TUESDAY'S SCORES
Chicago State 14,
@Eastern Illinois 8
@Alabama 9,
Jacksonville State 8
@Evansville 10,
UT Martin 6
@Austin Peay 19, Lipscomb 5
@Memphis 5,
Belmont 4
#19 Tennessee Tech 6, @Vanderbilt 4
CHICAGO STATE 14, EASTERN ILLINOIS 8
CHARLESTON, Ill. - Chicago State's offense was too much for the Panthers pitching staff as they scored 14 runs on 14 hits. Chicago State defeated Eastern Illinois 14-8 Tuesday afternoon.
With the loss, Eastern Illinois drops to 18-29 on the season, while Chicago State improves to 10-36.
Will Klein got the call to start Eastern Illinois last midweek showdown of the year. Klein suffered the loss dropping to 1-1 on the season. He tossed four innings, with seven runs, seven strikeouts, five hits, and three walks.
The Panthers got on the board first jumping out to a 3-0 lead in the bottom of the first inning. Dougie Parks got the Panthers on the board with a two-run homer marking his 13th homer of the season. Josh Turnock followed up later in the inning driving in the Panthers third run with a ground out to second.
Chicago State was able to take the lead from Eastern Illinois when Tyler Lowe belted a three-run homer to right field in the top of the third inning.
Jimmy Govern would give the Panthers some life in the bottom of the third tying the game with a two run homer to left field.
The Cougars offense was able to take off in the fifth and sixth innings scoring seven unanswered runs. Matt Paciello belted Chicago State's second three-run home run of the day, driving a ball to left field to give the Cougars a six-run lead.
The Panthers would add two runs in the bottom of the seventh inning to cut the score down to 11-8. Matt Albert got the Panthers on the board grounding out to third with the bases loaded to score Hunter Morris. Ryan Knernschield followed up with a two-run single up the middle.
The Cougars would answer back scoring in both the top of the eighth and ninth innings to defeat Eastern Illinois 14-8.
Edward Kang earned his second win of the season for Chicago State improving to 2-6. Kang tossed six innings, with seven hits, five runs, five strikeouts, and two walks.
ALABAMA 9, JACKSONVILLE STATE 8
TUSCALOOSA, Ala. - Alabama rallied with two outs in the ninth to claim an 9-8 decision over Jacksonville State on Tuesday night at Sewell-Thomas Stadium.
It was a walk-off double by Sam Praytor that handed the Crimson Tide their first win over the Gamecocks in four tries over the last two seasons as JSU was an out away from posting four consecutive wins over their in-state rival. The two programs split the season series with JSU shutting out UA, 4-0, in early April in Tuscaloosa. Praytor's double was just inside the third base bag and in to the corner as Joe Breaux, who reached base with a walk was safe on a play at the plate for the winning run. Cobie Vance tallied UA's first hit off of Jax State pitching since the third inning with a one-out single to left off of senior Trent Simpson. JSU dropped to 24-21 on the season, while UA improved to .500 on the season at 25-25.
The Gamecocks were looking to seal the deal on a come-from-behind win after erasing a 5-0 deficit after the first inning and a three-run hole after three complete innings. UA touched JSU starter Andrew Naismith for five runs in its first at bat with a big hit coming from John Trousdale. He cleared the bases with a two-out double to the right center gap. Naismith, who was making his third start of the season - all in midweek contests, went the first 2.1 innings and was touched for six of UA's eight hits on the night. The Auburn, Alabama left hander recorded four strikeouts in a no decision.
Jax State quickly answered the Crimson Tide's big inning with a four-run second inning. The Red and White strung together four hits and capitalized on one of UA's two errors on the night in the second inning. Freshman Alex Strachan, who had his best game to date as a Gamecock, turned in an RBI double as one of his team-best three hits on the night. After Tuscaloosa, Alabama product Cole Frederick reached via a UA miscue that pushed the second run of the inning across the dish, sophomore Chase Robinson connected on his third home run of the season - all three coming in the last four game.
