TUESDAY'S SCORES
Eastern Illinois 8, @Chicago State 3
@Tennessee Tech 10, Middle Tennessee 9 (10 innings)
North Alabama 8,
@Belmont 4
@#24 Tennessee 9,
Austin Peay 4
Murray State 6, @Evansville 4
EASTERN ILLINOIS 8, CHICAGO STATE 3
CHICAGO - The Eastern Illinois baseball team competed in a non-conference matchup against Chicago State Tuesday afternoon. The Panthers were able to defeat the Cougars 8-3.
The Panthers improved to 24-24 on the season with the win.
Chicago State got on the board first in the bottom of the first inning when James Rosenhagen hit a two-run homer to right field.
Matt Waznis got the Panthers on the board in the top of the second belting his first homerun of his career.
EIU was able to take the lead in the top of the third inning scoring two runs. Christian Pena would score the first run of the inning on a fielders choice, while Trey Sweeney would drive in the second run of the inning with a one-run double to center field.
Pena would extend the Panthers lead in the top of the fourth inning with a one run single to right field.
The Panthers would extend their lead in the top of the sixth inning. Jimmy Govern would hit a ground rule double to right field to drive in the first run of the inning. Trey Sweeney would draw a walk with the bases loaded to drive in the second run of the inning. The Panthers would grab another run on a Waznis walk to lead 7-2.
Hunter Morris would drive a no doubter homerun to right field in the top of the eighth inning to give the Panthers a six run lead.
Drew Dyer would drive in a run in the bottom of the ninth inning for Chicago State.
Carson Haws earned the start on the hill for the Panthers in their mid-week battle against Chicago State. Haws tossed 6.0 innings with six strikeouts.
TENNESSEE TECH 10, MIDDLE TENNESSEE 9 (10)
COOKEVILLE, Tenn. - Four hours of extra-inning baseball, featuring two late rallies by the home team went to Tennessee Tech Tuesday evening, as the Golden Eagles fought and clawed their way to a 10-9 victory over in-state rival Middle Tennessee.
After tying the ball game at 7-7 in the top of the eighth, the visiting Blue Raiders (17-31) took the lead in the top of the ninth on the only error of the game by the purple and gold. Never deterred, Tech had an answer in the bottom of the frame.
Sophomore slugger Jason Hinchman came to the plate to lead things off and immediately destroyed the first pitch he saw to left center field, tying the ball game at 8-8 with a mammoth solo blast. It marked the first baseman's 21st home run of the year, the third most by a Golden Eagle in a single season.
In the 10th, Middle Tennessee used some small ball to take back over the lead. The Blue Raiders took advantage of a leadoff walk, stole second and advanced to third on a sacrifice bunt. A sacrifice fly to right field brought in the go-ahead run.
Once again, the Golden Eagles refused to bow down and geared up for one last rally. Freshman JD Funk pinch hit to lead off the bottom of the 10th and rewarded the decision with a double to right center field. With the tying run in scoring position, head coach Justin Holmes went to the bench again, this time inserting senior right-handed hurler Andrew O'Dwyer as a pinch runner.
The former outfielder showed off his wheels, scoring from second base on a single down the right field line off the bat of junior Anthony Carrera to tie the game at 9-9. With All-American Kevin Strohschein up to bat, the Middle Tennessee outfield shifted to play as deep as a few steps off the warning track, respecting the power of the senior slugger.
The veteran outfielder made the defense pay, blooping a single to shallow center field to put runners on first and second. The Blue Raiders were able to record back-to-back outs on a line drive to center field and a fly out to right center, prompting Hinchman's return to the dish.
The youngster would go on to draw a five-pitch walk, never truly getting the opportunity for some heroics. The torch would be passed on to redshirt freshman Nathan McMeans. With the bases loaded and two outs, the second baseman calmly watched four straight offerings miss the strike zone to draw a walk-off walk and win the ball game.
Right-hander Jacob Parham earned the victory after covering the final inning for the Golden Eagles, moving to 2-1 on the season.
Strohschein continued his rampage on the Ohio Valley Conference record book in the contest, breaking two more career records. In the first inning, he snapped a tie with Jacksonville State's Clayton Daniel for the most career doubles with a two-bagger to right center field, the 69th of his career. He recorded double number 70 of his career later in the contest.
The two-time OVC Player of the Year became the league's all-time career leader in at bats in the sixth inning in the most fitting way possible. Strohschein uncorked a two-run jack to right center field to make it a 7-4 lead in favor of Tech at that time. It represented his 14th long ball of the season and 61st of his career.
He would go on to finish the night with a league-best 978 career at bats. He now needs just two home runs to break (and one to tie) the OVC's career record currently held by former Golden Eagle Zach Stephens.
Strohschein paced Tech with a 4-for-6 showing at the plate with two RBI and three runs scored. Eight different Golden Eagles recorded hits on the night while seven posted at least one RBI.
NORTH ALABAMA 8, BELMONT 4
NASHVILLE - Belmont University Baseball dropped an 8-4 decision to University of North Alabama Tuesday evening at E.S. Rose Park.
