TUESDAY'S SCORES
@Tennessee Tech 7, North Alabama 1
@Morehead State 19, Alabama A&M 0
Southern Illinois 9,
@Eastern Illinois 8
@Western Kentucky 8,
Belmont 7
@Austin Peay 10, Evansville 2
Missouri 10,
@SIUE 3
@Saint Louis 15,
Southeast Missouri 6
Jacksonville State 11, @#18 Auburn 6
TENNESSEE TECH 7, NORTH ALABAMA 1
COOKEVILLE, Tenn. - The long ball and a brilliant effort from the bullpen led the Tennessee Tech baseball team to a 7-1 victory over North Alabama Tuesday evening, securing a season-sweep of the Lions after two games.
The Golden Eagles (13-17) were led by veteran outfielders Kevin Strohschein and Anthony Carrera in their offensive efforts, with the two using their power to provide some fireworks.
In the third, it was the All-American, Strohschein, who kicked off the scoring, crushing a two-run shot over the Quillen Field sign in left field to provide a 2-0 Tech lead over the Lions (7-25). The home run represented his sixth of the year and 53rd of his career.
Two innings later, it was Carrera's turn to round the bases. After catcher Jack Schad was hit by a pitch and junior Cody Littlejohn reached on a bunt single, the Lions gathered their first out. Carrera then pulverized a 2-1 offering, depositing a moon shot just in front of home plate at Tech Softball Field beyond right field of Bush Stadium at the Averitt Express Baseball Complex.
The dinger scored three runs to give Tech a 5-1 edge and marked the left fielder's seventh of the year.
Hunter Higdon provided the last two runs in Tech's day with the bats, lacing a single to center field that drove in both Zell Walker and JD Funk.
On the pitching side of things, five Golden Eagles combined to hold North Alabama to just three hits and one run on the night. Junior Seth Noel made the start for the purple and gold, tossing the first two innings without allowing a run.
Grant Phillips, who earned the victory on the day, covered the next three frames, punching out three without a walk. He surrendered just two hits and a single run. Connor Adams completed the next two innings, without allowing a hit. Tony Curry and Thomas Saliba both struck out two batters each while finishing off the final two frames of the contest.
MOREHEAD STATE 19, ALABAMA A&M 0
MOREHEAD, Ky. - Morehead State hitters recorded 25 hits, including eight of the extra-base variety, while four pitchers combined for 17 strikeouts and allowed just two hits as the Eagle baseball team upended Alabama A&M 19-0 at Allen Field Tuesday afternoon.
The Eagles, who improved to an Ohio Valley Conference-best 22-11, have scored in double digits now in four straight contests and 10 times overall this year and have outscored Alabama A&M (12-22) 36-1 in the teams' last four meetings since 2018.
Sophomore right-hander Alex Garbrick (2-3) set the tone on the mound with a career-best nine punchouts in five innings. Junior righty Blake Preston, freshman southpaw John Bakke and senior right-handed tosser Josh Baumgart whiffed eight more combined and didn't allow a hit in the final four Bulldog plate chances.
At the plate, six Eagle hitters had at least three hits, leading to the season-high total which ended up just four short of the school single-game record.
Senior center fielder Connor Pauly and junior right-fielder Chase Sortor cranked four hits apiece with Sortor driving in three runs. Senior catcher Hunter Fain nailed his sixth homer of the year and went 3-for-4 with a team-high four RBI, while senior shortstop Reid Leonard also drove in four runs and had three hits.
Senior left-fielder Jake Hammon and junior DH Jon Burghardt contributed three hits each as well. Junior second baseman Dom Peroni had two base knocks and recorded a pair of RBI.
The Eagles dotted the scoreboard once in the first inning and then added multiple runs in six other frames, including four times crossing the plate in the fourth and sixth inning at-bats.
SOUTHERN ILLINOIS 9, EASTERN ILLINOIS 8
CHARLESTON, Ill. - The Eastern Illinois baseball team battled against Southern Illinois Tuesday afternoon. The Salukis were able to hold of the late inning Panther comeback as the defeated EIU 9-8.
With the loss EIU falls to 16-17 on the season.
