SATURDAY'S SCORES
Austin Peay 15, @Morehead State 9
Jacksonville State 18-5, @Belmont 4-4
@Eastern Kentucky 5, Eastern Illinois 0
@Southeast Missouri 8-7, Murray State 6-5
@UT Martin 7-6, SIUE 1-17
@#21 Tennessee Tech 11-18, Southern Illinois 4-5
AUSTIN PEAY 15, MOREHEAD STATE 9
MOREHEAD, Ky. - Right fielder Kyle Wilson, left fielder Nick Walker and catcher Alex Sala each hit home runs as Austin Peay State University’s baseball team powered its way to a 15-9 Ohio Valley Conference victory against Morehead State, Saturday, at Allen Field.
After an early six-run outburst in the first two innings, Austin Peay (23-16, 13-7 OVC) suffered through a three-inning scoring drought that saw Morehead State tie the game, 6-6. The Governors broke the tie in the sixth inning thanks to Walker, whose three-run home run gave the Govs a 9-6 lead. Austin Peay would eventually send nine batters to the plate in the sixth, center fielder Imani Willis adding a RBI single for a 10-6 advantage.
The Governors would extend their lead in the eighth and ninth innings. In the eighth, Sala came to plate with two outs and hit a pinch-hit three-run home run to center field. Designated hitter John McDonald than supplied a two-run single in the ninth and the Govs lead reached 15-6.
Morehead State (24-16, 11-6 OVC) would again rally late, sending seven men to the plate in the ninth inning. Three straight base hits with two outs helped plate three runs. Center fielder Connor Pauly had a RBI single and designated hitter Eli Boggess drove in a pair of runs with a double, setting the final score. Govs reliever Brett Newberg struck out the next man he faced to end the game.
The late outburst helped Govs starter Jacques Pucheu (5-1) pick up a win after a gutsy 5.1-inning outing. He battled through the first three innings, surrendering a pair of home runs, as Morehead State rallied to tie the game. However, after allowing the second home run he buckled down and retired seven consecutive batters to stretch his outing into the sixth inning.
Morehead State reliever John Sherman (1-1) was tagged for the loss despite holding the Govs to one run on two hits in his 2.1-inning outing. However, he left APSU second baseman Garrett Giovannelli on base and the Eagles bullpen surrendered the tiebreaking home run to Nick Walker two batters later.
Giovannelli’s 4-for-6 outing saw him score three times and he also was pivotal on defense, helping turn two double plays late to end Morehead State threats. First baseman Parker Phillips, Walker and Wilson each had two hits, Austin Peay finishing with 19 hits on the day.
Eagles left fielder Niko Hulsizer hit a two-run home run in the first inning as part of his 3-for-5, three RBI outing. Second baseman Braxton Morris also had three hits in Morehead State’s 15-hit day.
JACKSONVILLE STATE 18-5, BELMONT 4-4
NASHVILLE - Jacksonville State completed its second Ohio Valley Conference sweep of the season with a a pair of wins over Belmont on Saturday at Rose Park in Nashville.
The Gamecocks, who won the opening game on Friday evening, 4-3, cruised to an 18-4 win in Saturday's opener and finished off the sweep with a 5-4, 12-inning decision over the Bruins. The three-game sweep was JSU's first since compiling three wins over Murray State in Birmingham, Alabama in late March. JSU improved to 22-14 on the season and moved to 11-7 in OVC play. The Bruins fell to 14-25 overall, 9-12 in league contests. Jax State has now won four of the last six series against Belmont and tallied the first sweep of the Nashville-based program since the 2015 campaign.
In the opener, the Gamecocks scored 17 of the 18 runs in the first four innings and broke open the contest with a season-high eight runs in the fourth inning. JSU, who touched Belmont starting pitching early on Friday, did the exact same thing in twinbill opener with multiple runs in each of the first four frames. JSU handed junior Derrick Adams a 3-0 cushion to work with and that would be all the left hander would need in his six-inning outing. Senior Trent Simpson, who was one of six Gamecocks with multiple RBI, drove in the first run of the game, followed by freshman Isaac Alexander's two-out RBI single. Junior Nic Gaddis, who drove in four runs, pushed two runs across the plate with another two-out single.
