SUNDAY'S SCORES
Western Illinois 5,
@Southeast Missouri 2 (11 innings)
Miami (Ohio) 14-5,
@Murray State 4-7
@Morehead State 4, Oakland 3
Eastern Kentucky 27, Maryland-Eastern Shore 8
(Dayton, Ohio)
@Austin Peay 15-8, Northern Illinois 3-3
@Western Kentucky 10-5,
Eastern Illinois 9-4
Toledo 10-2,
@Belmont 7-5
@Jacksonville 16,
Jacksonville State 7
UT Martin 1-6, North Alabama 0-7 (Jacksonville, Ala.)
@Louisiana-Monroe 12-4,
SIUE 3-12
@South Alabama 10,
Tennessee Tech 2
WESTERN ILLINOIS 5, SOUTHEAST MISSOURI 2 (11)
CAPE GIRARDEAU, Mo. - Southeast Missouri (5-2) fell 5-2 to Western Illinois (2-4) Sunday in extra innings of work. Daniel Bergtholdt recorded a career-high six strikeouts in his start on the mound for Southeast.
Bergtholdt allowed just one run on four hits in six innings of work on the mound in the final game. He was releived by Logan Winder who would throw four innings and allow three runs and record a career-high four strikeouts.
Western Michigan struck first with a run in the top of the first inning. A sacrifice bunt by Alex Dorethy scored Steve McShane who was walked earlier in the inning.
SEMO came back in the bottom of the fifth with lead off walk coming back to score. Peyton Faulkner was walked and scored on an error by WIU's second baseman who allowed the ball to roll through his legs on Brett Gonzalez at bat. Both Gonzalez and Faulkner were safe on the play to tie it up at 1-1.
The Leathernecks regained the lead in the top of the eighth on a wild pitch. Kevin Raisbeck got a base hit into right field and was followed by a base hit to Logan Winder who was on the mound. The two base runners advanced to home on a wild pitch. Sears, who was earlier called safe on a base hit to Winder, was called out at home on a play by Logan Winder. WIU took a 2-1 on the play.
In the bottom of the eighth Southeast tied the game back up with Devon Wilson scoring on a base hit by Alex Nielsen. Wilson was walked to start the inning, and was moved on an Austin Blazevic single to right field. Wilson slid into home with two outs to make the game even.
Blazevic went 2-for-5 on the day with two singles. His first hit came in th bottom of the fourth, and was the first hit of the team. Southeast would finish with five hits, two of which were Blazevic's.
The game remained tied 2-2 until the top of the eleventh, when WIU would record three hits and three runs to pull away from the Redhawks. WIU would start the inning with a base hit to right field and a walk. Next would be an error on Blazevic to load the bases for the Leathernecks.
CJ Schaeffer Jr. would hit a base hit to right field to score Bauer and give WIU a 3-2 lead. Raisbeck would hit a double over Gonzalez's head in right field to score two more and extend the lead to 5-2 in favor of Western Illinois.
MIAMI (OHIO) 14-5, MURRAY STATE 4-7
MURRAY, Ky. - The Murray State baseball team opened their 2019 home slate, Sunday with a doubleheader against Miami (OH) and earned a split. The RedHawks won the first game 14-4 while the Racers rebounded for a 7-5 comeback victory in game two.
In game one, Miami scored five runs in the first two innings and never looked back as cruised to victory. All four Murray State runs came on solo home runs from Tyler Duke, Brock Anderson, Ryan Perkins, and CJ Bush.
The second game looked to be a pitcher's duel through four innings as the game remained scoreless. The RedHawks scored one run in the fifth off of Shane Burns but that was all the freshman surrendered. In five innings pitched, Burns allowed just the one run on two hits with seven strikeouts.
Miami added two runs in the sixth, but the Racers tied up the game in the bottom half of the inning. Duke led off with his second home run of the day to get the Racers on the board which was followed by Anderson hitting a single and Bush reaching on an error to set up first and third, no outs for MSU. Jake Slunder then drove in the second run of the inning with an infield single to shortstop allowing Anderson to score and sending Bush to third who then came in to tie the game at three when the Miami pitcher balked.
After the RedHawks retook the lead in the seventh, the Racers responded with two runs in the bottom half when Slunder delivered a clutch two-run single through the left side of the infield after Miami had walked the bases loaded.
