SATURDAY'S SCORES
@Furman 16-5,
Morehead State 11-6
@Tennessee Tech 8-7, Western Illinois 3-4
Kentucky 12,
@Austin Peay 5
Illinois State 14,
@Belmont 3
@Jacksonville State 12-1, North Alabama 10-2
@UAB 5-13,
SIUE 3-5
UT Martin 5, South Dakota State 4
(Russellville, Ark.)
@#12 Arkansas 15-12,
Eastern Illinois 7-3
@Oral Roberts 6-11,
Murray State 5-3
Eastern Kentucky 11, Florida A&M 2 (New Orleans, La.)
@Southeast Missouri 5, Western Michigan 1
FURMAN 16-5, MOREHEAD STATE 11-6
GREENVILLE, S.C. - Facing the team's first twin-billing of the season, Morehead State Baseball (2-1) came away with a split Saturday afternoon against their hosts the Furman Paladins (1-2) to capture the season's first series. Furman took the first game by a score of 16-11 before the Eagles responded in the nightcap, taking the series rubber match 6-5.
The host Paladins used a seven-run first inning to jump out on Morehead State early in Saturday's early game, ballooning the lead to 9-0 before the Eagles could answer. Furman was the beneficiaries of two run-producing triples, a three-run home run, RBI double and single, and a sacrifice fly to build a nine-run advantage through three innings.
Morehead State answered in the fourth inning as senior left fielder Jake Hammon singled home a run with the bases loaded to provide a spark for the Eagle's offense. Junior third baseman Dom Peroni followed with his second homer in a Morehead State uniform, a grand slam, to cut the host's lead to four.
The Eagles would even things in the sixth, again with the bases juiced, as senior shortstop Reid Leonard drew a bases-loaded walk to push across his team's sixth run. Senior center fielder Connor Pauly then laced a 0-0 pitch into the right-field corner for a bases-clearing triple to tie the game at nine apiece.
Furman responded, scoring seven runs over the game's final four frames to oust the Eagles in game two. Morehead State junior designated hitter Chase Sorter would provide the Eagles' final two runs, crushing a pitch to left-center for his first round-tripper in a Morehead State uniform.
On the mound, freshman righty Landon Weins provided stability for the Morehead State pitching staff, tossing 3.2 innings of three-hit, no run ball in his debut.
After clubbing his first home run of the season in Saturday's opener, junior Chase Sorter provided even more fireworks for the Eagles in game two. He picked up four hits in as many at-bats in the nightcap, slapping two doubles and crushing two home runs to lift Morehead State to a series victory.
Sorter collected four of Morehead State's eight hits in the game while also driving in four of the team's six runs, adding an additional run scored—aside from his home runs—making him responsible for five of the team's six runs.
Eagle backstop Hunter Fain also put together a good night, going two-for-three at the plate while driving in a run.
Sorter and Fain kick-started the scoring in the second with Sorter doubling home two before Fain drove him in with a single to left that was misplayed by the Furman left fielder that allowed Sorter to score. Senior right fielder Jake Hammon would double home a run in the third as the Eagles raced out to a four-run lead. Sorter would tack on two more runs for the visitors, both in the form of solo shots to left-center.
Sophomore right-hander Will Lozinak picked up the start for the Eagles, scattering just seven hits and three runs—two earned—across 5.2 frames. He picked up three punchouts during his outing, teaming with junior righty Jake Ziegelmeyer, who added six, to produce nine strikeouts and no walks on the night. Ziegelmeyer scattered just six hits and two runs across the game's final 3.1 stanzas to pick up his third career save.
TENNESSEE TECH 8-7, WESTERN ILLINOIS 3-4
COOKEVILLE, Tenn. - Timely hitting and great relief pitching were the tools of the trade for the Tennessee Tech baseball team Saturday, as the Golden Eagles completed both a doubleheader and series sweep of Western Illinois with a pair of victories.
Tech (3-0) took the first of two games at Bush Stadium at the Averitt Express Baseball Complex, 8-3, and followed it up with a 7-4 victory to snag its second 3-0 start to season over the Leathernecks in the past four years. The Golden Eagles also swept a three-game set against WIU to kick off the 2016 season.