Belmont cut the lead to 5-2 with two runs off of Adams in the second inning, but the JSU bats remained hot with a four-run third inning and the eight-run fourth. The four-run third was highlighted by senior Clayton Daniel's two-run home run over the left field wall. It was Daniel's second home run of the season and third in his career. Daniel would go on to finish the day 4-for-5 and reached base five times in game one. The Guntersville, Alabama native would finish Saturday with the six hits and reached base 10 times with four walks.
JSU sent 13 batters to the plate in the fourth, which was started by a home run by sophomore Andrew Naismith. Freshman Cole Frederick recorded a pair of RBI with a double, while Daniel singled in a run and junior Gaddis turned in a double.
Gaddis was solid at the plate in the double dip with four hits and six RBI, including the game-winning RBI in the 12th of the nightcap.
In complete control of the game by JSU, the Bruins posted their final two runs off Adams in the fifth. Adams moved to 3-2 on the season after tossing the first six innings. JSU was able to get some work in for Sean Rape and Cody Willingham over the final three innings.
As the sun began to fade with the downtown Nashville scene in the background, so did the big innings for the Gamecocks in the second game. Belmont took its first and only lead of the weekend in the opening at bat with a sacrifice fly RBI off o senior Colton Pate.
Bruins' starter Casey Queener handcuffed JSU's lineup for the first four innings before JSU broke through to equalize in the fifth. Queener recorded nine strikeouts, but issued five walks in his outing.
Senior Taylor Hawthorne, who had two of JSU's RBI in the final game, had the RBI in the fifth on a fielders choice.
Pate settled in after issuing the run in the first as he would go on to pitch 5.2 innings and touched for a second run in the sixth after JSU broke a 1-1 deadlock with a three-run top of the sixth. Pate posted six strikeouts and gave up four hits.
JSU put together timely hits in the sixth to take the lead with back-to-back two-out RBI singles by Hawthorne and Gaddis. Simpson gave JSU a lead with a sacrifice fly RBI.
The Bruins rallied in the ninth to send the game to extra innings with two runs off of Simpson, who was in line for the save.
JSU scored the game-winning run after a costly error opened the door for the scoring opportunity. Gaddis belted a single to left field, scoring Daniel.
Senior Grant Chandler, who made his 88 career appearance in the 1th got the win after another threat by Belmont in the 12th. With runners on the corners, Chandler induced a game-ending double play turned by Alexander, Daniel and Naismith.
EASTERN KENTUCKY 5, EASTERN ILLINOIS 0
RICHMOND, Ky. - Ryland Kerr hit two home runs and Tyler Romanik hit one dinger as the Eastern Kentucky University baseball team beat Eastern Illinois University, 5-0, on Saturday at Earle Combs Stadium.
With the win, the Colonels clinched the Ohio Valley Conference series. EKU improved to 20-20 this season and moved to 11-6 in OVC play. Eastern Kentucky has won four of its six conference series this season.
Kerr got it started in the bottom of the first with a two-run home run over the wall in right center. In his next trip to the plate, Kerr made it 3-0 in the third inning with a solo shot to right center again. It was his third and fourth home runs of the season.
Romanik hit his third of the season in the fourth inning, sending the ball over the wall in center field. He drove in another run in the eighth with a double to left center.
Jack Piekos (2-2) pitched six shutout innings to earn the win. He allowed just three hits, walked two and struck out seven. Aaron Ochsenbein pitched a spotless ninth inning and struck out two.
Four EKU pitchers combined for the team’s second shutout of the season.
Kerr finished the night 3-for-4 with two runs and three RBIs. Romanik was 2-for-4 with a run and two RBIs.
Three different players had one hit each for Eastern Illinois (13-24, 4-13 OVC). Jimmy Govern was 1-for-3 with a walk.