Peyton Hayes went out to the mound for the eighth and kept the RedHawks off the board with two strikeouts in the inning.
The Racers added two insurance runs in the bottom of the eighth on a play you do not see every day. Bryan Chilton singled and Jordan Holly walked and, after advancing a base on a wild pitch, both came into score on a sacrifice fly to the warning track from Perkins.
Hayes came back out for the ninth looking for the save but got himself into trouble by loading the bases with no outs. Skirka stuck with him and it proved to be the right choice as Hayes got a strikeout, a fielder's choice, and a flyout to right to end the game and give the Racers a 7-5 win.
Slunder finished the game with two hits and three RBI while Perkins had two RBI and a run scored. Duke also a hit, RBI, and two runs scored.
MOREHEAD STATE 4, OAKLAND 3
MOREHEAD, Ky. - Despite being no-hit until the seventh inning, Morehead State baseball took advantage of some strange occurrences and pitched efficiently in leading to a 4-3 walk-off victory over Oakland Sunday. The Eagles swept all four contests against the Golden Grizzlies this week.
The Eagles improved to 6-1, the program's best seven-game start since 1994. This squad is now just one game behind the 1984 squad's 7-1 start as the best opening two-week slate in the history of the program.
On an extremely blustery day at Allen Field, one would expect a high scoring affair, but it was the pitching on both sides that excelled at times. Oakland's Beau Keathley stymied the Eagles bats into no hits until junior Ryan Layne led off the eighth with a double. Keathley finished with 12 strikeouts in 7.1 innings.
The Eagles finally broke their scoreless situation in the sixth when sophomore Bryce Hensor reached on a muffed fielding play by Keathley. He moved to second on a balk and later scored on a balk.
Still trailing 3-1 in the eighth, Hensor drew the first of back-to-back-back walks issued by Keathley. After Max Labrato entered and struck out his batter faced, he slipped on a delivery and was charged with a balk to score Hensor again. Layne delivered a two-out, single to right field to score senior Reid Leonard to tie it. Senior Connor Pauly was cut down at the plate attempting the go-ahead run.
In the ninth, reliever Jake Ziegelmeyer issued a leadoff walk but coaxed a double play and a strike out to give his team the winning chance.
The bottom of the frame saw senior Jake Hammon lace a leadoff single to right field. Attempting to steal, pinch hitter Jon Burghardt lifted a high pop up into shallow left field. With the shortstop heading to the bag to cover the potential steal attempt, it left a gap in the grass, and Burghardt's hit dropped in for a single. Senior Hunter Fain walked to load the bases, but junior Chase Sorter lined into a double play. Hensor was then plunked with a pitch to keep the bases loaded. Senior Reid Leonard's keen eye coaxed a four-pitch, game-winning walk.
Ziegelmeyer (1-0) was credited with the victory. Starter Will Lozinak scattered nine hits but struck out six in 6.1 innings of work. Senior David Looney worked 1.2 scoreless innings.
Pauly extended his reached-base streak to 37 games, while Hammon's streak of reaching grew to 29 games.
EASTERN KENTUCKY 27, MARYLAND-EASTERN SHORE 8
DAYTON, Ohio - Eastern Kentucky University’s baseball team completed a four-game sweep of the University of Maryland Eastern Shore on Sunday and at 6-2 is off to its best start since the 2004 season.
EKU beat the Hawks 27-8 on Sunday. The 2004 Colonels started the season 7-1 through eight games.
Eastern will play at the University Kentucky on Tuesday. The game at Kentucky Proud Park is scheduled to begin at 4 p.m.
The Colonels scored 13 runs in the first three innings on Sunday to put the game out of reach. Brent Lovell highlighted a 6-run first inning with a 2-run double to left field. Ryland Kerr had a 2-run single and Will Johnson hit a 3-run home run to fuel a 6-run third inning and give the Colonels a 13-3 advantage.
UMES scored three times in the top of the second, including two runs on a single to right by Dillon Oxyer.
Johnson hit his second home run in as many at bats when he sent a 2-0 pitch over the wall in left center in the bottom of the fifth. Logan Thomason hit a three-run homer over the wall in left later in the inning. EKU scored nine times in the fifth to go up 22-4.
Thomason hit his second home run of the game and second of the season in the sixth inning, a solo shot over the wall in left center.
