SUNDAY'S SCORES
Michigan State 10,
Morehead State 4 (Charleston, S.C.)
Eastern Kentucky 10, @Presbyterian 4
Saint Louis 10,
UT Martin 3 (Birmingham, Ala.)
@Jacksonville State 9, Missouri 8
@#31 Southern Miss 8,
Murray State 7
Kansas 7,
@Belmont 6
@#4 Arkansas 12,
Eastern Illinois 3
Southeast Missouri 6, @ULM 2
@Tennessee Tech 11, Evansville 10
@Austin Peay 13, Eastern Michigan 6
SIUE, George Washington (Thibodaux, La.) (cancelled)
MICHIGAN STATE 10, MOREHEAD STATE 4
CHARLESTON, S.C. - After falling behind early in its series finale against Michigan State, Morehead State baseball's late rally came up short as the team dropped the final game of a four-game season-opening series.
The Spartans (4-0) defeated the Eagle (0-4) by a score of 10-4, collecting 10 runs on 14 hits while taking advantage of four Eagle errors. Morehead State collected its four runs thanks to three hits and one Michigan State miscue.
In his first plate appearance in an Eagle uniform, junior outfielder Bryce Simon collected his first career multi-RBI game, plating three runs with a bases-clearing triple in the ninth inning.
Pitching 3.1 innings, redshirt sophomore southpaw John Bakke turned in the longest outing of his career while his four strikeouts are also a career-high.
Drawing a first-inning walk, senior centerfielder Ryan Layne extended his team-leading reached-base streak to 14 games.
Collecting 10 strikeouts Sunday, Morehead State's pitching staff has collected double-figure strikeout totals in three consecutive games—the first time since doing so from May 5-10, 2019 in games against Murray State (13) and Tennessee Tech (11 and 10).
EASTERN KENTUCKY 10, PRESBYTERIAN 4
CLINTON, S.C. - With a 10-4 win on Sunday the Eastern Kentucky University baseball team completed a three-game sweep of Presbyterian College, starting the season 3-0 for the first time since 2001.
The Colonels are scheduled to play their first home game of 2020 on Tuesday against Kentucky State. First pitch at Earle Combs Stadium is scheduled for 3 p.m.
In 2001, EKU swept Samford on the road and then beat Indiana at a neutral site to begin the season 4-0.
Eastern beat Presbyterian 10-9 and 6-4 in the first two games of the series.
With the game tied 1-1 on Sunday, EKU platted five runs in the third and two more in the fourth to pull ahead. The first six batters reached base to start the third inning. Chris Botsoe broke the tie when he scored on a PC error. Logan Thomason’s two-run single made it 4-1. After a double by Daniel Harris IV, Michael Brewer brought home two more with a single through the left side.
In the fourth, Charles Ludwick’s sacrifice fly pushed the visitors out to a 7-1 lead. Two batters later Harris drove in A.J. Lewis with an infield single.
After the Blue Hose scored three times in the bottom of the sixth to make it 8-4, Eastern Kentucky answered in the top of the seventh to put the game away. A ground ball by pinch hitter Marcus Hill scored Brewer. Chance Bodine scored on another PC error to make it 10-4.
Presbyterian committed five errors in the game.
Jake Lewis started on the mound and got the win. He allowed one run on three hits in four innings of work for the Colonels. The junior left-hander walked four and struck out three. Thomason finished 3-for-4 with a run and two RBIs. Botsoe went 2-for-5 with three runs scored. Ludwick drove in three and scored once. Brewer was 1-for-3 with a run and two RBIs.
Graham Mitchell had a 2-for-5 day with a run scored for Presbyterian.
SAINT LOUIS 10, UT MARTIN 3
BIRMINGHAM, Ala. - The University of Tennessee at Martin's baseball team suffered through three disastrous innings as they lost the third game in the series 10-3.
In what started as hopeful for the Skyhawks turned to the opposite as the Billikens scored nine of their 10 runs in three innings to out UT Martin.