SOUTHEAST MISSOURI 8-7, MURRAY STATE 6-5
CAPE GIRARDEAU, Mo. - Southeast Missouri (20-20, 14-7) completed a series sweep of Murray State (17-22, 5-13) with 8-6 and 7-5 victories Saturday at Capaha Field.
The Redhawks recorded their fifth series victory and second series sweep in Ohio Valley Conference play this season.
SEMO put up four runs in the second inning and never turned back in its game one victory.
The Redhawks hit three doubles in the inning. Justin Dirden doubled down the right field line and scored on Danny Wright's single to center. Connor Basler later delivered a two-RBI double to left center and Chase Urhahn followed with a RBI-double to grab SEMO a 4-0 advantage.
Wade Stauss knocked in a run in the fifth and SEMO scored twice more in the seventh to take a 7-2 lead. Basler drove in both runs on a single to left center in the bottom of the seventh.
MSU answered with three runs in the top of the eighth inning to make it a two-run game, but Tristen Gagan had an RBI-single in the bottom half of the eighth to help the Redhawks hang on for the win.
SEMO finished with 13 hits as Urhahn (2-for-5), Gagan (3-for-5), Dirden (2-for-4), Stauss (2-for-4) and Basler (2-for-4) had at least two apiece. Basler added four RBI, as well.
Carlos Vega (7-3) picked up his team-high seventh win of the season. Vega struck out seven and allowed two runs on three hits in five innings. He did not allow a walk. Aaron Stretch was credited with the save, his third of the season.
Peyton Hayes (1-4) suffered the loss. Hayes gave up four runs on eight hits in just two innings. SEMO used a big six-run third inning to polish off its series sweep in the nightcap. Trevor Ezell doubled and Gagan walked before Dirden belted a three-run home run. Basler lined out and Alex Canty scored on the sacrifice. Ezell then came up again and delivered a two-RBI single to give the Redhawks a 7-2 cushion.
MSU homered in each of the fifth and sixth innings to narrow SEMO's lead to 7-5, but that was as close as the Racers would get.
Christian Vick (5-3) nailed down the win, giving up five runs on seven hits in 5.1 innings. Vick also struck out two.
Aaron Stretch secured his third save of the season.
UT MARTIN 7-16, SIUE 1-17
MARTIN, Tenn. - The University of Tennessee at Martin split today’s doubleheader against Ohio Valley Conference foe SIUE by taking the first game 7-1 and dropping the back end of the twin bill 17-6. The Skyhawks claimed the series with the victory in Game 1 to win their first OVC series of the season.
UT Martin (7-30, 4-14 OVC) was led on the day by Ben Aslett (three hits, three RBIs). Ethan Whitley (three hits, one triple and two RBIs) and Tyler Albright (one hit, two RBIs) also provided multiple runs in the pair of games. Jordan Stoner collected three hits while picking up a couple of doubles while Carson Shrode had a pair of base knocks with a double mixed in. Collin Edwards (two hits) and Blake Davis (one hit) also tallied a triple in the contest to go along with Whitley’s three-bagger. Billy Edwards and Casey Harford rounded out the hit column for the Skyhawks with one base knock each.
The UT Martin pitching staff was lights out in Game 1 as Winston Cannon and Peyton Cain combined to ring up a total of 10 Cougars while allowing just one run in the matchup. The Skyhawk arms would fan six batters in Game 2, led by Nick Wohlbold’s three.
The first game of the day looked as if it would be a repeat from Friday’s matchup as both sides of the ball were working hard to insure ths win.
UT Martin was led by Aslett (two hits and two RBIs) and Whitley (two hits and two RBIs) while Shrode, Albright and Harford also kocked in a run each. Stoner collected a team-high three hits in the contest as he scored a squad-best two runs as well. Collin Edwards tallied a pair of hits while Billy Edwards finished out the hit column with one base knock.
Winston Cannon (1-6) claimed his first victory of the season as he came out dealing. The Cookeville, Tenn. native struck out a career-high eight batters while allowing just one earned run in the start. Cain would come on in the seventh and finish out the game for the non-traditional three-inning save. He was perfect in his time on the mound as he retired all nine batters faced while adding a pair of strikeouts to his line.
