FRIDAY'S SCORES
Eastern Kentucky 10, @Presbyterian 9
SIUE 8, @Nicholls 5
@#4 Arkansas 5,
Eastern Illinois 1
Missouri 10,
@Jacksonville State 4
Michigan State 15,
Morehead State 3 (Charleston, S.C.)
UT Martin 8, Saint Louis 4 (Birmingham, Ala.)
@Belmont 6, Kansas 0
@#31 Southern Miss 6,
Murray State 0
@ULM 5,
Southeast Missouri 1
EASTERN KENTUCKY 10, PRESBYTERIAN 9
CLINTON, S.C. - Eastern Kentucky overcame a 5-run deficit in the top of the ninth inning to beat Presbyterian College 10-9 on Friday at the PC Baseball Complex in Clinton, South Carolina.
The Colonels trailed 9-4 with one out and no runners on base in the top of the ninth inning. Daniel Harris IV started the rally with a tripled to right field and scored on a double by Michael Brewer. With two outs and Brewer at third base, Nick Howie singled to right center to make it 9-6. After Chris Botsoe drew a walk, A.J. Lewis doubled to right to bring home two more runs and make it a one-run game. After a pitching change, Charlie Ludwick was hit by a pitch and Chance Bodine drew a walk to load the bases.
Logan Thomason drew a walk to force home the tying run. Harris, who got the rally started with a triple, drew a walk to bring in the go-ahead run, 10-9. The Blue Hose walked five batters in the ninth inning.
Jacob Abbott got the save after tossing a perfect bottom of the ninth with two strike outs.
Lewis staked the Colonels to a 1-0 lead with a two-out home run in the top of the first inning. Newcomer Caleb Upshaw made it 2-0 with a home run to lead off the second inning.
With two outs in the bottom of the second, Presbyterian’s Landon Shaw hit a three-run home run to give the home team the lead. After EKU tied it 3-3 on a run scoring single through the left side by Lewis, PC plated four in the bottom of the inning to pull ahead 7-3. The Blue Hose scored twice on bases loaded walks.
Presbyterian scored one run in the fourth and one in the fifth to extend its lead to 9-4.
Lewis went 3-for-5 with two runs and four RBIs. Harris was 2-for-4 with a walk, two runs and an RBI. Upshaw was 2-for-2 with a run and an RBI.
Nate Beavers earned the win after pitching two innings of scoreless relief. He allowed one hit, walked one and struck out one.
Shaw’s only hit was the three-run home run. He also had a sacrifice fly and finished with four RBIs. Eric Miles started for Presbyterian and allowed four runs, on eight hits in seven innings. He struck out eight and walked two.
SIUE 8, NICHOLLS 5
THIBODAUX, La. - SIUE baseball christened the 2020 season with an 8-5 win over Nicholls State Friday in the opener of the Baseball on the Bayou Classic.
It is the first season-opening victory for SIUE since 2012, when the Cougars defeated Memphis.
The Cougars erased a 3-1 deficit with a four-run sixth inning and then broke a 5-5 tie with a three-run ninth inning.
After SIUE scored in the first, thanks to an RBI from Raul Elguezabal, Nicholls State scored a pair of unearned run in the bottom of the inning to go up 2-1. It was another error that put the Colonels up 3-1 in the fifth. All three runs came against SIUE starter Colin Baumgartner.
Baumgartner worked five innings, allowed two hits and the three unearned runs. He struck out six.
Steven Pattan collected two RBIs and Josh Ohl added an RBI in the Cougars' sixth. The fourth run of the inning came in on a passed ball. Justin Perkins drove home two with a single and Brett Pierson added a sacrifice fly in SIUE's three-run ninth inning.
Perkins, Ohl, Brady Bunten and Connor Kiffer each had two hits for the Cougars, who finished with 12 hits collectively.
Cole Milam (1-0) finished the game on the mound for the Cougars and earned the win in relief. He worked the final two innings without allowing a run. He struck out five.
#4 ARKANSAS 5, EASTERN ILLINOIS 1
FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. - The Panthers fell 5-1 to the fifth ranked team in the nation.
Will Klein got his debut as a starter where all eyes were on him. Klein showed why he is considered the best draft prospect in the OVC after throwing in the high 90's. Klein ended his day with seven strikeouts.
Grant Emme led the team in hits with two on the day. Matt Waznis and Christian Pena were the only other Panthers to notch a hit on the day.