After two scoreless innings to get things started, the Lions scored early and often, taking a 5-0 lead after five complete innings.
The Bruins cracked the scoreboard in the bottom of the sixth. Junior Chandler Adkins (Knoxville, Tenn.) started the inning off with a walk to give BU a base runner. Senior Devon Gardner (Maryville, Tenn.) then doubled to shallow center field to put two runners in scoring position. A sacrifice fly, delivered by freshman Grayson Taylor (Cullman, Ala.), put BU in the score column, cutting the lead 5-1 after six complete innings.
The Lions struck again for the final time of the night in the top of the eighth. UNA scored a couple runs on three hits to extend its lead 7-1.
After a scoreless eighth inning, the Bruins needed a rally to get back in the game. After a walk and a hit-batsman put two aboard for the Bruins, freshman John Behrends (Chattanooga, Tenn.) delivered a pinch hit single up the middle to plate BU's second run of the night. Freshman Tommy Crider (Madison, Ala.) plated another with a sacrifice fly and an RBI double from sophomore Jackson Campbell (Russellville, Ky.) cut the Lions' lead 8-4. Two more walks loaded the bases for the Bruins and the tying run stepped to the plate. A ground ball ended the inning and the Belmont rally fell short as BU fell 8-4.
#24 TENNESSEE 9, AUSTIN PEAY 4
KNOXVILLE, Tenn. - First baseman Parker Phillips opened the day with his program-record setting 20th home run, but Austin Peay State University’s baseball team could not fend off Tennessee in a 9-4 nonconference loss at Lindsey Nelson Stadium.
Phillips wasted no time hitting his record-breaking home run, powering the first pitch of his first-inning at-bat over the porch in left field for a 2-0 lead. The homer broke his own record set last season and was his 51st career home run.
Tennessee (33-16) quickly erased the Govs early lead with two runs of its own in the first inning. Left fielder Alerick Soularie leveled the game with his two-run single.
After a scoreless second inning for both clubs, Austin Peay (26-20) ran into trouble in the third. Tennessee saw its first five batters of the frame reach base, leading to a five-run burst that broke the game open, 7-2.
Meanwhile, the Governors offense could not solve the Volunteers bullpen which took over in the second inning. Tennessee’s staff combined to toss 6.2 innings of scoreless relief before the Govs broke through for two runs in the ninth inning. Reliever Will Heflin (4-1) picked up the win with his 3.1 scoreless frames that saw him scatter two hits.
Third baseman Andrew Lipcius reached base in all four of his plate appearances, scoring each time, as part of a 2-for-2, two-walk day. Soularie and designated hitter Evan Russell each had two RBI.
Phillips finished the night 1-for-4 with two RBI. Right fielder Aaron Campbell reached base in all four of his plate appearances as part of a 3-for-3, one walk night. Third baseman Gino Avros also had two hits.
Reliever Sebastian Martinez (0-2), the second of seven pitchers used in the contest, surrendered three runs to start the third inning and was tagged for the loss. Following the third inning, Austin Peay saw four relievers combine to hold Tennessee to two runs over the final five innings, striking out six batters.
MURRAY STATE 6, EVANSVILLE 4
EVANSVILLE, Ind. - The Murray State baseball team walked off the field victorious for the 20th time this season after defeating Evansville, 6-4, Tuesday evening in Evansville, Indiana.
As most of their wins have been this season, the Racers came from behind to win the game, doing so for the 12th time this season, scoring all six runs in the final four innings
Brock Anderson led went 2-4 with three RBI and a run scored while Sean Darmafall added two hits and two RBI. Joe McMahon and Ryan Perkins also added two hits in the win.
The Racer bullpen shined as Hunter Orr, Connor Holden, and Peyton Hayes combined to throw 5.2 innings, allowing just one run and striking out three, all by Holden.
The Aces got to starter Jase Carvell early, scoring a run in the first, second, and fourth to build a 3-0 lead, while the Racer offense was held stagnant for the first six-plus innings, tallying only two hits, both by McMahon.
Things looked bleak in for the Racers in the sixth as a double play left nobody on base with two outs, but Ryan Perkins started a two-out rally with a double. After Slunder walked, Anderson hit triple down the right-field line to drive both of them in and make it a one-run game.
In the bottom of the sixth, the Aces looked to get the runs back as they loaded the bases with one out. Craig Shepherd hit a grounder back up the middle that looked dangerous as it got by Holden, but it went right to Jordan Holly, who stepped on second and fired to first for the inning-ending double play.
In the seventh, Holly tied the game with a single to left, driving in Wes Schad, who had also singled earlier in the inning.
The Racers took the lead in the eighth as Perkins was hit by a pitch to lead off the inning and advanced to second on a wild pitch before Anderson drove him in with a single up the middle. Darmafall gave the Racers some cushion later in the inning with a bases-loaded two-run single.
Evansville got a run back in the eighth and put the tying run on base, but Hayes came out of the pen in relief of Holden and got a fly ball to right to end the threat. Hayes was then perfect in the ninth to earn his third save of the season.
Today’s game was also special for Jaron Robinson as he became just the ninth player in Murray State history to play in 200 games.