SUNDAY'S SCORES
@Murray State 9, Jacksonville State 8
@Eastern Kentucky 8, UT Martin 5
@Belmont 10, SIUE 7
Austin Peay 10, @Southeast Missouri 2
Eastern Illinois 15, @Tennessee Tech 5
@Southern Illinois 5,
Morehead State 4 (11 innings)
MURRAY STATE 9, JACKSONVILLE STATE 8
MURRAY, Ky. - For the second time in three days, Tyler Duke played hero as his walk-off triple, Sunday afternoon at Reagan Field, gave the Racers a 9-8 win over Jacksonville State.
Murray State has now won their first three OVC series as they improve to 6-3 in conference play and 10-13 overall while the Gamecocks fall to 11-13 overall and 3-3 in the OVC.
Duke's triple capped a four-run comeback in the final two innings that started with Wes Schad hitting a three-run home run off the light-post in right-center field to make it a one-run game. Ryan Perkins followed with a triple and Jaron Robinson knocked him in with a sacrifice fly to tie the game and set up Duke's heroics in the ninth.
In the ninth, Sean Darmafall pinch hit to lead off the inning and walked on four pitches before stealing second to put the winning run in scoring position. Duke then hit a fly ball to right that Darmafall went back to second to tag up on, but when the ball kept carrying and eventually hit off the wall and bounced away from the right fielder, Darmafall had to turn on the jets, beating the throw home and scoring the winning run, just as he did on Friday.
Peyton Hayes earned the win as he pitched a scoreless ninth inning after the Racers had tied it up. After allowing an infield single and a wild pitch to put the runner on second with no outs, a running catch by Jake Slunder on the warning track in left kept the go-ahead run from scoring before Hayes finished off the ninth with two straight strikeouts.
The Racers jumped out to an early lead in the first when Brock Anderson hit a sacrifice fly to drive in Duke who hit his first triple of the day to lead off the inning. MSU added two additional runs in the third on two more sacrifice flies by Duke and Anderson to take a 3-0 lead.
JSU came back with four runs in the fourth to take a 4-3 lead, but Jordan Cozart answered with his first home run as a Racer in the bottom of the inning to tie the game.
The Gamecocks retook the lead when they scored two runs in the fifth and two more in the seventh to take an 8-4 lead before the Racers started their comeback.
EASTERN KENTUCKY 8, UT MARTIN 5
RICHMOND, Ky. - Eastern Kentucky University completed a three-game Ohio Valley Conference baseball series sweep of the University of Tennessee at Martin with an 8-5 win on Sunday at Earle Combs Stadium.
The Colonels (14-10, 3-3 OVC) took a 4-2 lead in the bottom of the second on Will Johnson’s two-run single up the middle. The Skyhawks took the lead back when they scored three runs with two outs in the top of the fourth inning. Creighton Eldridge hit a solo home run and Sean Dixson had a two-run double to right center to make it a 5-4 game in favor of the visitors.
EKU scored one run in each of the next four innings to slowly take control. Logan Thomason had a run scoring single in the bottom of the fourth to tie the game 5-5. Ryland Kerr scored in the bottom fifth on a passed ball to put the Colonels in front for good. Thomason had another RBI single in the bottom of the sixth.
Daniel Harris IV finished 3-for-4 with three runs scored for Eastern Kentucky. Thomason had a 2-for-3 day with two runs driven in. Johnson finished 2-for-4 with two RBIs. Aaron Ochsenbein pitched the final two innings to earn his fourth save of the season. He struck out all six batters he faced.
Dixson and Eldridge had two hits each for UTM (8-15, 2-7 OVC). Dixson added two RBI.
BELMONT 10, SIUE 7
NASHVILLE - Belmont University Baseball stays atop the Ohio Valley Conference with a comeback victory on Sunday. The Bruins secured the 10-7 win and the series victory over conference foe SIUE.
Belmont took the lead early in the game, scoring a run in the bottom of the first inning. Freshman Grayson Taylor (Cullman, Ala.) became Belmont's first base runner after reaching first on a wild pitch. Taylor reached second base on another wild pitch to put himself in scoring position. Senior Devon Gardner (Maryville, Tenn.) notched BU's first hit of the night with a two-out single to center field to put runners on the corners. Senior Hunter Holland (Soddy Daisy, Tenn.) delivered the first RBI of the day with a double to deep center field. The ball bounced out of play for a ground rule double, so only one Bruin was able to score on the well-hit ball, giving Belmont a 1-0 lead after the first inning.