Game one started with a special moment, as junior hurler Nic Dye made his season debut on the bump less than year after suffering a broken arm while pitching at Tennessee last season. The southpaw struck out the first two batters he faced and finished the day with a total of five punch outs in three innings of work.
Western Illinois took the first lead of the day, scoring a single run in each of the first three frames. For Tech, it was a slow boil for the offense, but it got into a groove starting in the fourth.
The inning began with a walk to senior All-American Kevin Strohschein. Two batters and one out later, Jason Hinchman laced a single down the third base line, making it to second on a fielding error by the left fielder. On the very next pitch, freshman outfielder JD Funk blooped a single to center field, driving in both runners to cut the deficit to a solo run.
Back-to-back walks drawn by John Elford and Zell Walker loaded the bases with one out, brining junior Cody Littlejohn to the dish. The veteran proudly wore the fourth pitch he saw on his leg, getting plunked for a much-deserved RBI to tie the game. Following a Western Illinois pitching change, shortstop Jay Meusesmashed a fly ball to center field for a sacrifice fly, giving Tech a 4-3 advantage.
The Golden Eagles added a single run in the fifth on an RBI single from Anthony Carrera and another in the sixth thanks to the first Division I home run off the bat of Meuse, a solo bomb to left field.
For good measure, Tech slapped two more runs on the scoreboard in the eighth, both from Littlejohn's lumber. The second baseman hammered a double to center field, driving in a pair for the 8-3 final score.
Senior Alex Hursey, who relieved Dye to start the fourth inning, took home the victory after tossing a scoreless frame. It marked the ninth win of his short career in the purple and gold. Junior college transfer Mark Leonard was brilliant in four innings out of the bullpen, scattering a pair of walks while striking out seven batters and not allowing a hit. Freshman Thomas Saliba wrapped up the contest with a quick and efficient ninth, holding the Leathernecks without a baserunner and fanning two.
In the series finale, the Golden Eagles put their rally caps on a couple of times to pull of the three-run victory, as Western Illinois dented home plate first. The visitors struck for a pair of runs in the top of the second, using a walk and the only two hits redshirt freshman Connor Adams would surrender in three and two thirds inning to take the lead. Adams struck out five in his collegiate debut.
In the third, Tech took the reins with redshirt freshman Nathan McMeans setting the standard for the frame. The second baseman ripped a double down the left field line to lead things off, eventually advancing to third on a wild pitch with one out. UCLA transfer Gavin Johns and Strohschein each followed with walks, loading the bases.
Western Illinois managed a second out before Carrera drove in a run on a play that was pure hustle. The veteran slugger smashed a liner right at the Leatherneck pitcher, who knocked the ball down while attempting to snare it for the inning-saving out. He quickly rifled the ball to first, but Carrera was rewarded for busting it down the first base line with an infield single and RBI, just beating the throw.
Freshman John Dyer, a Mt. Juliet native, drew a walk to keep the inning alive and the Golden Eagles trending in the right direction on the scoreboard. His RBI tied the game. Littlejohn followed suit, giving the Golden Eagles the lead with his own bases-loaded free pass.
The Leathernecks answered with a pair of notations in the fourth, but they couldn't keep the tenacious offense of the Golden Eagles at bay.
In the fourth, Tech struck again as McMeans blasted his second straight leadoff double of the game, this time to left center. Johns followed two batters and an out later, pushing his own double into left center field for a game-tying RBI. Strohschein earned a base the hard way, getting plunked on a full count. He and Johns both advanced a base on a passed ball, setting up Hinchman for some heroics.
The sophomore slugger came through, lifting a single to left field that drove in both runners for a 6-4 Tech advantage. The Golden Eagles put one more on the board in the eighth for good measure, thanks to a sacrifice fly from Elford.
On the hill, the Golden Eagles used five pitchers to bridge the gap from Adams to the ninth inning. A collection of Seth Noel, Tony Curry, Saliba, Zach Wilcox and Daniel Holley combined for four and one third innings with just two walks and two hits allowed. They also combined for five punch outs.