It all began on the right foot as the Skyhawk batters were ready to face Saint Louis' freshmen right-hander in the series-deciding game. Sophomore leadoff hitter Jack Culumovic reached quickly in the first inning after a single; his hit would prove to be beneficial as freshmen infielder Wil LaFollette singled to center to score the runner. Fellow freshmen Christian Hall would bring him in only moments after with a double to left field. Before it was all done, the score read 2-0 following the first inning.
Similar to yesterday's results sophomore starter Seth Petry got through the first inning with ease. However, just like all of this series, the UT Martin starters got in trouble when they hit the middle of the order. A blast put the Billikens one behind the Skyhawks, but a ton more bloop hits, and a line-drive triple gave them the lead 4-2 lead in the second inning.
The scoring epidemic for Saint Louis continued as they generated three more runs in the fourth with small ball techniques. It started as senior reliever Jeffrey O'Doherty put runners on first and second before an error allowed another runner and a score. Senior reliever David Hussey came into the sticky situation and escaped after two more runs had crossed the plate. Going into the fifth inning, the Skyhawks were in big trouble as they trailed 7-2.
Saint Louis added one more in the fifth to make the score an even number with a commanding 8-2 lead. UT Martin was able to muster some retaliation as junior Houston Wright hit a sacrifice fly to score LaFollette in the sixth. But one run didn't make the difference as freshmen Austin Kasick surrendered two more in the bottom half of the inning to the Billikens to make the score 10-3.
Freshman reliever Ryan Insco got the final two innings for the Skyhawks, and just like his debut performance; he dominated by pitching two scoreless innings. However, while Insco proved to be a successful weapon late in games, the Skyhawks offense couldn't come back from the deficit as UT Martin fell 10-3. Ultimately this loss gave Saint Louis the series and put the Skyhawks at 1-2 on the season.
JACKSONVILLE STATE 9, MISSOURI 8
JACKSONVILLE, Ala. - The Jacksonville State baseball team picked up a 9-8 win over Southeastern Conference foe Missouri on Sunday at Rudy Abbott Field at Jim Case Stadium.
With the win, JSU has now posted wins over an SEC program in each season dating back to the 2017 season. The win was also the first over the Tigers as the two clubs met during the 1999 season.
A trio of Gamecocks combined for nine of JSU's 12 hits against Tiger pitching on Sunday. Junior Alex Strachan went 3-for-4 output at the plate and delivered three RBI. The Madison, Alabama native highlighted the Gamecocks' five-run first inning, erasing another early lead by Mizzou. He belted a double the other way down in the right field corner, plating a pair of runs. Strachan added a single in third and his third RBI on the day with a two-out single to left field after the 6-all deadlock was broken up by a sacrifice fly by Cole Frederick.
Senior Tre Kirklin also had a three-hit performance and finished a triple shy of hitting for the cycle. Kirlin started the day with a single in the first and posted his first home run of the season to start the fourth inning. His home run matched Mizzou's run in the top half of the inning. The Kennesaw, Georgia centerfielder laced a double down the left field line in JSU's two-run sixth.
Senior Taylor Craven collected three hits on the day, including a two-run single in the first inning. The Wadley, Alabama product reached base four times with a walk.
Mizzou put together a rally in its final at bat, scoring a pair of runs and having the tying run at third base. After junior Sean Rape recorded the first two outs, JSU went with redshirt sophomore Trey Fortner to preserve the win. Fortner fanned the lone batter he faced to register his first career save.
Freshman Austin Downey picked up the win in his Gamecock debut after tossing three solid innings. The Eclectic, Alabama right hander was touched for two hits and tallied a strikeout. Sophomore Michael Gilliland finished with three strikeouts in his first start in a weekend series. Junior Colin Casey went 3.1 innings and carded a pair of strikeouts.
Junior Javier Ramirez was the fourth Gamecock with multiple hits in the contest. The transfer from Taft College (Calif.) had a single in the first inning and another base hit in the sixth.
#31 SOUTHERN MISS 8, MURRAY STATE 7
HATTIESBURG, Miss. - After two strong pitching performances to open the season, the Murray State baseball team broke out the bats, Sunday afternoon at Southern Mississippi. Unfortunately, the result was the same as the first two games as the Racers fell to the Golden Eagles, 8-7.