SIUE responded immediately, putting up six unearned runs in the top of the second to retake the 6-1 lead.
Belmont got a run back in the bottom of the second thanks to a sophomore Jackson Campbell (Russellville, Ky.) home run. His team-high fourth long ball of the season came with two outs cut the SIUE lead 6-2 after two complete.
Relief pitcher sophomore Chandler Schultz (Nashville, Tenn.) took over for the final out in the second and continued his appearance in the third inning, keeping SIUE off the board in the top of the third.
The Bruins continued to chip away at the lead in the bottom of the third. This time, junior Chandler Adkins (Knoxville, Tenn.) got things going with a one-out double to deep right field. Adkins advanced on a groundout, finding himself just 90 feet from home plate. Holland kept up his hot streak, delivering his second RBI of the day with a shot through the left side easily scoring Adkins to cut the lead 6-3 after three complete.
The Cougars added another run in the top of the fourth, gaining a run back for a 7-3 lead. Belmont scored in the fourth straight inning, putting up two runs in the bottom of the fourth. Senior Chas Hadden (Morristown, Tenn.) worked a one-out walk to give Belmont a base runner. Campbell then reached on catcher interference. Senior Zach Ehrhart (Mt. Juliet, Tenn.) notched a huge base hit, scoring Hadden to cut the lead 7-4. Taylor kept Belmont's bats going with a single to center field to push Campbell to third and load the bases with just one out. Adkins delivered a sacrifice fly to center field to advance all runners and score Campbell to cut the lead even further to 7-5 after four complete.
Sophomore Kyle Brennan (Franklin, Tenn.) took over the mound for the Bruins for the final out in the fourth inning and stayed impressive in the top of the fifth, retiring the Cougars in order for the first three up, three down half-inning of the game.
Belmont was held off the board for the first time in the bottom of the fifth inning. Despite hits by Holland and freshman Tommy Crider (Madison, Ala.), Belmont was unable to plate any runs in the fifth.
Brennan continued to be impressive keeping the Cougars off the board in the next three innings, allowing just one hit to keep Belmont in the game.
With a 7-5 deficit, Belmont dug its heels in for the bottom of the eighth. After working three straight walks to start the inning, freshman John Behrends (Chattanooga, Tenn.) stepped to the plate with no outs and the bases loaded. Behrends was patient at the plate, working a full-count walk to drive a run home and cut BU's deficit 7-6. Adkins became the hero of the day later in the inning, delivering a one-out double to center field, plating two to give Belmont an 8-7 lead. The next batter, Devon Gardner, laced BU's second-consecutive double, scoring two more to give the Bruins a 10-7 lead. The next two batters struck out and flew out, but the damage was done for the Bruins.
Sophomore Logan Bowen (Bowling Green, Ky.) came to the mound for the top of the ninth inning, looking to secure his fourth save of the season. Bowen pitched an effective inning, facing just four batters, forcing three groundouts to secure the Belmont victory.
AUSTIN PEAY 10, SOUTHEAST MISSOURI 2
CAPE GIRARDEAU, Mo. - Catcher David Martinez and right fielder Parker Phillips each had two home runs as Austin Peay State University’s baseball team used a big second inning to post a 10-2 Ohio Valley Conference victory against Southeast Missouri, Sunday, at Capaha Field.
Austin Peay (11-10, 6-3 OVC) won the three-game series at Southeast Missouri, 2-1. It was the Governors first series victory in Cape Girardeau since the 2012 season.
Phillips second home run of the day – a solo home run in the ninth – was his 38th career home run. It broke the Governors career home run mark set by Lance Wampler in 2000 and tied by Chase Hamilton in 2017.
Martinez supplied his two home runs in Austin Peay’s nine-run second inning outburst, leading off the frame with a homer to right field before capping the frame’s scoring with a two-run blast to left field. Phillips’ first home run of the day also came in the second, a grand slam that broke the game open.
Southeast Missouri (13-11, 3-6 OVC) had plenty of opportunities throughout the game, ultimately leaving 10 men on base. The Redhawks would break through for both their runs in the fifth when four consecutive batters reached base safely with one out. Center fielder Danny Wright’s single drove in the first run and shortstop Tyler Wilber followed with an RBI double.
Austin Peay starter Brandon Vial won his second straight outing. He allowed two runs on five hits and three walks through five-plus innings, striking out five. Relievers Sebastian Martinez and Brett Newberg combined for four scoreless frames to end the game.