The ninth, however, belonged to newly minted closer Tyler Sylvester. The sophomore made easy work of his time on the bump, fanning the side with a single walk. It earned him his first save of the season. Saliba claimed his first collegiate victory after completing two and third innings of relief without a baserunner allowed.
KENTUCKY 12, AUSTIN PEAY 5
CLARKSVILLE, Tenn. - Outfielder Aaron Campbell supplied three RBI off the bench, but an early big inning proved too much for Austin Peay State University’s baseball team as it dropped game two of its series against Kentucky, 12-5, Saturday afternoon at Joe and Cathi Maynard Field at Raymond C. Hand Park.
Kentucky (2-0) again broke through on the scoreboard first, striking for six runs in the third inning. The top four in the Wildcats order did the bulk of that damage, stringing together four straight RBI scoring hits capped by designated hitter T.J. Collett’s two-run home run that just eked over the wall in right.
Austin Peay (0-2) would cut the deficit in half with runs in the fourth, fifth and sixth innings. Center fielder Garrett Spain doubled in the game’s first run in the third. Designated hitter Andrew Flaherty added a leadoff home run in the fifth. Campbell then added a pinch-hit infield single to drive in a run in the sixth.
T
he Wildcats would answer the Govs midgame charge by scoring in each of their final four frames to secure the game. The Govs would break through one last time thanks to Campbell’s base hit that filled the gap in right-center field, driving in a pair of runs.
Austin Peay starter Brett Newberg (0-1) suffered the loss despite sandwiching Kentucky’s big third inning between four scoreless frames. He would allow six runs (five earned) on six hits in five innings of work.
Kentucky starter Jimmy Ramsey (1-0) notched the win in a five-inning outing that saw him surrender two runs on three hits while striking out eight.
Campbell went 2-for-2 with three RBI in his season’s first outing. Spain and third baseman Malcolm Tipler, who each had two RBI in Friday’s season opener, followed with two-hit outings each in Saturday’s outing.
Left fielder Ryan Shinn went 3-for-4 to pace Kentucky with Collett ending the day with three RBI as part of a 2-for-5 outing.
Austin Peay and Kentucky conclude their season-opening three-game set at 1 p.m., Sunday. The Governors will send redshirt senior Josh Rye to the mound to meet Kentucky freshman Dillon Marsh.
ILLINOIS STATE 14, BELMONT 3
NASHVILLE - Belmont dropped a 14-3 decision Saturday afternoon in game two of a three-game series against Illinois State at E.S. Rose Park.
Much like in game one, Illinois State got off to a quick start, scoring three runs in the first inning. The Redbirds scored one more in the top of the second and three in the top of the third to take 7-0 lead after three full innings.
Junior Zach Ehrhart was Belmont's best offensive player of the afternoon. Ehrhart, who was the first Bruin to the plate, leadoff with a single in the bottom of the first inning but was stranded at second base. He would be the only Belmont player to record a hit until the bottom of the fifth inning.
The Bruins found some offensive power in the fifth after leadoff man freshman Tommy Crider sent a single through the left side to put a man on base. The next two batters flew out and struck out, but freshman Jack Capobianco got a two-out rally going when he sent a base hit over the third basemen's head, advancing Crider to scoring position. With runners on first and third, Ehrhart notched his second hit of the night sending Crider across home plate for BU's first run of the night. After the runners and first and second advanced on the throw, senior Chas Hadden (Morristown, Tenn.) stepped up with two runners in scoring position. He delivered a base-clearing single down the left line. After five innings, Belmont had cut ISU's lead 7-3.
Illinois State responded by stringing together a couple hits of their own to score two in the top of the sixth extending its lead 9-3. Senior Devon Gardner notched the BU's final hit of the night in the bottom of the sixth with a one-out double but was stranded at second.
Illinois State blew open its lead in the top of the seventh, scoring five runs on three hits to take a 14-3 lead. Belmont was unable to gets its offense going for the remainder of the game and ultimately fell 14-3.
