FRIDAY'S SCORES
Southern Illinois 13,
@Morehead State 7
@Eastern Kentucky 13, Siena 10
@Murray State 4, Bowling Green 0
@Southeast Missouri 3, Ohio 0
@Belmont 16, UNC Asheville 4
@Mercer 7
, UT Martin 2
@Jacksonville 9,
Austin Peay 2
@Jacksonville State 9, Gardner-Webb 3
@Central Arkansas 9,
SIUE 6
@Northwestern State 3,
Eastern Illinois 0
SOUTHERN ILLINOIS 13, MOREHEAD STATE 7
MOREHEAD, Ky. - Despite a career-best effort from redshirt junior third baseman Stephen Hill and home runs from seniors Dom Peroni and Arthur Sells, Morehead State baseball couldn't overcome a late outburst from Southern Illinois Friday afternoon.
Behind a pair of big innings-a four-run fifth and six-run ninth frame-the Salukis (6-4) dispatched the Eagles (3-5) in Morehead State's home opener, out-hitting Morehead State 13-12 while both teams committed a sole error each.
Stephen Hill's career afternoon gives him the first four-hit game for an Eagle since Connor Pauly versus Eastern Kentucky on May 24, 2019, and the first four-RBI game since Trevor Snyder against Austin Peay on May 25, 2019
Home runs from Dom Peroni and Arthur Sells gives Morehead State its first multi-homer game of the season and the first since clubbing two home runs against Eastern Kentucky (May 24, 2019) in last season's Ohio Valley Conference Tournament.
EASTERN KENTUCKY 13, SIENA 10
RICHMOND, Ky. - Eastern Kentucky University’s baseball team staged a late-inning comeback to beat Siena College, 13-10, on Friday in the opener of a four-game series at Earle Combs Stadium.
Trailing 9-8 going into the bottom of the seventh, the Colonels (5-2) scored four times to take control of the game. With the bases loaded and one out, Siena threw the ball away on a grounder and two runners scored to swing the lead back in favor of EKU. Nick Howie followed with a 2-run single to left to cap the inning and put the home team up 12-9.
Both teams tacked on a run in the eighth. The Saints loaded the bases with two outs in the top of the ninth, but Darren Williams got a strike out to end the game and earn his first save of the season.
Eastern Kentucky grabbed the early lead on a 2-run double to center by A.J. Lewis in the bottom of the first inning. With Eastern up one in the bottom of the fourth, Christian Lucio hit a 2-run home run over the wall in center field to make it 6-3. Daniel Harris IV drove in a run with a single to right and then scored on a steal of home to break a 6-6 tie in the bottom of the fifth inning.
Jonathan Crimmin’s 2-run single fueled a 3-run sixth inning for Siena that put the visitors in front 9-8.
Howie finished 3-for-4 with a walk, a run and three RBIs for Eastern Kentucky. Lewis went 2-for-5 with a run and two driven in. Harris had a 2-for-4 day with three runs and an RBI. Lucio was 2-for-4 with three runs and two RBIs.
Crimmin was 3-for-4 with a run and two RBIs for Siena (0-9).
MURRAY STATE 4, BOWLING GREEN 0
MURRAY, Ky. - The Murray State baseball team remained perfect at home this season with a 4-0 win over Bowling Green at Reagan Field, Friday afternoon.
Trevor McMurray also remained perfect this season as he improved to 2-0 this season, throwing seven scoreless innings while allowing just three hits while striking out five. In 19 innings pitched over three starts, the senior has still not allowed a run.
Jake Slunder provided the spark on offense as he blasted his first-career home run in his 274th career at-bat. Jordan Cozart and Trey Woosley each had two hits and RBI as well.
The Racers jumped out to an early lead on a single by Cozart, knocking Ryan Perkins who had walked earlier in the inning.
Three scoreless innings followed but in the fifth, the Racers broke out for three runs on four hits, starting with Slunder's one-out solo home run. After a single by Perkins and double by Cozart, Woosley drove in a run with a single to right side. The third run of the inning came in as pickoff attempt at first was wild, allowing Cozart to trot in from third.
The Falcons had their biggest threat of the game in the seventh when they loaded the bases with two outs, but McMurray buckled down and on his 104th pitch of the game, he got Kyle Gurney to fly out to center.
Braydon Cook came out of the pen and pitched two hitless innings to close out the game and preserve the shutout.
