TUESDAY'S SCORES
Illinois State 18,
@Southeast Missouri 6
@Tennessee Tech 12, Valparaiso 8
West Virginia 9,
@Morehead State 3
@Southern Illinois 3,
Austin Peay 2
@Kentucky 6,
SIUE 4
UT Martin 12, @Alabama A&M 3
Lipscomb 18,
@Belmont 3
@Murray State 12, Kentucky State 8
Eastern Illinois 9, @Alabama State 4
ILLINOIS STATE 18, SOUTHEAST MISSOURI 6
CAPE GIRARDEAU, Mo. - Southeast Missouri (10-6) fall to 1-12 in the all-time series against the Redbirds of Illinois State (9-5) after the 18-6 downfall at Capaha Field Tuesday.
Tyler Wilber went 2-for-3 on the day with a single and a double. Wilber was also walked his last two at-bats.
Logan Spalt allowed two hits and struck out three batters in his first start on the mound this season. Nathan Bock came to the mound and recorded no walks and three strikeouts in three innings of work.
SEMO strung together two three-run innings in the loss to ISU. The Redhawks finished with 10 hits and three runs.
In the sixth inning, Southeast made marks on the board after four-straight hits to bring in three runs and cut the lead to 8-3.
Connor Basler and Danny Wright both had base hits to left field, put runners on the corners for Wilber. Wilber hit his sixth double of the season and scored Basler to cut the ISU lead to 8-1. Wright and Wilber scored on a base hit by Austin Blazevic.
The Redbirds strung together seven straight hits in the top of the ninth to push ahead 18-3. Illinois State would finish with 22 hits on the day, the most allowed by the Redhawks this season.
In the bottom of the ninth, Southeast hit through the lineup to bring in three more runs to finish the game 18-6 ISU.
Freshmen Andrew Keck and Brett Gonzalez were both walked in the final inning to put runners on bases and no outs for Alex Canty. Canty would hit a base hit to right field to load the bases. Alex Nielsen would get hit by the pitch for the fifth time this season to score a run. Keegan Meyn would follow suit and bring in another run after getting plunked. The Redhawks trailed 18-5 now.
Connor Basler would record a sacrifice fly to the right fielder, but only score Canty to make it 18-6.
TENNESSEE TECH 12, VALPARAISO 8
COOKEVILLE, Tenn. - A slobber knocker early, the Tennessee Tech baseball team out-slugged visiting Valparaiso Tuesday afternoon, earning a 12-8 victory in the friendly confines of Bush Stadium at the Averitt Express Baseball Complex.
Fresh off his first career Ohio Valley Conference Player of the Week and Collegiate Baseball National Player of the Week honors, sophomore Jason Hinchman continued his torrid run with a performance for the record books. The Tech first baseman tied the program's single-game record for home runs, smashing three in the ball game on his way to a career-high seven RBI.
He tied the mark of several Golden Eagles, including teammate Kevin Strohschein, who slugged three in a contest against Illinois State last season.
All but two of the 20 combined runs scored in the contest came within the first four innings, with the two teams trading blows to the tune of five lead changes throughout the day. It began with Valparaiso picking up an unearned run in the first.
Tech answered immediately in the bottom half, with Hinchman doing the honors. After an RBI double to center field by Strohschein, the Winston, Ga. native hammered a two-run blast to center field, giving the Golden Eagles a 3-1 lead.
The Crusaders retaliated with a trio of runs in the top of the second, recapturing the advantage, 4-3. Once again, it was Hinchman who produced Tech's response. After a quick first out, Jay Meuse was hit by a pitch, Strohschein singled through the left side and Anthony Carrera drew a walk, loading the bases for the Golden Eagle basher.
After working a 2-2 count, Hinchman hit the next offering so flush, not a soul in the stadium doubted the ball would end up over the wall in left field. The long ball marked the youngster's first grand slam of his career and put Tech back on top, 7-5.