Ryan Perkins had two hits and two runs batted in while Jordan Holly also had two hits while driving in a run. Seven different Racers crossed home plate in the contest as well.
After getting shutout in the first game of the season and not scoring until the ninth inning in game two, the Racers jumped out to a quick 2-0 lead in the first inning today on four singles, including RBI base knocks by Perkins and Skylar McPhee.
Sam Gardner kept USM off the board in the first but the Golden Eagles were able to tie it up in the second.
The Racers quickly retook the lead in the third as Bryson Bloomer led the inning off with a walk before coming around to score on a double by Perkins. However, Southern Miss quickly erased the deficit with two runs in the home half.
After 2.1 scoreless innings by Justin Thomas, the Racers retook the lead again in the sixth on just one hit. A wild pitch brought in the tying run before Holly added a base hit to center to give MSU the lead. Jake Slunder followed with a sacrifice fly to tack on another run and give the Racers a 6-4 lead.
Jake Jones worked a scoreless bottom of the sixth but was not as fortunate in the seventh as the Golden Eagles scored three runs to take the lead once more.
Like yesterday, Southern Miss added a key insurance run in the eighth as Brock Anderson hit a pinch-hit home run to lead off the ninth inning for the Racers, but it was not quite enough as the Racers fell by one.
KANSAS 7, BELMONT 6
NASHVILLE - After overcoming a five-run deficit, the Belmont baseball team was unable to complete the comeback in the final game of the series against Kansas in a 7-6 loss on Sunday afternoon at Rose Park.
Sophomore Tommy Crider led the way offensively with his second home run of the season to go with three RBIs, with junior Kyle Brennan leading the Bruins' pitching staff with five strikeouts in 3.1 innings of work.
Kansas got off to a quick start, collecting a leadoff single and later getting the game's first run off an RBI single after a fielding error moved a runner to second base. Following a hit by pitch and a sacrifice bunt, the Jayhawks hit back-to-back home runs to take a 5-0 lead after the first half-inning.
Belmont, however, responded to the adversity in the bottom of the third inning with three consecutive singles capped off by an RBI from sophomore John Behrends to bring in the Bruins' first run. Freshman Brodey Heaton managed to keep the momentum going in the next at-bat, driving in a second run with single that cut the Kansas lead 5-2.
With runners at the corners, Crider came up with his second home run of the season and fifth bomb of his career to knot the game 5-5. Crider became the first Belmont player since Drew Ferguson and Matt Beaty in 2015 to hit two home runs in the first three games of the season.
The Jayhawks responded quickly in the next half inning, with Kansas' Zach Hanna collecting a triple and later scoring off a double from Anthony Tulimero. Kansas added an insurance run later in the top of the seventh inning, obtaining a 7-5 lead off a solo home run from Benjamin Sems.
Junior Jackson Campbell cut the Kansas lead in half in the next half inning, hitting his 13th career home run and first of the season to make it a 7-6 game. Heaton came up with a single in the bottom of the eighth inning to put the tying run at first, but Kansas executed a double play with a strikeout and threw out to second base off a Belmont steal attempt.
#4 ARKANSAS 12, EASTERN ILLINOIS 3
FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. - The Panthers fell 12-3 to the seventh ranked Arkansas Razorbacks Sunday, and losing the series as a whole. The Panthers had their best offensive day against Arkansas so far scoring .... runs. The Panthers come away from this series with some better understanding of what this team is capable of doing as the season starts to progress. Eastern's record falls to 0-3: Arkansas starts off at 3-0.
Foster Anshutz got the start in today's game, but struggled in the second inning and was relieved for Blake Malatestinic in the second inning. Malatestinic had a solid outing in relief, as he pitched four innings and gave up four runs: nearly all coming in the sixth. The Panthers played six different pitchers in the game. Anshutz is given the loss in his first game of the season.
The Panthers improved offensively again, notching eight hits on the day; their best offensive outing of the series. Ryan Ignoffo continued to show his improvement as a utility as he ended the day going 3-5. He also showed off his speed by beating out a throw from the third baseman, and running down a fly ball into shallow right. Ignoffo ended with five hits on the series, which led the Panthers.