Klein (0-1) takes the loss, despite having an outing that has people talking. The Panthers record started with a loss (0-1), as the Razorbacks start the series with a win (1-0).
MISSOURI 10, JACKSONVILLE STATE 4
JACKSONVILLE, Ala. - Senior Alex Webb belted a pair of two-run home runs in Jacksonville State's season opener, but the Missouri Tigers spoiled JSU's opening day with a 10-4 decision over the Gamecocks on Friday afternoon on Rudy Abbott Field at Jim Case Stadium.
Webb, who entered the season with preseason exposure from around the Ohio Valley Conference and named as a Collegiate Baseball Preseason All-American, turned in two of JSU's hits and drove in all four runs with the pair of home runs. The Columbia, Tennessee native touched Mizzou's Ian Bedell in the fourth and the sixth inning. Both two-run blasts were just inside the right field foul pole. His first home run squared up the contest at 2-2 after the Tigers struck for two early runs against Jax State starter, Dylan Hathcock.
After Mizzou regained the lead with a solo home run by Seth Halvorson in the fifth and two more Tiger runs across the plate in the sixth, Webb put the Gamecocks back in the contest at 5-4 after six innings. The Tigers would break open the contest with a three-run seventh and two more in the eighth.
Hathcock, who entered the JSU rotation late in 2019, went the first five innings and was touched for three runs and scattered five hits. The Tallassee, Alabama left hander recorded five strikeouts. Junior Christian Edwards, redshirt sophomore Trey Fortner tossed a combined three innings, while freshman Colton Lewis made his Gamecock debut in the ninth. The Vestavia Hills, Alabama product turned in a pair of strikeouts.
Senior Tre Kirklin, junior Cole Frederick, junior Alex Strachan and senior Chase Robinson all registered a hit in the opener. Senior Andrew Naismith reached base twice via a walk.
Bedell picked up the win after six quality innings and posting 11 strikeouts.
MICHIGAN STATE 15, MOREHEAD STATE 3
CHARLESTON, S.C. - Despite collecting eight hits at the plate and eight strikeouts on the mound, Morehead State baseball couldn't overcome an early scoring effort from Michigan State in the team's 2020 season opener.
The Spartans (1-0) jumped out to an early lead and didn't look back, downing the Eagles (0-1) by collecting 15 runs on 22 hits while permitting just three runs on eight hits.
Michigan State got things started in the first inning thanks to an RBI single by second baseman Bailey Peterson which scored first baseman Peter Ahn who reached via a double.
The Spartans added four more runs in the second as Ahn (two RBI), left fielder Bryce Kelley, and Peterson drove in runs.
Morehead State began its scoring as junior backstop Jack Gardner-who was hit by a pitch-scored thanks to a throwing error by Spartan pitcher Mason Erla that bounced off the glove of Ahn, bounding into right field following a high chopping base hit by redshirt junior shortstop Logan Goodnight.
Michigan State added two additional runs in the third as Ahn and Kelley collected another RBI apiece before right fielder Jack Frank doubled home a run in the fourth.
The Spartans collected seven more runs during the fifth and sixth frames thanks in large part to three RBI doubles during the two frames.
Morehead State plated two runs in the top of the ninth as junior right fielder Peyton Dillingham drove home senior Jon Burghardt and redshirt freshman Tim Petrucelli who doubled and walked, respectively.
UT MARTIN 8, SAINT LOUIS 4
BIRMINGHAM, Ala. - The Skyhawks flew past the Billikens as they took advantage of some costly errors late in the game to score four runs in the 9th inning.
St. Louis was forced to see the error of their ways as two errors and a wild pitch gave the University of Tennessee at Martin a chance to turn a tied ball game into a lopsided victory.
The Billikens were ruthless from the beginning of the game as UT Martin's senior starter Winston Cannon surrendered three runs in three straight innings. Cannon stopped St. Louis from gaining any more of an advantage in the fourth, as he only saw four batters in his final inning at the mound. As the scoring for the Billikens slowed, senior outfielder Sean Dixson put the Skyhawks on the board with a solo shot to put the score at 3-1. Dixson only added to his successful day by putting another one over the fence in the 6th inning. Soon after the moon shot to centerfield, the young guns decided to make their impact known on the game. Freshman infielder Wil LaFollette was given a chance to pinch-hit, and in his first at-bat, he tripled scoring sophomore, Noah Thigpen. LaFollette finished his day by going 2 for 3 with an RBI.