Valpo picked away with a run in the third and then jumped right back in front in the fourth, plating three to take an 8-7 lead. Designated hitter John Dyer tied things back up for the Golden Eagles in the bottom half, blasting an RBI double over the head of the right fielder.
Later in the frame, with the bases loaded, Carrera sprinted home for what would be the game-winning run, scoring on a wild pitch. Two batters later, it was Dyer denting home plate on another wild offering, providing a 10-8 advantage.
Hinchman accounted for the one of the final two runs of the contest, hammering his third dinger of the game, a solo shot to centerfield. Dyer came up next and crushed the next pitch to centerfield for his second double of the game. Fellow freshman, Jason Hogan, drove him in with his own double down the first base line.
Junior southpaw Nic Dye picked up the victory to move to 2-1 on the season after tossing two and a third innings out the bullpen. He entered the contest with a bases-loaded jam in the fourth after Valpo had already scored three runs in the frame. The steely-eyed hurler struck out his opponent, ending the further threat. He cruised over the next two innings as well, putting a damper on a heavy offense attack earlier in the contest.
Jacob Parham delivered back-to-back scoreless frames with a pair of punchouts, paving the way for senior Zack Wilcox to finish things off. The right-hander covered the final frame with a strikeout and no base runners allowed.
With the victory, Tech reached the 10-5 mark through its first 15 games for the third consecutive year, matching the efforts of the back-to-back OVC regular season championship winning squads of 2017 and 2018.
WEST VIRGINIA 9, MOREHEAD STATE 3
MOREHEAD, Ky. - Senior Connor Pauly went 3-for-4 with a home run, but the Morehead Sate baseball team couldn't contain visiting West Virginia Tuesday afternoon in the first of two mid-week matchups. The Mountaineers bested MSU 9-3.
Snyder fanned 10 Eagle hitters in a six-inning assignment before giving way to Beau Lowery, who whiffed three more and picked up a save.
Pauly was the bright spot, getting a trio of hits, including a seventh-inning solo homer. The Eagles also scored on senior Trevor Snyder's RBI single in the third. But, the Eagles trailed 5-0 at that point. MSU added its second run on a ground-out double play with the bases loaded in the fifth.
The Mountaineers hammered three home runs - all to right or right-center field. Two of the three round-trippers accounted for five of the WVU runs.
Eagle starter Alex Garbrick, one of six MSU pitchers to appear, was tagged with the loss after allowing a first-inning three-run round tripper. The other five, plus Garbrick, did total eight strikeouts of WVU batters.
Stephen Hill, Snyder and pinch hitter Brody Shoupe registered the other three hits for MSU.
SOUTHERN ILLINOIS 3, AUSTIN PEAY 2
CARBONDALE, Ill. - Starter Tyler Thompson supplied five strong innings, but Austin Peay State University’s baseball team surrendered a one-run lead late in a 3-2 nonconference loss to Southern Illinois, Tuesday, at Itchy Jones Stadium.
Thompson stormed out of the gates, needing just 13 pitches to get through the first three innings allowing no runs and one hit. He would surrender a run in the fourth after allowing the leadoff batter to reach base but kept the tying run on base to end the fourth. Thompson tacked on a quick scoreless fifth frame and left the mound with a 2-1 lead.
Austin Peay (5-9) would not find success against SIU starter Mason Hiser until the third inning. Shortstop Garrett Kueber singled to start the rally and would steal second base to get into scoring position. Third baseman Gino Avros delivered a single up the middle to drive in Kueber for the game’s first run.
The Govs extended their lead two batters later when right fielder Parker Phillips’ dying line drive eluded the Saluki’s right fielder for a double. Avros, who stole second base earlier, sprinted home and the Govs led 2-0.
Southern Illinois (9-5) threatened to flip the score in the seventh, loading the bases against the Austin Peay bullpen. The Salukis would load the bases with two outs, forcing the Govs to bring in closer Brett Newberg. The pitching change did the trick as Newberg struck out the first batter he faced to hold the lead.