Ryan Knernschield reached on a walk in the second inning. Dane Toppel followed by picking up the first hit of the game with a single up the middle. Keith Kerrigan ripped a grounder into right field that sent Knernschield home to put the Panthers on the scoreboard early. Tyler Tesmond followed Kerrigan and after a battle at the plate popped up to the shortstop leaving two stranded and ending the inning. Arkansas led 2-1.
Anshutz started the second by walking the first batter, and after a strikeout, allowed a single. Heston Kjerstad homered to deep right center which put Arkansas up 5-1. After another single, Anshutz was relieved for Malatestinic. Malatestinic let up a single with his first batter, and a double up the right field line which scored two more. Malatestinic popped up the following batter and got out of the inning with the lead at 7-1 in favor of Arkansas.
The Panther bats started to connect in the top of the third as the slapped four straight singles bringing in another run for EIU. Sweeney started the rally with a hit into left field, followed by an Ignoffo hit that dropped into right field. Mackey hit into left and allowed Sweeney to score. Knernschield continued his success as he hit one just out of reach of the center fielder. With bases loaded, Dalton Doyle battled at the plate. Doyle hit into the double play ending the inning for the Panthers offense. Arkansas still held the lead, 7-2.
Malatestinic let up three scores in the sixth inning, including a home run from Kjerstad, his second of the game. Malatestinic finished out the inning, but Jason Anderson was ready for a new pitcher to enter the game.
After a walk by Alex Stevenson in the seventh, Ignoffo came up big again with a hit into right center that sent Stevenson to third. Mackey blasted a ball into deep right, which was caught, but allowed for Stevenson to tag up; giving Mackey his second RBI on the day. Knernschield grounded out to finish the inning for the offense. Arkansas led 10-3.
Jack Wolfe entered the seventh inning for EIU. Wolfe let up a double after an error from Stevenson, and was immediately relieved for the right-hander, Ben Stephens. Stephens let in a double from Kjerstad who sent home his fifth and sixth RBI of the game. Stephens time was short lived as well. After loading the bases, Jason DeCicco was brought in to hopefully get out of the bind. DeCicco obliged as he struck out the final out without giving up a run. Arkansas led 12-3.
Stevenson came into the eighth and was used as the closer for EIU. Stevenson only gave up one hit in his showing and no runs allowed.
SOUTHEAST MISSOURI 6, ULM 2
MONROE, La. - A five-run fifth inning propelled Southeast Missouri (1-2) to a 6-2 win over Louisiana-Monroe (2-1) Sunday afternoon in the series finale between the teams.
Tied, 1-1, after four innings, SEMO scored five runs four of which were unearned after the Warhawks committed two errors.
With a runner on and one out, Andrew Keck reached on an error and Connor Basler scored. Immediately after a pitching change, Keck stole second. Tyler Wilber followed with a walk and Keck stole third. On the next play, Justin Dirden reached on an error and Keck scored. Wilber touched home when Austin Blazevic grounded out to second. Wade Stauss then hit a two-run home run to give SEMO a 6-1 advantage.
Colby Deaville hit a one-out sole home run in the bottom of the fifth inning for ULM's final run of the game.
Preseason All-Ohio Valley Conference pitcher Noah Niznik (1-0) picked up the win. Niznik tossed six strong innings allowing two runs on five hits, while striking out three and walking one. SEMO's bullpen tossed three scoreless no-hit innings the rest of the way.
The Redhawks outhit ULM, 8-4. Danny Wright (2-for-5) and Keck (3-for-5) combined for five of the hits at the top of SEMO's lineup. Wilber scored two runs, while Stauss added two RBI.
Trace Henry went 2-for-4 with a run scored to lead ULM.
Kayleb Sanderson (0-1) suffered the loss. Sanderson allowed three hits and three runs in 4.1 innings. He struck out five and walked three, as well.
TENNESSEE TECH 11, EVANSVILLE 10
COOKEVILLE, Tenn. - The age-old cliché 'it's not over until it's over' couldn't have been more spot-on for the Tennessee Tech baseball team Sunday afternoon. Trailing by eight heading into the seventh-inning stretch, the Golden Eagles (3-0) plated nine straight, including four in the ninth, to walk-off with an 11-10 victory and series sweep over Evansville (0-3).