Johnson hit his third home run of the game and fourth of the season in the bottom of the eighth. He finished 4-for-5 with two walks, four runs and seven RBIs. He had a solo, a two-run and a three-run home run in the game.
Lovell, a freshman from Mount Vernon, Kentucky, had five hits in six at bats, a walk, three runs and five RBIs. He is the first Colonel with five hits in a game since Mandy Alvarez had seven at Jacksonville State on May 6, 2016.
Thomason went 4-for-7 with three runs and five RBIs. The trio of Johnson, Lovell and Thomason had 17 of the team’s 25 RBIs in the game.
Brennan Kelly (2-0) started for Eastern Kentucky and earned the win. He allowed four runs, only one of which was earned, on seven hits. He walked one and struck out six.
Four EKU pitchers combined for 14 strikeouts and just three walks.
AUSTIN PEAY 15-8, NORTHERN ILLINOIS 3-3
CLARKSVILLE, Tenn. - First baseman Parker Phillips hit three home runs in the day’s first game and catcher David Martinez had three hits and three RBI in the nightcap as Austin Peay State University’s baseball team swept a doubleheader, 15-3 and 8-3, Sunday to cap the SAF Dirt Classic on Joe and Cathi Maynard Field at Raymond C. Hand Park.
Phillips bat was the highlight in the opener as the redshirt junior hit his first three home runs of the 2019 campaign. He had two-run homers in both the first and third innings – going to right field first before belting a shot through a strong headwind into left – to help the Govs race out to a 10-0 lead. He added a leadoff shot in the fifth to finish a 3-for-4, five RBI outing as Austin Peay won a run-rule shortened affair.
Govs starter Jacques Pucheu (1-0) picked up the win after holding Northern Illinois to one run on four hits in a four-inning outing. He struck out six of the 19 batters he faced. Reliever Ryan Kouba tossed the final three innings to notch his first save as a Governor.
In the nightcap, David Martinez put on his own show at the plate, reaching base in all four plate appearances. His three-hit outing included a key three-run double in the seven-run third inning that gave the Govs the lead for good. Martinez also had singles in the second and fifth innings for his first career three-hit day as a Governor.
Shortstop Bobby Head hit his second home run of the weekend during the key third frame – a three-run blast that extended the lead to 7-1.
Starter Josh Rye (1-1) was the beneficiary of the third-inning outburst, holding NIU to one run on a home run in the first inning. He would last into the sixth and picked up the win with a 5.1-inning outing that saw him strikeout four batters.
Malik Peters came off the bench in Game 1 to supply a two-run single in the sixth inning that provided the game’s final runs. Third baseman Tommy Szczasny hit the first-inning home run in Game 2 with right fielder Nick Drobushevich chipping in a RBI triple later in the game.
NIU starter Ty Jandrowski (0-1) was tagged for the Game 1 loss after surrendering seven runs (five earned) on six hits in two innings of work. William Anderson (0-2) started Game 2 and also took the loss after allowing seven runs in three innings.
WESTERN KENTUCKY 10-5, EASTERN ILLINOIS 9-4
BOWLING GREEN, Ky. - The Eastern Illinois baseball team kicked of their series doubleheader against Western Kentucky on Sunday. Eastern Illinois fell short by one run in both games of the double header on Sunday.
With the losses EIU drops to 0-5, while Western Kentucky advances to 5-1
The Panthers came out aggressive in the top of the first inning of game one, scoring a quick two runs. Dane Toppel led off the inning with a single to right field. Alex Stevenson followed up drawing a walk. Hunter Morris would move the two into scoring position with a ground out to second. The Panthers were able to score their first run of the inning on a Jimmy Govern sacrifice fly. Ryan Knernschield extended the lead with an RBI single to left field.
Stevenson was able to extend the lead to 3-0 in the top of the second with an RBI single to left center.
The Panthers were able to score in their third straight inning adding two more runs in the top of the third inning. Knernschield drew a walk to get the rally started. Matt Mackey would reach on an error to give the Panthers runners at first and second. Wyell Woods drove in the first run of the inning with an RBI single to left field. Garyn Stewart walked to give EIU the bases loaded with two outs. Toppel would drive in the second run of the inning with a bases loaded walk.
Western Kentucky was able to get on the board in the bottom of the third when Ray Zuberer would drive in Kevin Lambert with an RBI single to center.