Grant Emme kicked off the bottom of the first inning for the Panthers with a lead off homerun. With the homerun Emme extended his current hitting streak to seven games.
Southern Illinois was able to take the lead in the top of the fourth inning when Alex Lyon hit a solo homerun to left field. The Salukis were able to score five runs throughout the fourth, fifth, and sixth innings.
The Panthers would score two in the bottom of the sixth to cut the lead to 5-3. Hunter Morris was able to score on a wild pitch to be the first run of the inning for EIU. Keith Kerrigan would hit one of his two doubles of the game to drive in the second run of the inning for the Panthers.
Southern Illinois would extend their lead to 8-3 in the top of the eighth inning.
The Panthers would rally to tie the game in the bottom of the eighth inning. Kerrigan kicked off the late inning rally with a double to right center. Dane Toppel would follow suit with a walk. Jimmy Govern who came in to pinch-hit in the bottom of the sixth would drive in the first run of the inning with a one-run single up the middle. Jimmy Huber would draw a walk to load the bases for the Panthers. Brad Hudson would give the Panthers life when he lost the fly ball in left field that Tyler Tesmond would hit. Tesmond would clear the bases on the error to cut the lead down to 8-7. Morris would drive in the tying run and the Panthers fifth run of the inning with a double to center.
Southern Illinois would spoil the Panthers late inning comeback taking the lead in the top of the ninth on a fielding error.
WESTERN KENTUCKY 8, BELMONT 7
BOWLING GREEN, Ky. - Belmont dropped a heartbreaking 8-7 decision on the road against Western Kentucky University Tuesday after a ninth inning rally.
Despite a slow defensive start, the Bruins stepped up defensively in the bottom of the third. Senior pitcher Kyle Klotz (Fairview, Tenn.) got the starting nod for the first time in his storied Belmont career. Klotz dug in and worked around a base hit and a walk to keep Western Kentucky off the board in the first.
In the top of the second, junior Hagan Severance (Brentwood, Tenn.) got Belmont's offense started. His leadoff solo home run over the left field fence gave Belmont a 1-0 lead.
After Klotz kept the Hilltoppers off the board for the second straight inning, the Bruins continued to swing the bat well and increase its lead. In the top of the third, the first three BU batters worked consecutive walks to load the bases. Junior Chandler Adkins (Knoxville, Tenn.) then ripped a ground rule double to the right field corner, scoring two more for a 3-0 lead.
Western Kentucky responded with a four spot in the bottom of the inning to take a 4-3 lead after three complete.
Things slowed down for both squads in the fourth and fifth with neither team able to plate any in the innings. Western Kentucky struck again in the bottom of the sixth, scoring two runs on two hits to increase its lead 6-3.
Belmont was unable to score in the seventh or eighth innings, but good pitching by junior Justin Fowlkes (Collierville, Tenn.) and sophomore Logan Bowen (Bowling Green, Ky.) kept WKU off the board and the Bruins in striking distance.
Down to its final three outs, Belmont put together a rally. Freshman Jack Capobianco (London, Ky.), who came in as a defensive replacement in the eighth, put together a nice at-bat, working a full count walk to start the inning off. Freshman John Behrends (Chattanooga, Tenn.) stepped to the plate next and delivered. Behrends swung on a 3-2 pitch and smashed a two-run home run over the center field fence cutting Belmont's deficit 6-5.
Seniors Zach Ehrhart (Mt. Juliet, Tenn.) and Chas Hadden (Morristown, Tenn.) kept things going and notched back-to-back base hits, putting the tying and go-ahead runs aboard. Adkins then continued his day at the plate by laying down a beautiful sacrifice bunt, pushing both runners to scoring position. Senior Devon Gardner (Maryville, Tenn.) loaded the bases with just one out when he wore a pitch. Belmont tied things up when Severance worked a bases-loaded walk to drive the tying run across home plate. Sophomore Jackson Campbell (Russellville, Ky.) worked yet another four pitch bases-loaded walk to put Belmont ahead 7-6. The Bruins' four run top of the ninth kept things going in Bowling Green.
Belmont's comeback fell just short as the Hilltoppers dug in and scored two runs in the bottom of the ninth to take the 8-7 victory.