Cannon worked around a walk and an error in the first to get out of the inning unscathed by sitting down the final Cougar he saw on a strikeout.
The Skyhawks would get on the board in the first inning as Stoner led off with a single to the shortstop. Shrode would reach on an error followed by an Albright base knock to load the bases with no outs. Later, with two outs and the bases still juiced, Aslett singled back to short to plate Stoner. Whitley would work the count to draw a five-pitch walk to drive in Shrode and give UT Martin an early 2-0 advantage.
Cannon started the second inning off the same way he finished the first as he sat down the first batter via a swinging strikeout. He would find a pair of friendly fly balls to retire the side in order.
The Skyhawk second inning would look similar to the first as Billy Edwards led off with a single to get things started. A Stoner two-bagger would put both men in scoring position in time for a Shrode single up the middle to plate Edwards. Albright would then tally a sac fly to push UT Martin’s lead out to 4-0.
Retiring the first batter via the punchout, Cannon would work around a single and a walk to get out of the third. He kept the momentum going in the fourth as he once again sat down the first batter on stikes. He would concede a double before fanning the next two batters to retire the side on strikeouts. Cannon made quick work of the fifth as he worked around a two-out walk to find a fly ball to get out of the frame unharmed. He would give up a home run on the first batter of the sixth but fan the next two Cougars he faced as SIUE narrowed the score to 4-1.
Cain came on in the seventh and needed just eight pitches to get out of the inning, sitting down the last batter on a swinging strikeout. He would only need a mere five pitches to fly through the eighth inning as a pair of fly balls and a groundout proved to be handy.
UT Martin struck for a trio of insurance runs in the eighth as Collin Edwards led off the frame with a triple to left center. An Aslett single through the right side would allow Edwards to score with ease. Blake Williams would come in to pinch run for Aslett just in time for a Whitley three-bagger to plate Williams. Harford would collect a base knock to score Whitley and push the Skyhawk lead up to 7-1.
Cain finished the game with his eyes on the prize by fanning the first batter of the inning and getting a pair of groundballs to end the game.
The back end of the doubleheader would not be as friendly to the Skyhawks as the front end was. UT Martin would put up six runs but only collect four hits in the hard-luck loss.
Davis and Aslett would lead the Skyhawks with a hit and an RBI apiece. Albright brought in one run while he drew a walk as well in the contest. The duo of Shrode and Whitley would collect the other two hits for UT Martin while Collin and Billy Edwards would work the counts to draw two walks each.
Sam Folks (1-5) would get the start and be tagged with the loss as he logged 1.2 innings on the mound while conceding six earned runs. Austen Bullington came on in relief to toss 2.2 innings and allow just one earned run. David Hussey would pitch for two full frames but allow one earned run while fanning two Cougars in his time on the rubber. Jefferey O’Doherty produced 0.2 inning while giving up three earned runs in that span. Austin Buzick logged a full inning but would be tagged for three earned runs as well but not before fanning an SIUE batter. Wohlbold produced the best inning of the Skyahwk arms as he tossed an inning, allowed no earned runs and rung up three Cougar bats.
SIUE would jump out to an early 6-0 lead in the first inning and strike again in the second for a pair of runs to take an 8-0 advantage.
Bullington would come on in the second and sit down the last batter of the inning on a flyout. He would force a flyout to open the third, issue a walk and then get a friendly ground ball to end the inning with a double play.
UT Martin would answer with four runs in the third as the trio of Billy Edwards, Stoner and Shrode all drew a walk to lead off the frame. Edwards would come home on a wild pitch and Stoner would follow him as he came in on a wild throw by the Cougar catcher. Albright would collect his RBI on a long fly ball to centerfield to bring home Stoner. Collin Edwards would work the count to draw a walk before Aslett ripped a double to center to plate Edwards and narrow things at 8-4.