Strachan, from Harvest, Alabama, finished with three RBI with a single in the sixth that erased a 7-6 Crimson Tide lead and handed the Gamecocks an 8-7 lead.
UA pushed the lead back out to 7-4 in the third as Praytor started the frame with a solo home run and a sacrifice fly in the inning. The home run would be the last hit UA would get off of JSU pitching until the ninth.
Junior Austin Brewster turned in one of his best outings and his second-longest stint in relief with 3.2 innings of work. The Trussville, Alabama transfer from Shelton State,posted a pair of strikeouts and walked one. The Gamecocks went with freshman Christian Edwards for the seventh and eighth. He avoided trouble in the seventh with a double play in the inning to thwart a Bama rally. Edwards worked around a two-out walk in the eighth.
The Gamecocks collected 12 hits off of six Crimson Tide tossers with five spots in the order having multiple hits. Senior Clayton Daniel added two more hits to push his career mark to 310 career hits and stands 13 shy of matching the JSU and Ohio Valley Conference record for career hits. Senior Taylor Hawthorne was welcomed back to the line up and recorded two hits. Junior Nic Gaddis and Robinson had two hits each. Robinson, from Pell City, Alabama, added a triple after his home run in the second.
EVANSVILLE 10, UT MARTIN 6
EVANSVILLE, Ind. - The University of Tennessee at Martin baseball squad dropped a 10-6 decision to the Evansville Purple Aces this evening.
Offensively, UT Martin (10-35) was led by Blake Davis (one hit and three RBIs). Jordan Stoner connected for a pair of hits (one of which was a triple) while also driving in one runner. Ben Aslett and Casey Harford tallied a hit each and both drove in an RBI. Ethan Whitley put up a pair of hits in the contest. Tyler Albright rounded out the scoring while Collin Edwards rounded out the hitting for the Skyhawks.
Dalton Westfall got the starting nod for UT Martin as he lasted just 1.2 innings while allowing four earned runs but managed to retire one Purple Ace via the strikeout. Zack Denney was extremely effective in his 2.1 innings of no-hit baseball. Konnor Aherin (2-3) was tagged with the loss as he allowed one earned run in his one inning of relief while sitting down a pair of Evansville batters on strikes. Nick Wohlbold logged just 0.1 inning but conceded three earned runs but did sit down his out via the punchout. Jefferey O’Doherty threw for 0.2 innings and allowed just one earned run in that span. Sam Folks and David Hussey tossed one scoreless inning apiece as Folks allowed just one hit while Hussey did not allow a base runner.
Stoner got things started as he led off the game with a hit by pitch as Aslett later was issued a four-pitch walk. Both runners would later move up on a wild pitch in time for a Davis Single through the left side which plated Stoner and gave UT Martin an early 1-0 lead.
Evansville put up a run of its own in the home half of the first inning to knot things up at 1-1.
The Skyhawks led off the second inning with a double to left field on the first pitch he saw. He would later move up to third on a flyout by teammate JoJo Allen before a Harford single through the left side drove him in. Stoner then rapped out a three-bagger to bring in Harford. An Albright groundout was good enough to bring in Stoner and give UT Martin a 4-1 advantage.
The Purple Aces scored four runs in the second to take a 5-4 lead.
Denney worked a fairly quick third inning as he got around a leadoff walk to get a pair of fly balls along with some help from Davis with a runner caught stealing to get out of the frame. He kept up the efficient pace in the fourth as he issued a walk to start the frame but found a flyout and a groundball to get out of the inning on a double play.
UT Martin put up another run in the fifth as Albright got things started as he reached on an error. Aslett then worked a five-pitch walk followed by Edwards working a seven-pitch free base of his own to juice the bases. A Davis flyout would plate Albright and once again tie things at 5-5.
Evansville struck for a run in the fifth and four in the sixth to reclaim the lead by a 10-5 margin.
The Skyhawks got another run in the seventh as Albright drew a four-pitch walk followed by an Aslett double to right to bring in Albright and edge back with the score of 10-6, the eventual final score.
Folks came on in the seventh and worked around a leadoff single to retire the side on a pair of flyouts and a groundout.