WKU was able to put together a five run fourth inning to put the pressure on EIU. Jack Wilson kicked off the bottom of the fourth with a lead off single up the middle. Sam McElreath would reach on an error to give Western Kentucky runners at first and second. Lambert would draw a walk to load the bases. Dillon Nelson would hit a two run double down the left field line to cut the Panther lead to two runs. Zuberer would ground out to second to drive in Lambert for the fourth run of the inning. Davis Sims would drive the fifth run of the inning on a single to left field.
Stevenson would give the Panthers a 6-5 lead with an RBI single to right field.
Western Kentucky was able to take the lead for the first time in the game in the bottom of the sixth inning. Jake Sanford tied the game up with an RBI single up the middle, while Wilson hit a base clearing three run double down the right field line to give Western Kentucky a 9-6 lead.
Govern would hit a two run single to left field to cut the WKU lead to 9-8. The Panthers would tie the game in the top of the eighth when Keith Kerrigan would hit a sacrifice bunt to score Grant Emme.
Western Kentucky was able to walk off in the bottom of the tenth on a balk to win 10-9.
In game two, Western Kentucky broke out to an early two run lead in the bottom of the first inning. Sanford gave WKU their first run of the game on a sacrifice fly to left center. Later in the inning Zuberer stole home to give Western Kentucky a two run lead.
Kerrigan was able to get the Panthers on the board in the top of the second with an RBI single to center.
The Panthers were able to grab the lead from Western Kentucky with a three run third inning. Topel kicked off the inning with a lead off single up the middle. Govern followed suit with a single to left field. Mackey drove in Toppel with an RBI single to left field. Jimmy Huber followed up with an RBI double to right field to score Govern. Knernschield would keep the rally alive with an RBI single up the middle.
Western Kentucky was able to take the lead in the bottom of the eighth on a Matt Phipps sacrifice fly to right field.
TOLEDO 10-2, BELMONT 7-5
NASHVILLE - Belmont University Baseball split a double header with Toledo on Sunday. The Bruins fell 10-7 in the first game and defeated the Rockets 5-2 in game two.
In game one freshman Joshua South (Cookeville, Tenn.) got the start on the mound in game one for the Bruins. South came out hot, forcing three straight fly balls to left field for three quick outs in the top of the first inning.
Game one of the double header proved to be a pitchers dual for the first couple of innings, with the only hit from either side coming from junior Chandler Adkins (Knoxville, Tenn.) in the bottom of the second.
Toledo broke the deadlock in the top of the first. With just one strike left in the inning, the Rockets rallied to score two runs on two hits to take a 3-0 lead. While Belmont was able to get base runners on in the next few innings, double plays plagued the Bruins keeping them off the board.
Toledo scored its third and fourth runs of the afternoon in the top of the sixth after a couple of base hits and a sacrifice bunt to take an early 5-0 lead. The Rockets tried to put the game out of reach in the top of the seventh scoring four runs on four hits to take a commanding 8-0 lead.
Belmont was finally able to respond and get its offense going in the bottom of the seventh. Junior Hagan Severance (Brentwood, Tenn.) started off the inning with a triple to deep right center field to put a runner in scoring position early in the inning. Junior Devon Gardner (Maryville, Tenn.) delivered a sacrifice fly to plate the first Belmont run of the afternoon. Freshman Grayson Taylor (Cullman, Ala.) then blaster yet another triple to right field to immediately threaten once again. Senior Zach Ehrhart (Mt. Juliet, Tenn.) plated him with an RBI single before the next batter grounded into a double play to end the inning. Belmont would strand one in the bottom of the seventh, but finally cracked the scoreboard cutting the Rockets' lead 8-2.
Toledo responded with a run of its own in the top of the eighth for a 9-2 lead, but the Bruins refused to give up. Designated hitter freshman Tommy Crider (Cullman, Ala.) continued to keep Belmont's bats hot leading off the inning with a single to center field. A walk and a single by freshman Jackson Campbell (Russellville, Ky.) loaded the bases with no outs. Taylor plated the Bruins' third run working a bases-loaded walk to cut the lead 9-3. Pinch hitter sophomore Logan Jarvis (Franklin, Tenn.) showed patience at the plate working a two-out bases loaded walk later in the inning cutting the lead even further. After eight batters, Belmont cut the lead 9-4 after eight complete.
The Rockets took advantage of a hit batsman who eventually scored in the top of the ninth to take a 10-4 lead.