However, Austin Peay would not be as fortunate one inning later as the Salukis pieced together their game-winning rally. Second baseman Nikola Vasic walked to start the frame and then advanced to third on a throwing error. Newberg would get a strikeout for the first out but surrendered a sacrifice fly to third baseman Ian Walters, tying the game.
The Salukis weren’t finished, stringing together three consecutive singles after the sacrifice fly. Right fielder Brad Hudson lifted a single over the head of Kueber at shortstop to bring home the go-ahead run.
Thompson was left with no decision for the third consecutive start. He went a career-best five innings against the Salukis, allowing only one run on three hits. Thompson did not issue a walk to any of the 18 batters he faced while striking out two. Newberg (1-3) suffered the loss after allowing two runs on three hits in one inning of work.
Southern Illinois starter Mason Hiser held Austin Peay to two runs on four hits over eight innings to pick up the victory. Trey McDaniel allowed one hit and struck out a batter in a scoreless ninth to notch his fifth save.
KENTUCKY 6, SIUE 4
LEXINGTON, Ky. - Kentucky scored four times in the bottom of the eighth inning Tuesday to take a come-from-behind 6-4 decision over SIUE baseball.
The Cougars fell to 4-8. Kentucky is 12-4.
With the Cougars leading 4-2, the Wildcats scored four times on four hits to take the lead for good. Elliot Curtis and Ryan Shinn each had two-run hits in the inning.
Peyton Cordova-Smith and Raul Elguezabal each collected RBIs in the first to put the Cougars up 2-0 against UK starter Mason Hazelwood.
Kentucky pulled a run back in the third, before SIUE added to its lead in the fifth thanks to a two-run double to left by Elguezabal, who finished the game 2 for 5 with three RBIs.
Garrett Carmichael also had two hits in the game for the Cougars.
The Wildcats picked up a run in the bottom of the fifth to cut the SIUE lead to 4-2.
Sophomore transfer Brian Chandler started in his first appearance for the Cougars. Working on a pitch count, he allowed a run on a hit and three walks in 2 1/3 innings.
Michael Shereyk scattered six hits over 2 2/3 innings. He allowed a run and struck out one.
Adam Drewry (1-1) allowed three runs in two innings in the loss. Kentucky's Daniel Harper (2-0) tossed 1 2/3 innings of scoreless relief in the win. He struck out one.
UT MARTIN 12, ALABAMA A&M 3
HUNTSVILLE, Ala. - The University of Tennessee at Martin baseball team produced a 12-3 rout over Alabama A&M this evening.
The 12 runs put up today are the most for the program since the Skyhawks knocked off No. 13 ranked Southern Miss back on Feb. 24, 2018. Creighton Eldridge also moved into fourth place in school history in triples as he tallied his seventh career three-bagger (tying Jordan Owen, 2009-12).
UT Martin (7-9) was led by the trio of Sean Dixson (four hits), Tyson Cox (three hits) and Blake Daniels (one hits) as they each plated a pair of runs in the midweek contest. Casey Harford and Creighton Eldridge both tallied two hits and one run apiece while Blake Davis rounded out the run-production department with one RBI on the day. Also collecting base knocks were Ethan Whitley and Billy Edwards as each sophomore belted out one hit each. The Skyhawks drew a total of six walks in the game as Robert Worley paced the squad with a pair of free bases while Dixson, Whitley, Davis and Eldridge all earned one free pass each.
The UT Martin pitching staff was nearly flawless on the day as the group did not allow an earned run in the contest. Austen Bullington (1-2) drew the starting nod in today’s game and togged five complete innings of four-hit baseball as he allowed no earned runs in his time toeing the rubber. Although he did not record a strikeout in the matchup, he was accurate as he did not allow a walk in his outing. Marcus Eusebio came on in relief to toss two frames of shutout baseball. He conceded just two base knocks and rung up one along the way. Trey Ricko made his season debut as he clocked in for one full inning of work out of the Skyhawk bullpen. He gave up one hit but fanned a pair of Bulldog batters in the process. Jonah Brody also saw his first action of the season as he notched one frame of hitless baseball. He issued just one walk but allowed no earned runs and finished off the game.
