruins. The next batter, sophomore Matt Cogen (Franklin, Tenn.) advanced on a fielder's choice and advanced to second on a wild pitch. Senior Chas Hadden (Morristown, Tenn.) walked to give BU two base runners with only one out. The Bruins were unable to cash in as the next two to the plate struck out and grounded out respectively.
SIU pitcher Brad Harrison retired four straight batters swinging in the sixth and seventh innings, putting a stop to Belmont's momentum. Belmont couldn't generate any offense for the remainder of the game ultimately falling 3-0.
Sophomore Justin Fowlkes (Collierville, Tenn.) pitched five innings, striking out two. Sophomore Brandon Liskey (Harrisonburg, Va.) was efficient in his outing, pitching an inning and striking out two. Senior Austin Reynolds (Smyrna, Tenn.) and freshman Kyle Brennan (Franklin, Tenn.) both pitched an inning on the mound.
EASTERN ILLINOIS 4, LINDENWOOD BELLEVILLE 1
BELLEVILLE, Ill. - The Eastern Illinois baseball team extended their winning streak to five games Tuesday evening. The Panther record of 5-2 to start the season marks EIU's best start to a season since 2009. Eastern Illinois was able to defeat Lindenwood 4-1 during the midweek tilt.
With the record Eastern Illinois advances to 5-2, while Lindenwood dropped to 6-9 on the season.
The Panther pitching staff had a dominant performance this evening to help secure Eastern Illinois fifth victory in a row. Newcomer Tyler Jones got the start on the hill for the Panthers. Jones picked up his first victory as a
Panther tossing five shutout innings, surrendering three hits, and striking out four batters.
Eastern Illinois broke the scoring column open in the fourth inning scoring all their runs in the game. Cullen Stockley's throwing error would kick off the inning for the Panthers as Logan Beaman reached first safely. A Hunter Morris walk would advance Beaman into scoring position. Matt Albert would follow up connecting on his second homerun of the season clearing the bases. Justin Smith would keep the inning alive for the Panthers with a two out double to left center. After a Hunter Beetley walk, Joseph Duncan would drive Smith home on a single to left.
Will Klein came in for Jones in the bottom of the sixth. Klien would keep the Panther shutout alive striking out one batter, and surrendering one walk in one inning pitched. Jack Wolfe would make his first appearance as a Panther in the bottom of the seventh.
Lindenwood was able to get on the board in the bottom of the eighth inning on a Matt Crook single.
Derek Flaugher came in for relief for Ben Stephens in the bottom of the eighth. Flaugher pitched 1.1 innings, striking out one batter, surrendering two walks, and a hit. Michael Starcevich came in to close out the game earning the Panthers their fifth win by striking out Aaron Fuller.
Duncan finished 3-for-5 with one RBI. Dougie Parks would finish the evening 2-for-5 with a double. Albert finished 1-for-3 leading the Panthers in RBIs with three, one run, and a home run.
#8 OLE MISS 7, MURRAY STATE 6
OXFORD, Miss. - The Murray State baseball team jumped out to an early four-run lead Tuesday night at undefeated and eighth-ranked Ole Miss in Oxford, Miss., but the Rebels were able to rally and win on a walk off wild pitch in the bottom of the ninth.
MSU (4-4) got four runs in the top of the first inning thanks to Davis Sims and Gavin Wehby. Sims got the Racers going on his first home run of the season as he hit a three-run shot to open up the scoring, four batters later, Wehby’s double down the right field line brought home Ramsey Scott and MSU was up 4-0.
Both teams remained without another run until the bottom of the fourth when the Rebels (8-0) got on the board to make it 4-1. In the fifth, Ole Miss grabbed its first lead of the night thanks to a four-run inning of its own to make it 5-4.
However, the Racers would not go away as they scored in consecutive innings, first in the seventh tying the score at 5-5 on an RBI single from Tyler Duke that scored Wehby and then in the eighth as pinch runner Jake Slunder scored from second on a wild pitch by Ole Miss that came on a third strike. The Rebels were able to respond to tie the game at six all in the bottom of the eighth and then in the ninth, scored on a bases-loaded wild pitch with one out in the ninth to come away with the win.
Duke was the only Racer with multiple hits on the night as he went 2-for-4. Mike Farnell, Scott and Wehby all went 1-of-3 in the loss with Scott recording a double in the first inning. MSU was out-hit 10-8 in the contest and left five stranded on base while the Rebels left nine on.
Alec Whaly suffered his first loss of the season (2-1) in the game as he pitched 2.1 innings of relief and allowed two runs. Luke Brown got the start and went 4.1 innings, allowing three runs off five hits while striking out five batters. Tyler Anderson, Chance Carner, Caleb Hicks and Nate Pianto also appeared in relief in the loss.
MEMPHIS 3, SOUTHEAST MISSOURI 2
MEMPHIS, Tenn. - Kyle Ouellette hit a walkoff single with one out in the bottom of the ninth inning to give Memphis (2-5) a 3-2 win over Southeast Missouri (2-7) Tuesday in midweek action at FedExPark.
SEMO led, 2-1, entering the bottom of the ninth inning when Alec Trela led off with a single to right field. The Redhawks made a pitching change after Trela's hit with Carlos Vega replacing Ryan Losman on the mound.