Hussey made extremely quick work of the Purple Aces in the eighth as he forced a flyout followed by a friendly ground ball and ended the inning on a popout.
AUSTIN PEAY 19, LIPSCOMB 5
CLARKSVILLE, Tenn. - Right fielder Nick Walker and catcher Alex Sala each hit first-inning home runs to lead Austin Peay State University’s baseball team back from a four-run deficit to post a 19-5 nonconference win against Lipscomb, Tuesday night at Raymond C. Hand Park.
After Lipscomb scored four runs in the top of the first, Austin Peay (29-20) replied by sending nine men to the plate in the bottom of the frame. Walker hit a three-run home run and two batters later Sala supplied a two-run home run to give the Govs a 5-4 lead. Shortstop Bobby Head would add a run on a ground out and Austin Peay never trailed again.
Lipscomb (20-25) had an opportunity to regain the lead in the second inning, loading the bases with one out. Third baseman Zeke Dodson would hit a sacrifice fly, narrowing the deficit to a run, but Austin Peay starting pitcher Josh Rye struck out the next batter to end the threat.
Austin Peay broke the game open with a nine-run fourth inning. The Governors sent 13 men to the plate in the inning, the first six reaching base safely. Center fielder Imani Willis had a two-run double in the frame and two batters later third baseman Garrett Kueber added a two-run triple that gave Austin Peay a 16-5 lead.
The Govs pitching staff settled in after the first two innings, holding Lipscomb without a run over the final seven innings. Rye would pitch scoreless ball in the third and fourth innings. Reliever Ethan Clark (2-) would take over in the fifth and held Lipscomb to one hit in his two innings of work, striking out three for the victory.
Walker led the Govs with a 1-for-3, four RBI as he added a bases-loaded walk in the fourth to his three-run home run. Sala and Head had three RBI each and Kueber and Willis had two RBI a piece.
Lipscomb starter Erik Gutierrez went just one inning and allowed six runs on five hits and a walk and suffered the loss. Right fielder Josh Martinez went 3-for-3 to pace the Bisons six-hit output. First baseman Cade Sorrells lone hit was a first-inning three-run home run.
MEMPHIS 5, BELMONT 4
MEMPHIS, Tenn. - Belmont Baseball dropped a heartbreaking 5-4 decision on Tuesday night in Memphis after a sacrifice fly in the bottom of the ninth sealed the deal for the Tigers.
Belmont took a quick lead in the top of the first inning. After three walks loaded the bases, senior Cully Day (Mahomet, Ill.) worked the fourth walk of the inning to score senior Kyle Conger (Brentwood, Tenn.), taking a 1-0 lead after an inning.
Memphis put their first runner in scoring position with just one out in the top of the third, but sophomore Michael Matter (Ft. Myers, Fla.), who got the start on the mound, forced a pop up and a groundout to preserve the one-run lead.
After a scoreless second and third, the Tigers found the equalizer in the bottom of the fourth. After a leadoff hit, a Belmont error, and a stolen base, Memphis had a runner just 90 feet from home plate. Memphis knotted things up after scoring on a wild pitch to make things 1-1 after four innings.
Memphis increased their lead in the bottom of the fifth, scoring two runs after two hits. Sophomore Justin Fowlkes (Collierville, Tenn.) stopped the damage there when he struck out the side for the Bruins' first strikeout of the night.
Senior Ben Kocher recorded Belmont's second hit of the night in the top of the sixth with a one-out single through the right side, but he was stranded, and the Bruins' were unable to take advantage of the base runner.
Junior Kyle Klotz (Fairview, Tenn.) took the mound in the bottom of the sixth inning and pitched a beautiful inning, forcing the first three up, three down inning of the night for the squad.
Belmont cracked the scoreboard once again in the top of the seventh. After two quick outs, Conger got things going, working a walk, giving the Bruins a base runner. Junior Chas Hadden (Morristown, Tenn.) then came up big and delivered a RBI single up the middle, plating Conger and cutting the lead 3-2.