It took a number of players to accomplish easily the most thrilling finish at Bush Stadium at the Averitt Express Baseball Complex this season, but none stood out more than perhaps junior first baseman Jason Hinchman. Already with two home runs coming into the contest, the slugger blasted three more during Sunday's comeback, including the game-winner in the bottom of the ninth.
Tech proved that truer than ever, heading into the bottom of the seventh with a seemingly, insurmountable climb ahead, trailing by eight. Freshman shortstop Brett Roberts started the rally, ripping a two-run double to left field with the bases loaded. Then, with two outs in the frame, Hinchman took his turn at the plate, already with a long ball to his credit in the contest.
He promptly uncorked one of his trademark hacks, delivering the first pitch he saw over the fence in centerfield for a three-run blast to make it a 10-7 contest. Evansville got through the eighth without any damage to its lead, but things turned very quickly in the ninth.
A trio of freshmen delivered with the most pressure, starting with rookie right fielder Elijah Brooks. In just his second collegiate at bat, the left-handed hitter laced a leadoff single to right field. Roberts drew a four-pitch walk, forcing a pitching change by the Purple Aces.
With a southpaw now on the hill, Smith went to his bench, pinch-hitting freshman catcher Luke Jones with a pair on and no outs. Having homered the day before in his collegiate debut, Jones knew the recipe for success and cooked it to perfection. He uncorked on the first pitch he saw, delivering a clutch, three-run bomb to right field to tie the game at 10.
Another pitching change was made by Evansville with Hinchman due up. The veteran fell behind in the count 0-2 rather quickly, but took the next offering outside for a ball. He then found the offering he was looking for and deposited it over the center-field fence for his second career walk-off home run.
On the pitching side, freshman Christian Herberholz made his first career start, tossing four innings while allowing just three hits, one earned run and two runs total. He also struck out four. Fellow first-year hurler Trey Wright covered the final three frames of the contest, holding the potent Purple Aces lineup to just one base runner on a walk. He picked up his first collegiate win with the stellar performance.
Hinchman turned in a 4-for-5 day at the plate, scoring four times and driving in five total runs while hammering three round-trippers. He became the first player in program history to record two games with three home runs in a career while tying the single-game mark held by eight other former Golden Eagles.
AUSTIN PEAY 13, EASTERN MICHIGAN 6
CLARKSVILLE, Tenn. - Shortstop Bobby Head’s two-run home run in the fifth inning put Austin Peay State University’s baseball team out front for good in a convincing 13-6 victory against Eastern Michigan, Sunday, on Joe Maynard Field at Raymond C. Hand Park.
Head’s 4-for-5, three RBI day led an Austin Peay (2-1) offensive attack that pounded out 18 hits in the series finale. However, the Govs could not fend off the Eagles through five and a half innings, entering the sixth tied 6-6.
Left fielder TJ Foreman started the sixth with a single and, after a fielder’s choice, Head stepped up to the plate. He did not miss a 2-0 pitch, hitting the game’s lone home run to right center field, giving the Govs an 8-6 lead. Austin Peay would pull away late, tacking on a run in the eighth and four more in the ninth to secure the victory.
Govs reliever Kyle Nunn (1-0) went four innings, allowing two runs on four hits to pick up the victory. Starter Tyler Thompson was left with no decision despite limiting Eastern Michigan to four runs on six hits in his four innings of work. Reliever Greg Norman retired the side in order in the ninth.
Center fielder Garrett Spain posted his first hits of 2020 in the series finale, ending the day 3-for-4 with a double. Right fielder Skyler Luna also had three hits and a RBI. Designated hitter Ty DeLancey added two hits, including a bases-clearing triple in the fourth inning.
Second baseman Shane Easter went 3-for-4 with two runs scored and a RBI to pace the Eagles. Eastern Michigan (1-2) saw six different players contribute an RBI but did not score in the game’s final three innings.
EMU reliever Justin Reinkall (0-1) surrendered five runs on seven hits and suffered the loss despite striking out seven APSU hitters.