AUSTIN PEAY 10, EVANSVILLE 2
CLARKSVILLE, Tenn. - Starting pitcher Nolan Monaghan took a no-hitter into the fifth inning in his season’s second start, propelling Austin Peay State University’s baseball team to a 10-2 nonconference victory against Evansville, Tuesday night on Joe Maynard Field at Raymond C. Hand Park.
Monaghan (1-1) faced the minimum of 12 batters through the first four innings, doing the bulk of the work himself but also receiving help from his defense. After retiring the first four batters he faced, Monaghan saw a ball misplayed in the outfield, but the defense rallied and retired the runner attempting to take second base. One inning later a one-out walk was wiped when he struck out a batter, and catcher Alex Sala caught a runner stealing for an inning-ending double play.
Austin Peay (16-15) supplied Monaghan all the run support he would need in the first inning. Designated hitter David Martinez and center fielder Garrett Spain each earned two-out walks, bringing right fielder Parker Phillips to the plate. The Govs career home run leader hit his 10th of 2019 to right center for a three-run blast.
The Govs would break the game open in the third inning, sending nine men to the plate. Phillips would get his fourth RBI of the day with a single to open the scoring. First baseman Andrew Flaherty would tack on another run with a single before catcher Alex Sala drove in two runs with his second double of the game. A wild pitch later in the inning would give the Govs a fifth run and an 8-0 lead.
Evansville (17-11) would break up the no-hit bid and shutout in the sixth. Right fielder Troy Beilsmith hit a one-out double and would score on an Austin Peay error that allowed center fielder Nate Reeder to reach base. Reeder would later score on a wild pitch, narrowing the deficit to 8-2, but those would be the only runs Evansville could muster.
Monaghan picked up the win after 4.1 no-hit innings, allowing two walks while striking out six of the 15 batters he faced. The Govs bullpen would surrender two unearned runs on three hits and a walk, striking out 10 of the 19 batters they faced.
Flaherty led Austin Peay’s offense with a 3-for-4, two RBI performance. Sala, Martinez and Spain each had two hits.
Evansville starter Shane Gray (2-1) suffered the loss after allowing three runs in his one inning of work. Beilsmith, first baseman Tanner Craig and second baseman Danny Borgstrom each had one hit.
MISSOURI 10, SIUE 3
EDWARDSVILLE, Ill. - Missouri used a four-run fourth inning to take its first lead of the night and went on to a 10-3 win over SIUE in front of more than 500 fans at Simmons Baseball Complex.
SIUE has dropped five straight and fell to 9-21 overall. Mizzou improved to 23-11-1 overall.
The Cougars wasted no time in getting out in front, plating two runs on three hits in the bottom of the first inning. Brendan Ryan led off with a base hit and moved to second on a ground out. Dustin Woodcock singled up the middle to score Ryan from second. Peyton Cordova-Smith added an RBI-single later in the inning to put the Cougars up 2-0 against Missouri starter Tommy Springer.
Missouri tied the game with a pair of runs in the top of the second but the Cougars went back on top in the third. Woodcock singled with one out before advancing to third on an errant pickoff throw. Brock Weimer sent a fly ball to center to score Woodcock and put SIUE back on top.
Woodcock finished the night 3-4 with an RBI and two runs.
Mizzou's Kameron Misner and Austin James each connected for two-run homers in the fourth to put the Tigers ahead for good 6-3. Missouri scored twice in the fifth and added single runs in the sixth and seventh innings.
Collin Baumgartner started on the mound for SIUE and worked just an inning. Baumgartner loaded the bases with a pair of walks and a hit before striking out the next three hitters he faced.
Michael Shereyk (1-1) followed and allowed nine runs over five innings, the second-longest outing of his career. He struck out two.
Springer (3-0) settled in to work five innings for the Tigers. He allowed the three runs on seven hits. He struck out three.
SAINT LOUIS 15, SOUTHEAST MISSOURI 6
ST. LOUIS - Saint Louis (13-18) used a seven-run fifth inning to key a 15-6 win over Southeast Missouri (15-18) Tuesday night at the Billiken Sports Compex.