With the score all tied at three, a piece the Skyhawks continued their scoring run as none other then Dixson hit a sacrifice fly to give UT Martin its first lead in the 7th inning. While the offense was alive, freshmen relief pitcher Ryan Insco came in for Cannon in the 5th inning, making his Division I debut seemed easy as he went two innings and only giving up one hit.
For the first time since the first three innings of the game, St. Louis was able to plate another runner in the 8th to make the score even at four a piece.
UT Martin had been held scoreless in the 8th, so there was something on the horizon for this frenzy hitting bunch. However, the 9th inning wasn't brought on by the success of the offense, but more of the lack of control by the defense. Freshmen Nate Self started it all by getting walked as the leadoff runner, and after sophomore Jack Culumovic single along with a Dixson intentional walk, the bases were loaded. An error, a walk and another error scored the next three before a wild pitch finished it to make the score 8-4.
The bottom half of the 9th inning belonged to junior preseason All-American Nick Wohlbold. Wohlbold struck out two before the final score dawned 8-4 in favor of the Skyhawks.
BELMONT 6, KANSAS 0
NASHVILLE - With the Belmont's pitching staff combining for 11 strikeouts, the Bruins defeated the Kansas Jayhawks 6-0 at Rose Park on Friday.
Sophomore pitcher Joshua South, the OVC Preseason Pitcher of the Year, earned his first win of the season after six innings of work and seven strikeouts. Sophomore pitcher Aaron Hubbell earned his first career save, pitching the final three innings and recording four strikeouts.
Outfielder John Behrends tied a career high with three hits, last hitting that mark on May 18, 2019 against Eastern Kentucky. With Belmont starting three freshman, Drew Lowry collected three hits and scored two runs in his collegiate debut.
After South collected three strikeouts through the first two innings, junior Logan Jarvis hit a double to put the Bruins in scoring position in the bottom of the second. Sophomore Tommy Crider capitalized on the opportunity in the next at-bat, hitting a home run to left field to give the Bruins a 2-0 lead.
Crider hit his fourth career home run, with his last home run coming on April 19, 2019 against Murray State.
Following a stolen base from senior Hagan Severance, Behrends advanced the Brentwood, Tenn., native to third base in the bottom of the third. Jarvis added an insurance run two batters later, hitting a sacrifice fly to center field to bring home Severance and give Belmont a three-run lead.
South did not allow a Kansas hit for through the first four innings, only giving up one in the top of the fifth. His seven strikeouts mark the first time a Belmont pitcher recorded five or more strikeouts against a Power 5 opponent Kyle Brennan on May 18, 2018 at Northwestern.
Belmont scored another run in the bottom of the sixth following a Kansas error, adding more insurance two innings later. Lowry singled to right field to leadoff the inning, with Severance driving in an RBI single to center field to make it a five-run lead.
Freshman Brodey Heaton capped off the Bruins' scoring later in the inning, hitting a sacrifice fly to center field to score Severance from third.
#31 SOUTHERN MISS 6, MURRAY STATE 0
HATTIESBURG, Miss. - The Murray State baseball team dropped its season opener to Southern Mississippi, 6-0, Friday evening in Hattiesburg.
In his fourth straight opening day start, Trevor McMurray was solid, throwing five scoreless innings with four strikeouts while allowing just three hits on 85 pitches.
The two teams could not muster much offense for the first six innings of the game, but in the seventh, the Golden Eagles broke through with six runs, taking advantage of five walks in the inning.
The Racers only mustered one hit in the game which came off the bat of David Hudleson in the third inning. Brock Anderson also reached base twice with a hit-by-pitch and walk.
ULM 5, SOUTHEAST MISSOURI 1
MONROE, La. - Southeast Missouri (0-1) was one-hit in a 5-1 season-opening loss to Louisiana-Monroe (1-0) Friday.
Wade Stauss scored SEMO's only run on a wild pitch in the third inning and Danny Wright had the Redhawks lone hit.
ULM used a four-run sixrth inning to pull away from the Redhawks. The Warhawks sent 10 hitters to the plate in the inning. Six of the first seven ULM hitters got a hit to fuel the rally.
The Warhawks added to their lead in the eighth inning with an RBI groundout by Trace Henry. Grant Schulz scored on the play after reaching base on a single the left field.
Dylan Dodd (0-1) took the loss for SEMO after working 5.2 innings. Dodd had six strikeouts and walked two.
Ty Barnes (1-0) picked up the win. Barnes struck out five and allowed just one run on one hit.
ULM outhit SEMO, 9-1.