The Skyhawks made their mark on the game early as Dixson led the contest off with a triple to center. A Daniels groundout would be enough for Dixson to come in and give UT Martin a 1-0 lead.
The second inning saw the Skyhawks tack on another run when Worley and Whitley each drew a walk to open the frame. Later, Eldridge would earn a free base to juice the base paths before Dixson also earned a walk and brought Worley in to push the score out to 2-0.
Bullington retired the side in order during his second inning of work as he found a pair of friendly ground-ball outs with a flyout to left field sandwiched in between.
UT Martin struck for five runs in the third inning when Harford got the barrage started with a single before advancing to second on a wild pitch. Worley then drew another walk followed by Whitley being hit by a pitch to load the bases once again. Davis was issued a free base and brought Harford home before a Cox double to left field plated both Worley and Whitley. The last run of the frame came on a Dixson base hit to bring in Davis and gave the Skyhawks a 7-0 advantage.
Alabama A&M tallied its first run of the day in the third inning as the Bulldogs took advantage of a pair of UT Martin errors to make the score 7-1.
Another quick frame would be in the cards for Bullington in the fourth as he received a trio of flyouts to cruise through the inning.
The fifth inning saw UT Martin strike for three more runs as Whitley was once again plunked by a pitch to open the frame. Later, Eldridge would tally his historic triple and bring in Whitley in the process. Cox then ripped a single to center to plate Eldridge and went on to swipe second. A Dixson single moved Cox to third base followed by Daniels reaching base via an error that allowed Cox to score and push the lead out to 10-1.
The Bulldogs notched another run in the fifth on an error to inch back by a 10-2 margin.
Dixson opened the seventh with a base knock to left before moving over to second on an Alabama A&M passed ball. A Harford hit came in time to plate Dixson and extend the UT Martin lead out to 11-2.
The Skyhawks tacked on one more run in the top of the ninth as Daniels led off with a double to left field followed by an Edwards two-bagger to bring in Dixson and make the score 12-2.
Alabama A&M struck one more time as it tallied a run in the bottom of the ninth with an error mixed in to give the final score of 12-3.
LIPSCOMB 18, BELMONT 3
NASHVILLE - The Belmont University Baseball dropped an 18-3 decision on Tuesday night against Lipscomb at E.S. Rose Park.
The game remained scoreless until the bottom of the second. Lipscomb took advantage of a Belmont error and scored seven unearned runs with two outs to take a 7-0 lead.
Belmont got on the board in the bottom of the fourth thanks to senior Devon Gardner (Maryville, Tenn.) who blasted a one-out triple to deep left center field. Freshman Tommy Crider (Madison, Ala.) then delivered a sacrifice fly to plate Gardner, cutting the Lipscomb lead 7-1 after four complete.
Lipscomb responded yet again in the top of the fifth, plating seven more runs after stringing together a few hits and taking advantage of an error to take a 14-1 lead.
After a scoreless sixth, Belmont cracked the scoreboard again in the bottom of the seventh. Junior Hagan Severance (Brentwood, Tenn.) got things going in the seventh when he wore a pitch, giving Belmont a base runner. Freshman John Behrends (Chattanooga, Tenn.) delivered his second base hit of the night pushing Severance to scoring position. Grayson Taylor (Cullman, Ala.) then plated Severance with the second hit of the inning, cutting the Lipscomb lead 14-2.
The Bisons responded with a two-run home run in the top of the eighth and two more runs in the top of the ninth to take a 18-2 lead heading into the bottom of the ninth.
Belmont had one last chance to get back in the game. With one out and a runner first, a Lipscomb error put runners on the corners. The Bruins took advantage of the error, plating senior Zach Ehrhart (Mt. Juliet, Tenn.) from third base on a sacrifice fly to make the score 18-3. A couple of walks would load the bases for Belmont with two outs, but a strikeout ended the game, giving Lipscomb the 18-3 victory.