With ground to cover, the Bruins dug in and started a ninth inning rally. Senior Chas Hadden (Morristown, Tenn.) started the rally with a double to left field that Crider followed up with a hit and RBI single. A senior Hunter Holland (Soddy Daisy, Tenn.), fielders' choice and a walk loaded the bases. Severance was hit by a pitch with the bases loaded, pushing Crider home to cut the lead 10-6. Freshman John Behrends (Chattanooga, Tenn.), who represented the tying run, stepped to the plate and delivered a two-out RBI single through the right side keeping the Bruins' chances alive. The final Belmont batter of the game grounded into a fielders' choice and Belmont came up just short, falling 10-7.
About a half hour after the conclusion of the first game, the teams got back on the diamond for a seven-inning Sunday afternoon contest. Junior Korey Bell (Brentwood, Tenn.), set the tone for the game from the mound in the top of the first, forcing three outs on just four pitches.
Belmont came out swinging in the bottom of the inning with Ehrhart leading off with a single to left center field. A Campbell double laced beautifully down the left line scored Ehrhart putting Belmont ahead 1-0 after just two at-bats. Belmont would leave the bases loaded in the first, but not before taking the lead.
Toledo responded with a run of its own in the top of the first to tie the game 1-1. Bell continued to be an impressive force on the mound, keeping the Rockets scoreless through the third and fourth innings.
Belmont broke the deadlock in the bottom of the fourth after Holland worked a leadoff walk and advanced on an Adkins single setting up the sacrifice fly from Jarvis to take the 2-1 lead.
The Bruins' got in a jam in the top of the fourth with the bases loaded after a few walks, but Bell worked out of it, forcing a ground ball to end the inning, preserving the 2-1 lead. Toledo scored the tying run (3-3) in the top of the fifth after a couple walks and a hit.
Belmont responded immediately yet again in the bottom of the fifth. The leadoff man, Crider, was awarded first base after he was hit by a pitch and Holland worked a walk to put runners on first and second. Adkins plated the third run with a sacrifice fly to retake the lead. Pinch hitter Hadden sent the fourth run home with a single through the left side for the second run of the inning. Belmont would take a 5-2 lead into the final two innings of the afternoon.
Sophomore Logan Bowen (Bowling Green, Ky.) was called upon to finish this one out on the mound for the Bruins. He kept Toledo off the board in the top of the sixth with two strikeouts and a groundout.
Belmont scored its final run of the day in the bottom of the sixth after freshman Jack Capobianco (London, Ky.) worked a walk after an impressive at bat to start the inning. A sacrifice bunt pushed Capobianco to scoring position and Crider sent him home with an RBI single to round out Belmont's scoring efforts.
Bowen closed out the game in the top of the seventh forcing a fly ball to left field and a couple of strikeouts secure the 5-2 Belmont victory.
JACKSONVILLE 16, JACKSONVILLE STATE 7
JACKSONVILLE, Fla. - The Jacksonville State offense came alive late in Sunday's series finale with Jacksonville State, but it wasn't enough as JSU fell 16-7 to the Dolphins at John Sessions Stadium.
The win by JU capped off a weekend sweep after winning 2-1 on Friday night and taking a 5-2 win on Saturday. JU evened its season mark to 3-3, while the Gamecocks dropped to 2-5 early in the season.
The Dolphins started strong with a four-run first and a two-run second to put Jax State in come-from-behind mode early. JSU starter Isaiah Magwood went one inning before being lifted in the second inning. He was one of seven pitchers used by the Gamecocks.
JSU registered its first run of the day in the fourth as sophomore Isaac Alexander delivered a two-out RBI single to left centerfield. Alexander finished with a pair of hits in the contest.
JU extended the lead with 10 runs over the next three innings to take a commanding lead, but JSU fought back with three runs in the eighth and a trio of runs in the ninth.
Freshman Brook Brannon started the eighth with a single and scored on Nash Adams' triple to the gap in right centerfield. Junior Tre Kirklin had an RBI sacrifice fly for the second run of the frame before sophomore Alex Strachan posted a pinch hit solo home run to centerfield.
