FRIDAY'S SCORES
SIUE 10-5, @Murray State 7-6
@Tennessee Tech 13-12, UT Martin 10-5
@Belmont 15, Eastern Kentucky 5
@Southeast Missouri 5, Morehead State 4
Austin Peay 7, @Jacksonville State 4
@#8 Ole Miss 7-4,
Eastern Illinois 2-0
SIUE 10-5, MURRAY STATE 7-6
MURRAY, Ky. - Ramsey Scott’s third home run of the season, in the bottom of the ninth inning, walked Murray State off with a 6-5 victory over SIU Edwardsville Friday night at Reagan Field, as MSU was able to split an OVC-opening doubleheader with the Cougars. SIUE won game one 10-7 in 10 innings earlier in the day.
Scott took the 1-1 pitch over the right field wall with two outs in the inning to break the 5-5 tie and give MSU (8-7, 1-1 OVC) its first conference victory of the season. Scott went 1-for-4 with an RBI in both games of the day.
The Cougars (5-7, 1-1 OVC) forced the game to the bottom of the ninth after a two-out single up the gut tied the game at 5-5 in the top half of the inning. The Racers trailed for much of game two Friday, but were able to tie the game up at 4-4 in the sixth on a pinch-hit double by Caleb Hicks down the left field line that scored Ryan Perkins and Davis Sims. Mike Farnell’s RBI single through the right side of the infield gave MSU the lead in the bottom of the eighth before SIUE could tie things later on.
MSU was able to score the first run in both games Friday as game two saw a Bryan Chilton RBI single to left gave the Racers a 1-0 lead in the second. SIUE was able to take the lead and extend it to 4-1 after a pair of runs in the third and fourth innings. Grant Wood would score on a wild pitch in the bottom of the fourth to cut the deficit to 4-2.
SIUE out-hit the Racers 10-7 in the second game. Perkins and Wood both went 1-of-2 at the plate in the victory with Wood scoring three runs. Farnell and Hicks both went 1-for-1 in the nightcap while Sims also collected a hit.
Tyler Anderson took the win for the Racers as he pitched the ninth inning, allowing one run while striking out two batters. Blake Clynes pitched four innings in the start and gave up four runs on six hits while Jake Jones was stellar in relief, pitching four scoreless innings, allowing just two hits and striking out a career-high six batters.
As exciting as game two was for the Racers, game one on the day was just as disappointing as SIUE got a two-out, three-run double in the top of the 10th to get the opening victory. MSU was able to tie the game at 7-7 with a three-run bottom of the seventh as Brandon Gutzler, Scott and Sims all had RBI hits in the inning.
Gavin Wehby opened the game in style for the Racers as he hit a leadoff home run to center field in the first inning, his first homer with the Racers. After SIUE answered in the second with a solo shot of its own, MSU was able to retake the lead with three runs in the third as Gutzler and Wehby collected RBIs and Gutzler later scored on ground out in the inning.
SIUE was able to get a run back in the fifth to make it 4-2 Racers before a five-run sixth pushed the Cougars in the lead 7-4. The final three runs of that inning were unearned as the sixth was extended due to an MSU error.
Peyton Hayes again took the no decision in his start as he pitched five innings and allowed four runs on five hits. Hayes also struck-out five batters in the outing. Alec Whaley pitched an inning of a relief and gave up the three unearned runs. Chance Carner took the loss as he pitched 3.1 innings and allowed just one run on no hits while walking one and striking out three. Caleb Hicks recorded two outs in relief in game one.
Offensively, Gutzler, Sims and Wehby all had two-hit games as Gutzler and Sims both went 2-for-5 while Wehby was 2-of-3 with three runs scored. Both Gutzler and Wehby had two ribbies in the loss.
TENNESSEE TECH 13-12, UT MARTIN 10-5
COOKEVILLE, Tenn. - The opening of Ohio Valley Conference play went well for the Tennessee Tech baseball team Friday, as the Golden Eagles earned a doubleheader sweep over in-state rival UT Martin at Bush Stadium at the Averitt Express Baseball Complex.