Memphis wasted little time stretching the lead back out after taking advantage of a walk and a wild pitch to take a 4-2 lead with a runner on first and just one out. Senior Austin Reynolds (Smyrna, Tenn.) was able to catch a runner stealing and freshman Logan Bowen (Bowling Green, Ky.) came up with a big strikeout to end the inning.
The Bruins continued the back and forth action in the top of the eighth. Junior Devon Gardner (Maryville, Tenn.) started the inning off with a single to left field. Day then plated Gardner with a RBI double to the right field wall cutting the lead 4-3. Junior Hunter Holland (Soddy Daisy, Tenn.) got in on the action, delivering the second-consecutive to-out RBI double to plate the tying run. The next batter flew out to right field to end the inning, but not before the Bruins tied things 4-4.
The Tigers threatened to score the go ahead run after a leadoff single and a sacrifice put the go-ahead run in scoring position, but Bowen dug deep and forced a ground out and struck out the side in consecutive innings to keep the Tigers off the board.
The Bruins came close to scoring the go-ahead run in the top of the ninth. After Conger is hit by a pitch and two walks, the Bruins had the bases loaded with just one out, but a strikeout and a groundout ended the inning, stranding Conger just 90 feet from home plate.
In the bottom of the ninth, the Tigers worked a leadoff walk and recorded their ninth hit of the night to put two runners on. With one out, the Bruins intentionally walked the next batter to load the bases. Memphis' next batter then delivered a game-winning sacrifice fly and the Bruins fell 5-4.
#19 TENNESSEE TECH 6, VANDERBILT 4
NASHVILLE - For the second straight year, the No. 19 Tennessee Tech baseball squared off against Vanderbilt at Hawkins Field in Nashville and walked away with a victory. The Golden Eagles (41-6) defeated the Commodores (25-23) 6-4 Tuesday evening, securing the team's third win over Vandy since 2013.
With the win, the Golden Eagles tied the program record for wins in a single season, matching last year's total of 41 victories. Tech also posted its fourth victory of the year against Power Five conference opponents in as many opportunities, also claiming wins against West Virginia twice, and a win at Tennessee.
Tech jumped all over the scoreboard early in the contest, beginning with a three-run first frame. Alex Junior led off by reaching on a fielding error by the first baseman. Senior Trevor Putzig followed with an infield single to shortstop and junior Kevin Strohschein loaded the bases with a single to right field.
Junior dented home plate for a 1-0 lead on a passed ball and senior first baseman Chase Chambers tripled the advantage with a two-run single up the middle. Just like that, it was 3-0 in favor of Tech.
In the top of the second, senior Collin Harris led things off with a single up the middle and promptly stole second. Putzig drove him in quickly, blasting an RBI, ground-rule double to center field. Strohschein turned in an RBI single up the middle to increase the lead to 5-0.
The Golden Eagles made it a 6-0 advantage in the third, gathering an RBI single to center field from Junior after an earlier double in the frame by Brennon Kaleiwahea.
Vanderbilt scored solo runs in the fifth and seventh, as well as two more in the ninth, but the Tech bullpen locked down the rally attempt to secure the victory.
Sophomore Devin Lancaster tossed made the start on Tuesday, tossing two scoreless innings. Colton Provey followed, covering the next two and a third frames while allowing just one run and striking out three. He would go on to earn the victory, moving to 4-0 on the year and becoming the first Tech pitcher in the Matt Bragga era to claim wins over both Vanderbilt and Tennessee.
Zack Wilcox took his turn for an inning, holding the Commodores scoreless in his outing. Next to enter the contest out of the Tech bullpen was redshirt freshman Tyler Sylvester. The right-hander tossed an inning and third while allowing a single run and fanning three.
Junior closer Ethan Roberts rounded the contest, completing the final two and one third innings to earn his Ohio Valley Conference-leading 12th save of the season. Roberts struck out five, including the side in the eighth.
Chambers finished the contest 4-for-5 with a pair of RBI while Putzig, Strohschein, David Garza and Harris all posted multi-hit efforts.