MURRAY STATE 12, KENTUCKY STATE 8
MURRAY, Ky. - Back on the field just a day after wrapping up its series with Austin Peay, the Murray State baseball team extended their winning streak to three games as they defeated Kentucky State, 12-8, at Reagan Field.
The Racers improve to 6-9 on the season while Kentucky State drops to 10-3-1.
It was not easy for the Racers, Tuesday afternoon, as the Thorobreds tallied 16 hits on the day and had the lead late in the game, but a six-run eighth inning for Murray State propelled the Racers to victory.
The starting outfield of Tyler Duke, Jake Slunder, and Brock Anderson played a big role in setting the table at the top of the lineup as they combined for five hits, five walks, seven runs scored, and two runs batted in.
Wes Schad and Jordan Cozart were the benefactors of those three players getting on base as they each had three RBI in the game.
Peyton Hayes started the game on the mound and threw two scoreless innings with two strikeouts. Jase Carvell also threw a scoreless inning and Justin Thomas wrapped up the game with three scoreless innings to earn his first win of the season.
Neither team could get anything going offensively in the first two innings, but the Racers broke through for two runs in the third. Slunder and Anderson both walked and eventually came around to score on a single by Schad and a sacrifice fly from Jaron Robinson.
After the Thorobreds tied the game in the fourth on a two-run home run, the Racers answered right back in the home half as Anderson drove in two runs with a double down the right-field line to give him seven RBI in the last three games.
The lead was short-lived, however, as KSU responded with five runs in the fifth to take a 7-4 lead. The Racers got a run back in the bottom on an RBI double from Joe McMahon, but the Thorobreds answered with a run in the sixth to maintain a three-run lead.
Murray State started their comeback in the seventh as Jordan Cozart hit a double that one-hopped the wall in left allowing Sean Darmafall to score from first and cut the KSU lead to 8-6.
The comeback was finalized in the eighth as Duke and Slunder both singled before Anderson walked to set up a bases-loaded no-out situation for Schad, who promptly doubled down the third-base line to tie the game. After a groundout to second and a strikeout, it looked like Kentucky State would get out of the inning still tied as Cozart lifted a fly ball to left, but the left fielder lost the ball in the lights allowing two runs to score and Cozart to get to third for a go-ahead triple. A squeeze bunt by Perkins and a wild pitch added two more insurance runs to give the Racers a four-run lead.
Now in position for the win, Thomas went back out to the mound for the ninth. He got the first two outs easily, but two singles and a walk brought the tying run to the plate for KSU. The junior buckled down and struck out the Thorobred batter on three pitches to secure the victory for Murray State.
EASTERN ILLINOIS 9, ALABAMA STATE 4
MONTGOMERY, Ala. - The Eastern Illinois baseball team took on Alabama State on Tuesday for their first game of the two-game mid-week series. EIU defeated Alabama State 9-4.
With the win EIU advances to 5-9 on the season.
EIU came out aggressive in the first inning scoring six runs. Jimmy Govern reached on a throwing error to give the Panthers their first base runner of the game. Hunter Morris would drive in the first run of the game with a double to left field. Knernschield would follow up with an RBI double down the left field line. Ryan Ignoffo would hit the Panthers third consecutive RBI double to left field. The Panthers kept the rally alive when Jimmy Huber would single up the middle to score Ignoffo. Christian Pena gave the Panthers the early 6-0 lead with a two run homerun to left field.
Alabama would cut the Panther lead to three runs throughout five innings until EIU was able to answer back in the top of the sixth.
Ignoffo earned his second RBI of the evening with his second double of the game to give the Panthers a 7-3 lead.
The Panthers extended their lead to 9-3 in the top of the ninth inning. Grant Emme drove in the first run with a sacrifice fly. Tarron Lawson drove in his first RBI of his career as a Panther with a double.
Foster Anshutz earned his second win of the season tossing 5.0 innings. Anshutz finished with three strikeouts, three hits, and two earned runs.