JACKSONVILLE STATE 12-1, NORTH ALABAMA 10-2
JACKSONVILLE, Ala. - Junior Andrew Naismith delivered a two-run walk off home run in the opening game of a Saturday doubleheader with North Alabama to propel Jacksonville State to a 12-10 series-clinching win.
The Lions of UNA regrouped in the nightcap with a 2-1 decision. The win was the program's first as an NCAA Division I member.
The Gamecocks, who opened the season with a trouncing of the Lions, 14-1, on Friday, finished the opening weekend 2-1 and claimed their fifth consecutive opening weekend series win, dating back to the 2014 season. The opening weekend of the new Rudy Abbott Field at Jim Case Stadium brought energized crowds despite dreary and cold weather condition. On Friday, JSU had 1,112 for its Opening Day attendance and over 800 braved the cooler temps for Saturday's double dip.
In Game one, the Gamecocks rallied from a four-run deficit in the eighth after trailing 9-5. The big hit came from sophomore Cole Frederick as the Tuscaloosa, Alabama native belted a bases-clearing triple to the gap in left center. Redshirt freshman Nash Adams drove in the first run of the inning with a sacrifice fly.
UNA responded with an RBI double by Reid Singewald in the ninth to take a 10-9 lead. Junior transfer Alex Webb, who finished the first weekend in Red and White 5-for-9 at the plate and three RBI. He delivered a game-tying RBI in the ninth before the heroics of Naismith. Naismith pelted a 2-1 pitch over the centerfield fence to give Jax State the series-clinching win. It was Naismith's 18th home run of his career.
Both teams got off to rocky starts on the mound as JSU went with true freshman Isaiah Magwood in the first game. Magwood, who brings high credentials from the prep level, struggled in his first start with three runs on four hits and issuing five walks in 1.1 innings of work. The Hazel Green, Alabama right hander picked up three strikeouts in the outing.
JSU continued to be aggressive at the plate after compiling 14 runs on 14 hits on Friday as it turned in a three spot in the first inning. Junior Taylor Craven registered a two-run triple, while sophomore Isaac Alexander singled to shortstop for the third run. UNA bounced back with three runs in the second inning before JSU reclaimed the lead in the home half of the second inning. Adams and senior Nic Gaddis had the RBI in the second inning.
UNA's Davis Elliott carded the first of two home runs in back-to-back plate appearances with a home run in the fifth and the seventh.
JSU newcomer Jackson Tavel, who comes to the program from Dora, Alabama via Wallace State-Hanceville Community College, pitched the ninth and was credited with the win. UNA's Hunter Davidson was saddled with the loss.
In game two, UNA broke the scoreless log jam in the third with an RBI from Reid Homan and Elliott continued his solid day at the plate with an RBI double in the fourth.
The two-run cushion would be all that the UNA pitchers needed as Jacob Laws went the first four innings and limited JSU to a pair of hits. Keegan Foge tossed a pair of innings and allowed a hit. Jax State was able to score its run off of Bryant Claunch in the bottom of the eighth.
JSU had chances throughout the contest for a big inning as it stranded 11 on the bases, including a pair of bases loaded situations. Webb had the RBI in the second game on a sacrifice fly.
The Gamecocks went with another new face on the mound to start the final game of the series as redshirt freshman Trey Fortner pitched the first five innings. The Gloucester, Virginia righty was touched for five hits and both UNA runs. Redshirt Junior Tyler Wilburn and sophomore Christian Edwards combined six strikeouts over the last four innings. Edwards was named to the NCBWA Stopper of the Year Award Watch List prior to the start of the 2019 season.
UAB 5-13, SIUE 3-5
BIRMINGHAM, Ala. - UAB completed a three-game sweep of SIUE baseball taking both ends of a double header Saturday at Regions Field. The Cougars dropped game one 5-3 before falling 13-5 in the nightcap. The Cougars are 0-3. UAB is 3-0.
The Cougars took a 3-0 lead with a three-run second inning in game one. Brock Weimer, Brady Bunten and Brendan Ryan all collected RBI-hits in the inning and the Cougars had a chance for more, loading the bases with one out but failing to add another run.