SOUTHEAST MISSOURI 3, OHIO 0
CAPE GIRARDEAU, Mo. - Left-hander Dylan Dodd recorded a career-high 15 strikeouts and threw a five-hit complete game shutout to lead Southeast Missouri (3-6) to a 3-0 win over Ohio University (3-5) Friday afternoon at Capaha Field.
Dodd did not allow a walk and struck out the side in both the third and ninth innings. He retired the Bobcats in order during four of his nine sparkling innings.
SEMO gave Dodd a 1-0 lead in the bottom of the first when Austin Blazevic ripped a two-out RBI-single to right field. Tyler Wilber scored on the play for the first run of the game.
After back-to-back strikeouts, Blazevic delivered another big two-out hit, this time a double to right center widening the Redhawks lead to 3-0 in the third.
That would be all Dodd needed in his first complete game victory.
Dodd improved to 1-1 this season and finished with double-digit strikeouts for the second time in his career. His 15 strikeouts surpassed his previous career-high of 11 which came at SIU Edwardsville on Mar. 15, 2019. Dodd worked 5.2 innings in that outing.
Blazevic and Wilber were responsible for four of SEMO's seven hits. Blazevic went 2-for-4 with three RBI, while Wilber went 2-for-3 with two runs scored. Both had a double, as well.
Eamon Horwedel (0-1) suffered the loss for Ohio. Horwedel allowed three runs, seven hits and struck out eight in 5.1 innings.
BELMONT 16, UNC ASHEVILLE 4
NASHVILLE - Scoring in each of its final six innings, the Belmont baseball team defeated UNC Asheville 16-4 on Friday at Rose Park.
Belmont scored in six straight innings for the first time since May 14, 2017 against SEMO, scoring at least 15 runs for the first time since March 29, 2018 at SIUE. Sophomore pitcher Joshua South earned his second win of the season, striking out at least seven batters for the sixth time in his last 10 outings.
Sophomore John Behrends, junior Jackson Campbell and freshman Drew Lowry each tied a career high of three hits, with Behrends and Lowry obtaining career highs in RBIs with three each. Belmont had at least three hitters obtain three hits for the first time since Feb. 24, 2018 against Fairleigh Dickinson.
After UNC Asheville took a 3-0 lead heading into the bottom of the third, Campbell responded with his third home run of the season to cut the deficit down to two runs. Belmont put two runners on in the next half-inning, with Lowry hitting an RBI single to make it a one-run game.
Campbell followed Lowry with a double that drove in two more runs, allowing Belmont to regain the lead 4-3. Sophomore Jack Capobianco kept the rally going with an RBI single in the next at-bat to put Belmont ahead by two runs.
Following a bases loaded walk and an RBI single from Behrends in the next two innings, Belmont opened the gap thanks to a six-run bottom of the seventh inning. A single from Lowry and two bases loaded walks brought in three runs, with a single from Behrends driving in two more runs.
The Bruins would cap off the bottom of the seventh inning with a double stolen base, taking a 13-4 lead.
Belmont kept its bats hot in the bottom of the eighth inning, scoring two runs off a Lowry RBI single and a grounder from Capobianco. Senior Hagan Severance came up with an RBI single to score Lowry and give Belmont a 12-run lead.
Pitchers Jack McLaughlin, Brandon Liskey and Kory Winning all made their season debuts in the top of the ninth inning, not allowing a UNC Asheville hit and collecting the three outs to clinch the win.
MERCER 7, UT MARTIN 2
MACON, Ga. - The University of Tennessee at Martin baseball team fell 7-2 to the undefeated Mercer squad after being unable to rally from an early deficit.
As the Skyhawks headed into the matchup with the highly toted Bears baseball team, it was a daunting test early in the season. Mercer showcased why they are undefeated and boast votes for the national poll.
Senior Winston Cannon started against the highly talented squad, but as the Skyhawks ace, he is no slouch. However, Mercer showcased their firepower early against Winston as they scored four runs on five hits in the first inning.
UT Martin attempted their comeback in both the second and fourth inning thanks to an exceptional day from junior Houston Wright. Wright generated both of the Skyhawk's two runs in back to back at-bats.
Wright started it all in the second when he doubled to centerfield to bring home junior Casey Harford to make the score 4-1 in favor of Mercer. He finished the scoring for the Skyhawks just two innings later as he singled to centerfield to bring home junior Ethan Whitley.