Tech (9-4, 2-0) edged the Skyhawks (2-12, 0-2) took game one of the day, 13-11, and followed with a 12-5 victory in the second contest.
A three-run home run in the fourth inning of game one gave UT Martin its first and only lead of the day, a 3-2 advantage that Tech would quickly erase. In the bottom of the fifth, the Golden Eagles showed why they entered the day ranked as arguably the nation's top offense, plating six runs to take the lead for good.
Sophomore Anthony Carrera kicked off the frame, smashing his first home run of the season to right center field. Brennon Kaleiwahea followed with a double down the left field line. Alex Junior laid down a perfect bunt for a single down the third base line, setting up Trevor Putzig for a two-run double down the left field line.
He would later score on a wild pitch after Chase Chambers was hit by a pitch. Junior John Ham took his turn in the box, crushing a two-run bomb to left field to provide an 8-3 lead.
Tech gathered three more runs in the bottom of the sixth, including two off a two-run single through the right side from Kevin Strohschein.
UT Martin mounted a comeback, pulling within one run in the top of the eighth, making it an 11-10 contest. Ham provided the Golden Eagles with a pair of crucial insurance runs, blasting his second two-run dinger of the game, this one to center field.
The Skyhawks managed a solo shot in the ninth, but junior closer Ethan Roberts avoided any further damage in securing his third save of the season. All four outs recorded by Roberts came via the strikeout. Travis Moths earned his third victory of the season after tossing six and one third innings and striking out nine batters.
It was the pitching that carried the Golden Eagles early in the second contest, as junior Marcus Eveyturned in easily one of the best performances of his career. Making just his second career start, the right-hander struck out a whopping 13 batters in five and two thirds innings to garner his first win of the season. He allowed just four hits, one walk and three earned runs.
A close contest early, Tech blew open the contest from a 3-1 lead to a 7-1 advantage in the fifth. David Garza drove two runs in on a double to left field. Collin Harris followed with an RBI triple down the right field line and then scored on a ground out by Carrera.
The Skyhawks would plate two in the sixth, but the Golden Eagles quickly answered with three more in the bottom half. For the third time on the day, Ham crushed a long ball, this time a two-run jack job off the batter's eye in dead center field. Garza would later score on a balk to make it a 10-3 game.
Both sides traded a pair of runs down the stretch, with Tech coming out on top 12-5. Ty King earned his first save of the year after completing the final three and one third innings out of the bullpen.
BELMONT 15, EASTERN KENTUCKY 5
NASHVILLE - Belmont opened Ohio Valley Conference Play with a 15-5 victory over Eastern Kentucky behind an explosive fourth inning.
Senior Tyler Vaughn (Springfield, Ill.) started on the mound for the Bruins and started off the night sitting down the first batter he faced. He would retire the Colonels in order in three of the six innings he pitched. Vaughn struck out eight in his six innings of work, only allowing five hits and one run while walking two.
To go along with a solid defensive effort, the Bruins put together a solid effort on the offensive end. The Bruins had 15 runs on 15 hits.
Belmont got things going in the bottom of the second. After junior Chas Hadden (Morristown, Tenn.) led off with a base on balls, Senior Ben Kocher (Zionsville, Ind.) recorded BU's first hit of the night with a single to right field. With runners on first and third, senior Austin Reynolds (Smyrna, Tenn.) stepped up to the plate and send a RBI single to center field to send Hadden home to give Belmont the early edge. Kocher found his way around the bases for another run after a walk put him in scoring position.
Belmont continued to put the pressure on the Colonels in the bottom of the third. Senior Cully Day (Mahomet, Ill.) hit a solo shot for a team-high third home run this season.
The Bruins' bats exploded in the fourth inning to put the game out of reach for the Colonels. Kocher stepped to the plate first and hit a single to center field. After five consecutive base hits and a walk, Belmont had scored four runs with no outs. Junior Hunter Holland (Soddy Daisy, Tenn.) and sophomore Matt Cogen (Franklin, Tenn.) laid down a sacrifice bunt and a sacrifice fly to push in two more for the Bruins. After taking advantage and scoring on a pass ball, BU recorded another couple base hits and a walk before senior Kyle Conger (Brentwood, Tenn.) took his turn at-bat. Conger blasted one beyond the fence for a three-run homer to round out the scoring. Belmont took a 13-0 advantage after four innings.