The Blazers answered with two runs each in the third and fifth innings. UAB added a final run in the sixth for the 5-3 final.
Weimer finished 3 for 4 with the RBI to lead SIUE. Centerfielder Jess Davis was 2 for 4 with three RBIs for UAB.
Freshman Cameron Prayer started on the mound for SIUE and worked 4 1/3 innings. He allowed three runs on four hits. He struck out four and walked only one. Chris Robinson (0-1) took the loss in relief. He allowed a two runs on three hits in 1 2/3 innings. He walked one and struck out one. Fellow freshman Adam Drewry worked two scoreless, hitless innings. He struck out two.
The Cougars enjoyed a three-run inning again in the second game, scoring three times on three hits in the sixth inning. Jack Rigoni, Bunten and Ryan each had RBIs in the frame which brought the Cougars within one at 6-5.
The Blazers scored twice more in the sixth to go up 8-5 before breaking the game open with a five-run eighth inning.
Ryan and Jack Rigoni each were 3 for 4 in game two. Ryan picked up two RBIs. Dustin Woodcock added a hit and an RBI. For the second straight game, Davis paced the Blazers at the plate. He was 3 for 4 with two RBIs in the second game.
SIUE starter David Llorens fell to 0-1 with the loss in game two. He allowed four runs over four innings, though none of them were earned. Llorens struck out two.
Five pitchers worked for UAB in game two. Tyler O'Clair gave up a run in two innings of relief and was credited with the win. Ryan Wesson worked the final 3 1/3 innings scoreless and earned a save.
UT MARTIN 5, SOUTH DAKOTA STATE 4
RUSSELLVILLE, Ark. - The University of Tennessee at Martin baseball squad picked up a 5-4 victory over South Dakota State this afternoon.
UT Martin (1-1) was led at the plate by Jordan Stoner as the Puyallup, Wash. native racked up a pair of hits and drove in a couple of RBIs. Casey Harford and Ethan Whitley were also credited with driving in a run apiece. Tyson Cox tallied a team-high three hits in the contest while Sean Dixson, Blake Daniels, Blake Davis, Billy Edwards and Harford all connected for a base hit each.
Left-handed pitcher Sam Folks shined in his start as he allowed just two earned runs and gave up five hits but did not issue a free bag in his 5.2 innings on the hill. He managed to sit down a pair of Jackrabbits in his time on the mound and was also helped out by some superb defense. Righty Zach Denney (1-0) was credited with the victory. Denney tossed 2.1 innings in relief and did not allow an earned run along the way while fanning a pair of South Dakota State batters. Right-handed pitcher Nick Wohlbold came in to close the door and did just so as the sophomore claimed his first save of the young season.
Folks came out dealing as the southpaw retired the side in order to open the game. He rung up the first batter of the frame before getting a pair of friendly ground balls to end the inning.
The Skyhawks drew first blood in the second inning as Davis got things going with a four-pitch walk before Edwards reached on an error by the centerfielder. Cox would beat out a hit to the shortstop to load the bases with just one out. Stoner then stepped in and plated Davis via a sacrifice fly to right field to take a 1-0 lead.
South Dakota State would answer with a run of its own in the third inning to knot things up a 1-1.
Folks once again retired the side in order as he found a trio of groundball outs on 12 pitches in the fourth inning.
UT Martin struck again in the fourth as Cox tallied a single back to the pitcher just before Stoner ripped a double to bring Cox in and claim a 2-1 advantage.
The Jackrabbits took a 3-2 lead in the fifth as they tacked on a pair of runs on a pair of back-to-back home runs to open the frame. Folks kept a cool head though as he induced a groundout to first base and a flyout to right field. He conceded a base knock to center but worked a fielder’s choice to get out of the inning.
Dixson got things going in the UT Martin fifth as he led off with a single through the left side. He then went on to swipe second and then took third base as well. Whitley grounded out to shortstop but it would be enough for Dixson to cross the plate and knot the score up at 3-3
Folks received a quick, friendly ground ball to open the sixth and recorded the second out of the inning via the groundball as well but not before a seven-pitch at bat to call for Denney to enter the game. Denney found a ground ball of his own to close out the inning.