In the Jax State ninth, it strung together four hits, highlighted by junior Taylor Craven's second home run as a Gamecock to start the inning. Brannon, who entered the game in the sixth, singled for the second consecutive at bat and stole second in the inning. Freshman Carson Crowe doubled Brannon home for the second run. Senior Nic Gaddis, who has reached base in all seven games this season, kept the game alive with an RBI double. Gaddis joined Alexander and Brannon with multiple hits in the setback and reached base three times.
Dakota Julylia led the JU lineup with a 5-for-5 day at the dish and driving in five runs.
UT MARTIN 1-6, NORTH ALABAMA 0-7
JACKSONVILLE, Ala. - The University of Tennessee at Martin baseball squad split today’s doubleheader against North Alabama today, making school history in Game 1’s 1-0 win before falling in heartbreaking fashion in Game 2 by a 7-6 margin.
The 1-0 shutout in Game 1, which followed the 1-0 victory from yesterday, marked the first time in the program’s Division-I history that UT Martin tallied back-to-back shutouts.
On the day, the Ethan Whitley led the Skyhawks in run production as he plated a trio of runs. Jordan Stoner and Robert Worley both tallied a pair of RBIs to account for the rest of the scoring for UT Martin. Stoner’s five hits paced the club while Casey Harford racked up four base knocks. Whitley followed with three hits, Tyson Cox and Blake Daniels racked up a pair of hits and the gang of Worley, Hayden Cooper, Creighton Eldridge, Sean Dixson and Blake Davis all accounted for one knock each.
As a whole, the UT Martin pitching staff was superb as Sam Folks (1-0) was lights out in his six-inning start in the first game. He racked up five strikeouts and allowed just three hits and a walk in the start. Nick Wohlbold came on in relief of Folks in Game 1 and tallied his second save of the season. Wohlbold was also great as he issued three hits and a free base in his three innings and fanned a team-high six batters. Bullington got the starting nod in Game 2 and was tagged for five earned runs in his three innings on the hill. The trio of Dom Bazzani, Jeff O’Doherty and Marcus Eusebio provided some much-needed stability following Bullington as they combined for five innings of one-hit baseball. Between the three relievers, they also whiffed six batters. Zach Denney (1-1) came on in the ninth but was touched up for a pair of runs as North Alabama kept the Skyhawks from claiming the series sweep.
In the first game of the day, UT Martin was led by Whitley as he drove in the game’s lone run on a pair of hits. The duo of Stoner and Harford also tallied two hits apiece while Dixson, Eldridge and Cox also rapped out base knocks.
Folks was electric in his six-inning start on the bump. The lefty conceded just three hits and issued one free base during his time on the mound while he fanned five Lions along the way. Wohlbold tallied his second save in as many weekends as he logged three innings out of the bullpen. He was a shutdown force as he allowed just three hits and whiffed six in his outing.
The Skyhawks struck early as Harford reached first on an error and then moved on up to second in time for a Whitley RBI single to give UT Martin the edge it would need.
North Alabama opened the bottom of the first with a leadoff single but the runner would be caught trying to swipe second. Folks then forced a flyout and a groundout with a Lion reaching on an error sandwiched between the latter outs.
Folks was dealing in the second inning as he fanned the side in order. In the third inning, he opened the frame with a strikeout followed by a single then used a nifty pickoff move wiped the runner from the base paths. An error would allow another runner but the North Alabama threat would end with a groundout to short.
The fourth inning was a quick one for Folks as he needed just 12 pitches to get out of the frame. He also flew through the fifth as he sat down the side in order once again, this time with the help of a lineout, a groundout and a flyout, respectively.
Wohlbold would relieve Folks in the seventh and worked around a leadoff single to escape trouble. He then fanned the side in the eighth inning before evading a pair of base runners in the ninth to claim the Skyhawk victory.
Stoner led the way for UT Martin in the second game of the day as he tallied a game-high three hits and two RBIs. Whitley drove in a pair of runs while Worley’s near-heroic pinch-hit two RBIs rounded out the scoring opportunities. Harford and Daniels rapped out a pair of hits while Davis, Cooper and Cox all tallied one hit apiece.
Bullington clocked in for three innings of work in his start as he issued five earned runs but struck out a pair of North Alabama batters before his day was through. Bazzani came on in relief for two innings and did not allow a hit as he rung up two Lions in that span. O’Doherty worked around a trio of walks in his one inning of no-hit baseball and retired the side via the strikeout. Eusebio logged two innings, allowing just one hit and a walk and sat down one batter on strikes. Denney took the tough loss as he gave up two earned runs but not before ringing up a North Alabama batter.