The Colonels earned one back in the top of the sixth after a triple and a single to start the inning, but Belmont made three good defensive plays to keep the EKU threat to a minimum.
Reynolds got in on the long ball action in the bottom of the fourth, soaring one well over the left field fence for a solo shot. Belmont led 15-1 after six.
After a scoreless seventh, Eastern Kentucky tried to make things interesting. After the Colonel's leadoff batter was hit by a pitch, the next batter doubled to center field. Belmont would walk another and EKU would load the bases with one out. EKU sent pinch hitter Miles Jones to the plate to try and take advantage. He would send one out of the park for a grand slam to narrow the Belmont lead by four. Belmont responded with two quick outs to get out of the inning still holding a comfortable lead.
Cogen added one more run in the bottom of the eighth with the help of an RBI single from Kocher to round out the BU scoring. Belmont ultimately won the matchup 15-5.
Sophomore Brandon Liskey (Guilin, Ga.) pitched an inning of relief for the bruins striking out two of the three batters he faced. Freshman Edgar Parker (Jamestown, Tenn.) and sophomore Michael Matter (Ft. Myers, Fla.) also saw time on the mound for the Bruins.
SOUTHEAST MISSOURI 5, MOREHEAD STATE 4
CAPE GIRARDEAU, Mo. - Chase Urhahn went 4-for-4, with a double, scored the game-tying run and had a walk, and Connor Basler scored the winning run on a wild pitch to grab Southeast Missouri (4-10, 1-0) a 5-4 win over Morehead State (6-7, 0-1) Friday at Capaha Field.
SEMO gave head coach Andy Sawyers his first career victory in an Ohio Valley Conference opener. The Redhawks improved to 16-11 all-time in such games.
The Redhawks went hitless in five tries with the bases loaded, but scored a big run to snap a 4-4 tie in the bottom of the eighth inning.
Basler reached on a single up the middle out of the nine-hole and went to second on a wild pitch. He advanced to third when Peyton Faulkner grounded out. Urhahn walked following a great 10-pitch at-bat and Trevor Ezell reached on a walk to load the bases. Basler then scored the decisive run on a wild pitch by Cory Conway.
SEMO trailed, 4-2, before tying things up in the bottom of the seventh.
Faulkner led off the seventh with a walk and went to third on a double by Urhahn. Faulkner touched home when Ezell grounded out and Urhahn tied the game on Tristen Gagan's bases loaded walk.
Carlos Vega (3-1) tossed two perfect innings out of the bullpen to nail down the win for the Redhawks. Vega retired six-straight hitters on two fly ball outs, three groundball outs and a strikeout. He has three of his team's four wins this season.
Dom Masullo (1-1) suffered the loss in relief. Masullo allowed one run on one hit, struck out two and walked two in one inning.
Right-hander Logan Spalt made his first career Friday start for SEMO. Splat worked 4.1 innings, giving up three runs on six hits.
David Calderon opposed Spalt on the mound to start the game. Calderon recorded 10 strikeouts in five innings. He also scattered six hits and allowed two runs. Calderon threw 101 pitches.
Urhahn's four hits marked a season-high as he became the second Redhawk to finish with four hits in a game. Justin Dirden and Basler added two hits each.
The Redhawks edged the Eagles, 9-8, in the hit column. Both SEMO (12) and MSU (10) combined to leave 22 runners on base.
AUSTIN PEAY 7, JACKSONVILLE STATE 4
OXFORD, Ala. - First baseman Parker Phillips supplied a game-tying RBI then broke the tie two innings later with his second RBI as Austin Peay State University’s baseball team downed Jacksonville State, 7-4, in the Ohio Valley Conference opener for both teams, Friday morning, at Choccolocco Park.
Austin Peay (9-6, 1-0 OVC) trailed 4-1 entering the fifth inning when it pieced together a game-tying two-out rally. With catcher Alex Sala and shortstop Garrett Kueber on base, right fielder Nick Walker doubled down the right field line to drive in both baserunners. One batter later, Phillips found paydirt in left field and Walker scrambled home, tying the game 4-4.