UT Martin reclaimed the lead in the sixth as Davis opened up the inning with a single through the left side followed by an Edwards base knock to center. A wild pitch would move up both Davis and Edwards to put the duo in scoring position. Stoner then flew out to right field and allowed Davis to cross the plate and take a 4-3 lead. A Harford hit to center followed by an error allowed Edwards to come home and saw the Skyhawks push their advantage out to 5-3.
South Dakota State attempted a ninth-inning rally as the Jackrabbits saw the first two batters reach base safely. Wohlbold would come on to close things out as he worked around a single and a walk to claim the 5-4 win.
#12 ARKANSAS 15-12, EASTERN ILLINOIS 7-3
FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. - Eastern Illinois and Arkansas opened up their 2019 season with a doubleheader on Saturday due to inclement weather postponing Friday's series opener. Arkansas swept the doubleheader, picking up a pair of victories by scores of 15-7 and 12-3. EIU and Arkansas will complete their three-game series on Sunday with first pitch set for 1 p.m.
Eastern Illinois dropped to 0-2 to begin the year, while Arkansas improved to 2-0 to open the season.
In game one, Arkansas was able to break out in the fourth inning with eight runs to give themselves a commanding lead over the Panthers in game one. The Panthers held #12 Arkansas to one run heading into the fourth inning.
Trevor Ezell gave the Razorbacks the first run of the game in the bottom of the third when he hit a solo home run to right field.
The Razorbacks got to Tyler Jones in the fourth inning hitting two homeruns. C Franklin connected on a three-run homer and Heston Kjerstad drove a two-run homer to right field. Arkansas would drive back-to-back RBI doubles to finish with eight runs in the inning.
The Panthers were able to get on the board in the fifth inning with three runs. Jimmy Govern led of the top of the fifth with a single to right field. Jimmy Huber followed up with a single of his own through the left side. Ryan Knernschield drove in the first run for the Panthers with a single up the middle to score Govern. Wyell Woods followed up with an RBI double to right center to keep the rally alive. Dane Toppel would drive in the third run of the inning with a bunt.
Arkansas would respond with four runs on three hits in the bottom of the fifth inning.
Christian Pena was able to drive in a run for the Panthers in the top of the sixth with a single to right field. Jack Kenley would answer back for Arkansas with a solo home run to right field. Pena would connect on a three-run home run in the top of the eighth to make the score 15-7.
Jones took the loss on the mound for the Panthers in game one. Jones went 3.2 innings with nine earned runs and nine hits. Isaiah Campbell earned the win for the Razorbacks, pitching 5.0 innings with five strikeouts.
Pena went 2-for-4 with four RBIs and a home run. Hunter Morris went 2-for-5 with a double.
In game two, the Razorbacks gave themselves a commanding lead early on in the game. Michael YaSenka made his first start as a Panther in game-two of the doubleheader. YaSenka gave the Panthers their first strikeouts of the season, as he struck out the side in the bottom of the first inning.
Arkansas was able to break the scoreless streak in the second inning when Jordan McFarland hit an RBI single through the left side. Zack Plunkett gave the Razorbacks there second run of the inning with an RBI single.
The Razorbacks would tack on two more runs in the bottom of the third inning. Trevor Ezell and Dominic Fletcher would each hit a sacrifice fly to give Arkansas a 4-0 lead entering the fourth inning.
The Panthers were able to cut the lead down to two runs in the fifth inning. Morris drew a walk with the bases loaded to bring in the Panthers first run of the game. Govern drove in the second run of the inning for the Panthers with an RBI single to the pitcher.
The Panthers were able to tack on another run in the top of the eighth when Trey Sweeney would reach on a fielding error, scoring govern.
In the bottom of the eighth inning the Razorbacks would extend their lead by six runs. To lead the Panthers 12-3.
YaSenka took the loss on the mound for the Panthers in game two. YaSenka finished with five strikeouts in five innings.