Bullington kept up the good work in the fourth as he forced a groundout to open the frame. He would give up a single before the runner would be thrown out by the freshman backstop Davis. The inning would end on another groundball to keep things quiet for SIUE.
UT Martin added on two more runs in the fourth as Shrode got things started on a two-out double to left center before advancing to third on wild pitch. Albright would then work the count to draw a four-pitch walk to put men at the corners. Shrode came home on a wild pitch before Davis scorched a triple to right center to plate Albright and make things interesting by narrowing the SIUE lead to just 8-6.
The Cougars put nine runs over from the fifth through eighth inning to give the ultimate final score of 17-6.
Wohlbold would come on in the ninth to finish the game. He fanned the first two batters he faced with ease before allowing a pair of singles and issuing a walk. He kept his poise though and sat down the final out of the frame on a swinging strikeout.
#21 TENNESSEE TECH 11-18, SOUTHERN ILLINOIS 4-5
COOKEVILLE, Tenn. -Behind the power of not one, but two more victories, the No. 21 Tennessee Tech baseball team extended the nation's longest winning streak to 25 straight games. The Golden Eagles (34-5) completed a non-conference series sweep over Southern Illinois (20-20), claiming wins of 11-4 and 18-5 during Saturday's doubleheader.
Patience was key to the offensive attack in game one of the day, as Tech drew 13 walks to help plate 11 runs in the victory. Seniors Trevor Putzig and Chase Chambers each drew three free passes in the contest, while juniors Nick Osborne and Alex Junior each earned a pair of trips to first base.
Osborne walked with the bases loaded in the second inning, giving Tech a 1-0 lead. Junior followed three batters later, lacing a single down the right field line that cleared the bases and provided a 4-0 advantage.
The Golden Eagles doubled their run total in the fourth, starting with a leadoff home run from senior Brennon Kaleiwahea. Chambers tacked on three more for the Tech effort, hammering a blast to right center field for his 11th long ball of the year.
Putzig drew a bases-loaded walk in the fifth and was plunked by a pitch with the bases juiced in the seventh to help the effort while Chambers also collected an RBI on a bases-loaded free pass in the seventh.
With the Tech bats providing supports on the scoreboard, junior hurler Marcus Evey concentrated his efforts on keeping the Salukis off of it. The right-hander finished five innings with a whopping nine strikeouts, holding the visitors to just three runs. He moved to a perfect 5-0 on the year with another strong showing on the hill.
Colton Provey, Zack Wilcox and Andrew O'Dwyer combined to wrap up the final four innings, holding Southern Illinois to just three more hits. The three relievers also notched six more strikeouts.
In game two, the two sides battled back and forth through the first three and a half innings, with Tech starting the game in the scoring column again. Senior David Garza kicked things off with an RBI double to right center field while Kaleiwahea followed with an RBI groundout.
The Salukis came back to tie the game with single runs in the third and fourth. And then Tech jumped back on top for good. Kaleiwahea delivered a clutch, two-out hit, ripping a two-run single up the middle on a full count. Harris tripled to right field in the next at bat, eventually scoring on a throwing error.
Tech continued to plate runs, scoring twice in the fifth and five more times in the sixth before putting the power on full display in the eighth. Junior Kevin Strohschein led off the frame with his 12th bomb of the season, a towering, solo shot to left center.
Three batters later, Garza hammered his 12th long ball to right center field, a two-run dinger. After a four-pitch walk to Osborne, sophomore John Elfordcrushed a ball that cleared the wall in center field for two more runs and a dominant 18-5 lead.
On the hill, junior Alex Hursey was strong through five innings, holding Southern Illinois to three runs on five hits and pair of walks. He moved to 6-2 on the year while striking out three.
Seth Noel tossed a scoreless sixth frame and Osborne came to the mound from right field to wrap up the final two frames. He totaled four strikeouts without allowing a baserunner.
Chambers posted a monster day at the plate, finishing 6-for-7 with seven RBI and five runs scored. Three more Golden Eagles tallied at least three RBI, including Junior, Kaleiwahea and Garza.