The Governors would break the tie in the seventh, again with two outs. Second baseman Garrett Giovannelli walked and stole a base before Phillips returned to the plate and hit a fly ball to deep center field that eluded the JSU defense and allowed Giovannelli to score.
Austin Peay would then tack on two insurance runs in the eighth when center fielder Imani Willis hit a two-run home run to left, setting the final score.
The come-from-behind effort came just in time for APSU starting pitcher Michael Costanzo (3-0), who won the first road game of his career. The left hander surrendered four runs on a pair of home runs – a three-run third-inning shot by designated hitter Trent Simpson and a fourth-inning leadoff home run in the fourth.
However, Costanzo would respond by retiring the final eight batters he faced, three via a strikeout, to make it through six innings allowing seven hits and a walk while striking out nine. Reliever Brett Newberg took over and faced one more than the minimum over his three innings to notch his season’s first save.
Two days after being held to two hits in a loss at Samford, Austin Peay’s bats broke out for 12 hits in Friday’s win. Phillips went 2-for-4 with two RBI to pace the Govs with Walker, left fielder Andrew Flaherty and third baseman Malcolm Tipler also posting two hits each.
Jacksonville State (9-4, 0-1 OVC) finished with eight hits in the loss – their second home loss of 2018. Relief pitcher Tyler Wilburn (2-1) suffered the loss after allowing the go-ahead run in his two-inning outing.
#8 OLE MISS 7-4, EASTERN ILLINOIS 2-0
OXFORD, Miss. - Due to inclement weather projected on Saturday, the series between Eastern Illinois and Ole Miss kicked off with a double-header Friday afternoon. The host Rebels swept the doubleheader, picking up a pair of victories by scores of 7-2, and 4-0. EIU and Ole Miss will complete their three-game series on Sunday with first pitch set for 1:30 p.m.
Eastern Illinois dropped to 5-7 on the season, while Ole Miss advanced to 14-1.
Ole Miss took control early in the first game of the series. EIU would attempt the comeback late in the game but the Rebels offense came through to secure the victory 7-2.
Ole Miss got on the board early scoring three runs in the first inning. Grae Kessinger led off for the Rebels reaching on an Andrew Curren throwing error. Ryan Olenek followed up with a single to right advancing Kessinger into scoring postion. Nick Fortes would drive Kessinger in on a single up the middle. The Rebels would tack on two more runs scoring on back-to-back sacrifice flies. Ole Miss was able to extend their lead to four on a Tyler Keenan double to right center.
Ole Miss would add two more runs in the bottom of the second and third on two lead off homeruns by Jacob Adams, and Thomas Dillard.
The Panthers came out firing in the top of the fourth inning. Dougie Parks led off with a single through the left side. Matt Albert followed up blasting an opposite field double, advancing Parks to third. EIU would have the bases loaded after Tyler Tesmond drew a walk. Curran got EIU on the board with a two-out two-run single up the middle.
Ole Miss answered back in the bottom of the fifth inning scoring on a Chase Crockwell single.
Alex Stevenson took the loss for the Panthers dropping to a record of 1-2.
Matt Albert finished 2-for-4 with a double. Curren finished with two RBIs, going 1-for-4.
Ole Miss kept their momentum going from their first game as they took the lead early and completed the doubleheader sweep after picking up a 4-0 win in the second game.
Ole Miss got on the board first in the bottom of the third inning scoring two runs. Will Golson got the Rebels on the board with a two run single to right.
Cole Zabowski extended the Ole Miss lead to 3-0 on a sacrifice to third.
The Panthers almost got on the board in the top of the seventh inning when Frankie Perrone doubled to center nearly crushing his first home run of the season. Matt Albert was tagged out at the plate on the play trying to get EIU their first run of the game.
Ole Miss added another run in the bottom of the eighth when Tyler Dillard singled through the right side.
Blake Malatestinic took his first loss as a Panther as he allowed three runs in 6.2 innings.
Joseph Duncan finished 2-for-4 at the plate, while Josh Turnock finished 2-for-3.