SLU broke a 5-5 deadlock with its decisive big inning.
Jake Garella led things off with a single and went to second on an ensuing base hit by Corrigan Bartlett. Shane Benes walked to load the bases and Cole Dubet followed with a RBI-single. Ben Livorsi delivered a two-RBI single and Ryan Calhoun reached on an error. On the next play, Kevin Jordan drove in two runs on a triple to right center. Jordan touched home when Scott Youngbrandt grounded out to give the Billikens a 12-5 advantage.
Back-to-back two-out hits led to three more runs for SLU in the bottom of the sixth inning.
Jordan singled through the left side to score a run and Youngbrandt knocked in a pair of runs on a double to left center.
SEMO took its only lead of the game in the second inning.
The Redhawks loaded the bases and scored four runs with the help of one hit and an error. Danny Wright walked, Devon Wilson was hit by pitch and Alex Nielsen reached on an error. Trent Pobst walked and Wright scored. Wilson touched home on a passed ball, Peyton Faulkner scored a run on an infield single and Post scored on a throwing error to give SEMO a 4-3 edge.
SLU outhit SEMO, 15-7. Jordan went 4-for-5 with three runs scored, four RBI, a triple and one home run to lead the way. Garella finished at 3-for-4 with two runs and a RBI.
Tyler Wilber went 3-for-4 with a RBI to lead the Redhawks. SEMO had the bases loaded four times and went 0-for-4 in those situations.
JACKSONVILLE STATE 11, #18 AUBURN 6
AUBURN, Ala. - Jacksonville State scored 11 unanswered runs and erased a 6-0 deficit to down nationally-ranked Auburn, 11-6, at Plainsman Park on Tuesday night.
The Gamecocks used two big innings en route to the win and a bullpen that stymied the Tiger offense in the last six innings. Jax State improved to 17-15 overall and will return home this weekend in a key Ohio Valley Conference series with the Bruins of Belmont. JSU has now won six-of-its-last-seven games after a sweep of Tennessee Tech, a series win at Southeast Missouri to go with its five-run win over its in-state rival. Auburn, ranked as high as No. 18, dropped to 23-10 on the season and will visit Rudy Abbott Field at Jim Case Stadium in two weeks on Tuesday, April 23.
The win is JSU's fifth over AU in the last nine meetings and the first in Auburn since 2015. The Gamecocks now have three wins over Southeastern Conference opponents in the last three seasons. JSU claimed the two-game series with Alabama during the 2017 season and the first meeting of 2018 before adding the Auburn win on Tuesday.
Jax State strung together six hits in its six-run fourth inning, highlighted by a two-run single by Andrew Naismith, who returned to his hometown for the second time in his career. The former Auburn High School product finished with three RBI with a bases-loaded walk in the JSU seventh. Junior Alex Webb continued his hot hitting with a two-run double that brought the Gamecocks within a run. Webb has posted 11 hits in the last seven games, including six in the last two games after a four-hit Sunday at SEMO. He reached base four times with a pair of walks. Senior Nic Gaddis delivered the game-tying RBI with a single to left field.
From the fourth inning on, the freshman duo of Isaiah Magwood and Michael Gilliland kept the Tigers off the board. Magwood and Gilliland scattered five hits, combined for 10 strikeouts. Magwood pitched 3.2 innings and struck out seven of the 13 batters faced. It was a new season-high for the Hazel Green, Alabama native. The only hit allowed by Gilliland was a two-out single in the eighth. The Boaz, Ala left hander posted a trio of strikeouts. JSU pitching fanned 11 AU hitters on the night.
JSU broke up the 6-6 deadlock with a five-run seventh and took advantage of six walks issued by the AU pitching staff. Sophomore Isaac Alexander had one of his two hits after Webb and Gaddis started the inning with back-to-back walks. Jax State took the lead on sophomore Alex Strachan's bases-loaded walk. The only other hit of the frame was a two-run double down the left field line by junior Chase Robinson. The Pell City, Alabama product had a pair of hits in the contest. Redshirt freshman Nash Adams, Naismith and freshman Carson Crowe all walled consecutively. AU pitchers walked nine collectively on the night.