UT Martin jumped out to an early 1-0 lead in the first as Stoner opened the game with a single. Harford then ripped a base knock in time for a Whitley single to drive in Stoner and give the Skyhawks the advantage.
In the second, UT Martin tacked on another run as Cooper led worked the count for a seven-pitch free base. Daniels then collected a single before Cox would move both runners into scoring position via a sacrifice bunt. A Stoner flyout to right field would be enough to drive Cooper in and push the Skyhawk lead to 2-0.
North Alabama rallied for a pair of runs in the second to knot things up and then added three more runs in the third to take a 5-2 advantage.
UT Martin reclaimed the lead in the ninth as Daniels tallied a one-out base knock followed by a Cox single. Stoner then ripped a single to plate Daniels followed by a Harford base hit to juice the bases. Then Worley stepped into the batter’s box and roped a double to bring in Cox and Stoner. A Whitley flyout to right would be good enough to drive Harford home and give UT Martin a 6-5 lead.
The Lions then put up a pair of runs to walk things off and take the 7-6 win.
LOUISIANA-MONROE 12-4, SIUE 3-12
MONROE, La. - SIUE baseball collected its first win of the season Sunday, taking game two of a doubleheader on the road at Louisiana-Monroe 12-4. ULM won the opener 12-3.
The Cougars are 1-4 to start the season. ULM is 2-3.
The Cougars scored three times with two outs in the second inning and never looked back. Eric Giltz drove in a run in the inning and Rigoni plated two with a single down the right field line. Raul Elguezabal drove home Weimer with a single in the fourth and SIUE led 4-2 after four innings. Rigoni added two RBIs in the seventh and the Cougars led 6-3 after seven innings.
SIUE's offense blew it wide open with a six-run ninth inning to seal the victory. Ross and Dustin Woodock each picked up two-run singles in the inning and Weimer followed with the two-run blast to left field. The homer was the 24th of Weimer's career, tying him for No. 6 on the career list at SIUE.
The Cougars finished with a season-high 12 hits on the afternoon.
Chris Robinson allowed a run in three innings of relief to earn the win. He struck out two. Cole Milam worked the final two innings, allowing a run, to earn his first save. Cameron Prayer started and worked four innings in his second start of the year. He allowed two runs on just one hit and struck out seven.
Louisiana-Monroe scored 12 times on 13 hits in game one. The Warhawks scored four times with two outs in the third inning after a fly ball was lost in the sun. ULM added three runs in the seventh and four more in the eighth inning.
Peyton Cordova-Smith led SIUE with three hits in game one. Weimer had two hits and an RBI. Justin Perkins and Woodcock added the other RBIs.
SIUE starter Collin Baumgartner allowed five runs in five innings in the loss. He fell to 0-2.
SOUTH ALABAMA 10, TENNESSEE TECH 2
MOBILE, Ala. - The Tennessee Tech baseball team struggled to develop much offensively as the South Alabama Jaguars completed a series sweep over the Golden Eagles with a 10-2 victory Sunday afternoon.
The Tech bats were held to just six hits in the contest, but junior Anthony Carrera shined with four of them while making some history. The left fielder became just the third Golden Eagle in the last 25 years to hit for the cycle, part of his 4-for-4 day from the plate.
Batting leadoff for the second time this season, Carrera kicked of the day for the Golden Eagles with a single up the middle on the first pitch of the contest. In the third, he came to the dish with two outs and laced a triple to left center field.
He got his heavy hack in during the sixth, taking his place in the box following a leadoff walk to Cody Littlejohn. Carrera fell behind in the count, 1-2, but focused on the next pitch and blasted it to right field for a 2-run moon shot to pull Tech within a pair of runs.
Carrera completed the cycle in the eighth, ripping a double to right field. He joined former Golden Eagles Brandon Thomasson (2014) and John Ham (2018) as the only Tech players to accomplish the feat in the past 25 seasons.
South Alabama scored the first run of the game with three hits and walk to kick off the action in the bottom of the first. Alex Hursey came on in relief and recorded three straight outs to escape further damage.
The Jags struck again in the fourth, plating three for a 4-0 lead before the Golden Eagles cut the deficit in half in the sixth. The home team did answer later in the contest, however, scoring three times in the seventh and three more times in the eighth to put the contest away for good.