Nick Vaage walked and Trela advanced to second. On the next play, Evan Bell hit into a fielder's choice and Trela was out at third. Colton Neel walked to load the bases after that. Ouelette then stepped in and ripped a first-pitch single to right field. Vaage and Neel both scored on the hit sending the Tigers to victory.
Ouellette's game-winner came after the Redhawks took a 2-1 advantage on a two-out, two-RBI single by Trevor Ezell in the top of the eighth. Danny Wright and Connor Basler scored on Ezell's clutch hit. Wright was hit by a pitch and Basler walked to get on base.
Left-hander Danny Denz and right-hander Ashton Holyfield engaged in a strong pitcher's duel through six innings.
Holyfield, in his second midweek start for SEMO, gave up only three hits and a run, while striking out four.
Denz had a nearly identical line scattering three hits and striking out four in six scoreless frames.
Reliever Ryan Losman was charged with the first run of the game in the bottom of the seventh. Vaage, who led off the inning with a walk, came around to score with the help of two wild pitches.
Vega (1-1) suffered the loss after walking two and giving up one run on one hit in one-third of an inning.
Blake Bennett (1-0) was credited with the win out of Memphis' bullpen. Bennett struck out two and allowed two hits in 1.1 scoreless innings.
Ezell, who ran his hitting streak to nine games, went 2-for-3 with two RBI to lead SEMO. Wright, Justin Dirden and Chase Urhahn followed with one hit apiece.
#5 VANDERBILT 19, AUSTIN PEAY 6
NASHVILLE - Left fielder Andrew Flaherty had two hits, including a home run, and three RBI but Austin Peay State University’s baseball team could not solve No. 5 Vanderbilt in a 19-6 loss, Tuesday night at Hawkins Field.
Austin Peay (6-2) scored the game’s first run with right fielder Nick Walker’s sacrifice fly in the third inning. However, Vanderbilt scored the game’s next 11 runs to break the game open.
The Governors would plate three runs in the fifth and two more in the eighth with Flaherty having a hand in both frames. He nearly left the park in the fifth, driving a ball six feet below the top of the high wall in left for a two-run double. In the eighth, Flaherty left no doubt with his leadoff home run easily clearing the left field wall.
Flaherty finished the night 2-for-4 with three RBI to pace the Govs six-run, six-hit attack. Center fielder Imani Willis had the Govs only other multi-hit outing, going 2-for-4.
Govs starting pitcher Harley Gollert (1-1) made his first collegiate start and was tagged for the loss after allowing four runs in 3.1 innings.
Vanderbilt third baseman Jayson Gonzalez went 4-for-4 with two doubles and four RBI. Second baseman Ethan Paul also had four RBI in his 3-for-6 outing.
Commodores starter Mason Hickman (2-0) notched the win hafter holding the Govs to one run on two hits in four innings work.
JACKSONVILLE STATE 4, UAB 2
BIRMINGHAM, Ala. - The Jacksonville State baseball team notched its first midweek win of the season with a 4-2 decision over UAB on Tuesday at Regions Field.
The win moved the Gamecocks' overall mark to 6-2 on the season, while the Blazers dropped to 4-2 overall. Jax State will carry a two-game winning streak to Miami, Florida this weekend as it will face Florida International in a three-game set, beginning on Friday.
Timely hitting by the Gamecocks and another stellar outing for the JSU pitching staff keyed the win over the Blazers. Senior Clayton Daniel's RBI single in the fifth broke up a 2-2 deadlock and proved to be the game-winning RBI. After staving off UAB scoring threats in the sixth and seventh seniors Grant Chandler and Trent Simpson closed out the final two innings by retiring the next six UAB batters. Jax State pushed an insurance run across the plate in the eighth with an RBI sacrifice fly by Taylor Hawthorne.
Redshirt freshman Sean Rape earned his first career start in the contest and tossed 2.2 innings and allowing both of UABS runs without allowing a hit. The Blazers plated their two runs in the third on two fielders choice plays. JSU had four early fielding miscues but bounced back to make the needed plays late in the game, including a pair of double plays. The defense responded in the seventh after a pair of UAB runners reached base. Junior transfer Austin Brewster induced a fly ball to left field to Nolan Greckel and the runner at second was erased by Greckel trying to advance to third. Brewster would end the threat by picking off the runner at first.
Brewster was one of four guys used by JSU out of the bullpen. The relievers allowed just four UAB hits in the contest. Including Saturday's no-hitter, the Gamecock arms have surrendered just four hits in 18 innings of work. Redshirt sophomore Tyler Wilburn turned in one of his best outings so far with 2.2 innings-pitched and posted three strikeouts to earn his first career win as a Gamecock.
It was a mirror image of Saturday's final game with Radford as Chandler retired the Blazers in order in the eighth to set up Trent Simpson for the save opportunity. Simpson picked up his second ave of the season and fourth of his career.
JSU took an early 1-0 lead in the second with an RBO sacrifice fly, scoring Andrew Naismith. Junior Nic Gaddis, who was the only Gamecock with multiple hits, had a game-tying RBI sacrifice fly in the fourth.
Jax State finished with nine hits on the evening and eight of the nine hitters in the order had a hit, but all nine reached base.