All nine Governors starters recorded a base hit in a season-high 13-hit outing. Phillips ended the day 3-for-5 with five RBI to pace the effort while David Martinez went 2-for-4 with three RBI.
Southeast Missouri starter Daniel Bergtholdt (2-3) would not make it out of the second inning and suffered the loss after allowing five runs on six hits in one-plus inning of work in which he faced nine batters.
Wilber’s 2-for-4, one RBI led the Redhawks’ six-hit offensive effort.
EASTERN ILLINOIS 15, TENNESSEE TECH 5
COOKEVILLE, Tenn. - he Eastern Illinois baseball team took on Tennessee Tech in the final game of their conference series Sunday afternoon. The Panthers were able to defeat the golden eagles 15-5 to secure the series sweep.
With the win the Panthers improve to 11-11 (5-4 OVC), while Tennessee Tech drops to 11-12 (2-7 OVC).
The Panthers would break the scoring open in the top of the third inning. Tyler Tesmond kept his hot streak alive during the series with a solo homerun to center field. Jimmy Govern would complete the back-to-back home runs with a solo homerun to center. Ryan Knernschield would drive in the third run of the inning with a double down the left field line.
The Panthers would hit back-to-back home runs for the second time in the game during the top of the fourth inning. Keith Kerrigan would drive a solo homerun to right center to kick off the inning. Trey Sweeney would follow up with a solo homerun to right field.
Kerrigan would earn his second RBI of the afternoon in the top of the fifth when he would reach on a bunt to drive in Christian Pena. Pena would drive in the seventh run of the inning with a bunt that led to a throwing error, which was able to drive in Knernschield. Trey Sweeney would drive a two run double to right center to give the Panthers a 10-0 lead. Tyler Tesmond would keep the rally alive with beating out a grounder to short to extend the lead to 11 runs.
Govern would drive his second home run of the game and sixth of the season to left center in the top of the sixth. Govern would give the Panthers a 12-0 lead with the two run shot.
The Golden Eagles would finally get on the board in the bottom of the sixth inning. Jason Hinchman would give TTU their first runs of the game with a two run homer to right center. TTU would add two more runs in the inning to cut the Panther lead to 12-4.
Matt Waznis would drive in the 13th run of the game for the Panthers with a sacrifice fly to right field to bring home Hunter Morris.
Jay Meuse would hit a one run single to give TTU their fifth run of the game in the bottom of the eighth inning.
The Panthers gave their pitching staff some run support in the top of the ninth inning, adding two runs.
Foster Anshutz earned the start on the hill for the Panthers to close out the series. Anshutz tossed 6.0 innings with five strikeouts. Anshutz improved to 4-0 on the season with the win.
SOUTHERN ILLINOIS 5, MOREHEAD STATE 4 (11)
CARBONDALE, Ill. - Despite the Eagle pitchers holding the host Southern Illinois Salukis scoreless for eight innings Sunday, the offense also went stagnant for a similar period as Morehead State baseball fell 5-4 in 11 innings to close its three-game set.
The Eagles dropped the series 2-1 and slipped to 17-7 overall. SIU moved to 13-9.
The hosts pushed ahead 4-0 after two frames, but Morehead State scored a three-spot in the third frame and tied it 4-4 in the fourth. From there, MSU pitchers Will Lozinak, Alex Garbrick and David Looney combined to put zeros on the scoreboard for the next eight innings.
However, in the bottom of the 11th, SIU's Grey Epps drew a full-count walk. On the ensuing batter, Aiden McMahan grounded into what looked like could be a double play ball to short. But, a slight stumble caused Reid Leonard to have to throw to first for just the trailing runner out. On a 2-1 pitch from reliever Jake Ziegelmeyer (2-1), J.T Weber singled up the middle to score Epps with the winning tally.
Looney pitched 3.1 innings of no-hit ball, striking out two. Lozinak went 6.2 innings, just one out short of his career high for innings, and gave up four runs but as previously mentioned all four were in the first two innings.
MSU totaled 10 hits through the first four innings, but ran into reliever Sam Grace, who worked six full innings and allowed just one hit.
Senior first baseman Trevor Snyder and sophomore third baseman Stephen Hill registered RBI singles in the third inning, while senior DH Hunter Fain plated the final Eagle run with a sac fly in the fourth. Fain's 25-game reached-base streak was halted today.