ORAL ROBERTS 6-11, MURRAY STATE 5-3
TULSA, Okla. - After being pushed back a day, the Murray State baseball team opened the 2019 season with a doubleheader against Oral Roberts in Tulsa. The Summit League favorite Golden Eagles had a come-from-behind 6-5 win in game one before comfortably downing the Racers in game two, 11-3.
Jake Slunder and Ryan Perkins each finished the day with three hits in the two games. The big hit of the day was a three-run home run by Wes Schad in game one to give the Racers an early 3-0 lead. Perkins and Tyler Duke had two runs batted in on the day as well.
In game one, after both teams went down in order in the first, Brock Anderson recorded the first hit of the game with a double before Jaron Robinson singled to set up first and third in Schad. The redshirt-freshman, in his first at-bat of his career, turned on a 0-1 pitch and smacked a three-run home run to left field.
The Racers weren't done in the second as Jordan Holly singled and advanced to second on a wild pitch before Perkins singled him home to give the Racers a 4-0 lead.
Perkins added his second RBI of the game in the fourth inning with a sacrifice fly to drive in Slunder who was hit by a pitch to lead off the inning.
Oral Roberts began their comeback in the fourth with two runs before adding two more in the fifth and finally two more runs in the sixth to take a 6-5 lead.
The Racers had their chances in the final three innings of the game, putting the tying run in scoring position in all three innings, including having the bases loaded in the ninth, but they were unable to push to equalizing run across the plate.
Trevor McMurray started the game on the mound and pitched four innings, allowing just two hits and two runs while striking out four. Justin Thomas made his Racer debut in relief and threw two hitless innings with two strikeouts.
The second game started similar to the first as the after a scoreless first, the Racers put the first run on the board in the second inning. Anderson led off the inning with a walk and came around to score on a triple by Duke.
However, the lead did not last long as the Golden Eagles scored three in the bottom of the second to take a lead they would not give up. Duke produced a sacrifice fly in the third, but a run in the bottom of the third and two more in the fourth by ORU expanded their lead to 6-2.
Oral Roberts blew the game open in the seventh with five runs to take an 11-2 lead. Duke added another RBI in the ninth with a single to produce the final score.
EASTERN KENTUCKY 11, FLORIDA A&M 2
NEW ORLEANS - Freshman Christian Lucio hit his first career home run and senior Kaven Brown allowed just one earned run in 5-plus innings of work as the Eastern Kentucky University baseball team beat Florida A&M University, 11-2, at the Andre Dawson Classic on Saturday in New Orleans.
The game was shown to a worldwide audience live on the MLB Network.
The Rattlers (0-2) scored first, with a run in the opening inning, but the Colonels (1-1) scored three in the bottom half and never trailed again. Lucio and Michael Brewer each had RBI singles in the first inning.
EKU went up 5-1 with two runs in the second. After Florida A&M scored a run in the fourth to get within three, the Colonels began to pull away. Lucio began the bottom of the fifth with a lead-off home run that hugged the left field line until it went over the wall. Chris Botsoe’s sacrifice fly made it 7-2 after five.
That was more than enough for the Eastern’s three pitchers. Brown allowed just three hits and struck out seven over five and one-third innings to earn the win. He allowed two runs, only one of which was earned and walked three. Freshman Jacob Ferris came on in the sixth and struck out five over two and two-thirds innings. He allowed one hit and walked two. Aaron Ochsenbein, named to the NCBWA Stopper of the Year watch list before the season started, struck out two in the ninth.
Will Johnson had a two-run double in the eighth to set the final score.
Lucio finished 3-for-5 with two runs and two RBIs. Lyndon Weaver was 3-for-4 with two runs scored.
SOUTHEAST MISSOURI 5, WESTERN MICHIGAN 1
CAPE GIRARDEAU, Mo. - After playing 8.1 innings on Saturday, the game was suspended until Sunday morning where Southeast Missouri closed the door to finish a 5-1 win over Western Michigan to open the 2019 season.
Dylan Dodd was the starting pitcher on the day and threw eight strikeouts in 6.2 innings of work. He allowed one earned run on the night, which was a solo homerun by WMU's Jesse Forestell.