With 4-2 deficit UT Martin tried to muster up more energy but fell just short as the Mercer relief staff came into the game. The Skyhawks ended up giving up two more runs in the sixth and 7th inning to finish the score at 7-2.
JACKSONVILLE 9, AUSTIN PEAY 2
JACKSONVILLE, Fla. - Left fielder Griffin Rivers and pinch hitter Max Remy each drove in runs but Austin Peay State University’s baseball team could not solve Jacksonville starting pitcher Trent Palmer and dropped a 9-2 decision, Friday night, at Sessions Stadium.
Palmer kept Austin Peay (3-6) off balance most of the night, but Govs catcher Alex Hay broke through with a double off the wall in left to lead off the third inning. Rivers would deliver APSU’s first run with a ground out to second, allowing Hay to score.
Jacksonville (4-6) led 6-0 before the Govs breakthrough after scoring four in the opening frame and two in the second. The Dolphins jump-started their four-run first with the first four batters reaching base. Left fielder Cory Heffron provided a two-run double and third baseman Stephen Moffat added an RBI single. Catcher Anthony George supplied a two-run home run in the second.
Palmer (1-1) dug in after surrendering the third inning run, retiring eight straight until Rivers’ sixth-inning single and third baseman Gino Avros’ single – the Govs best scoring chance against the Dolphins starter. However, a strikeout and ground out ended the threat and Palmer would get through the order three times in a 7.2-inning outing that saw him strike out 12 batters while scattering four hits.
Austin Peay’s bench provided the second run of the night against the JU bullpen, pinch hitter TJ Foreman reaching on a single followed by shortstop Bobby Head’s single. Remy then grounded out to shortstop, allowing Foreman to score the second run.
APSU starter Harley Gollert (0-2) went four innings and allowed seven runs on nine hits and two walks. Reliever Greg Norman tossed two scoreless innings and Collin Loose surrendered two runs in his two innings of relief.
Designated hitter Ty DeLancey’s 2-for-4 outing led the Govs seven-hit outing. Avros extended his reached safely streak to 22 games, dating back to last season, with his sixth-inning single in a 1-for-4 night. Hay went 1-for-4 with a run scored and caught two runners attempting to steal.
JU second baseman Scott Dubrule went 4-for-5 and scored three times. George, Heffron and first baseman Christian Coipel each had two RBI.
JACKSONVILLE STATE 9, GARDNER-WEBB 3
JACKSONVILLE, Ala. - Jacksonville State broke open a one-run contest with six runs combined in the sixth and seventh to take the series opener with Gardner-Webb, 9-3, on a chilly Friday evening on Rudy Abbott Field at Jim Case Stadium.
The Gamecocks pulled even at 4-4 overall, while the Runnin' Bulldogs fell to 5-4 on the season.
Senior Andrew Naismith turned in a 4-5 night at the plate and posted an RBI double in the JSU's two-run seventh inning. The four lefthanders in the Jax State order combined for nine of the 15 hits by the Gamecocks. Senior Alex Webb posted a multi-hit game along with sophomore Carson Crowe's two singles. Senior Chase Robinson delivered a game-tying triple in the JSU second inning. Junior Alex Strachan had back-to-back RBI doubles in the third and fifth inning.
Senior Tre Kirklin keyed the Gamecocks' four-run, four-hit sixth inning with his second home run of the season. Kirklin belted a two-run home run over the left field wall. Junior Cole Frederick and Webb reached on a pair of two-out hits, including a double by Webb. Junior Alex Carignan followed Webb with an RBI double.
Junior transfer Javier Ramirez carded his first RBI as a Gamecock in the seventh with a one-out single, while Naismith's RBI was registered in the seventh.
The JSU pitching staff turned in another solid performance, led by starter Dylan Hathcock. Hathcock picked up his second win of the year with six complete innings and touched for two early runs by GWU. Hathcock fanned six of JSU's 10 strikeouts on the day. Redshirt sophomore Trey Fortner tossed two shutout frames and added three strikeouts. Freshman Colton Lewis rounded out the pitching on Friday night.
CENTRAL ARKANSAS 9, SIUE 6
CONWAY, Ark. - A pair of three-run innings lifted Central Arkansas to a 9-6 win over SIUE Friday in the opener of a three-game baseball series.
The Cougars are now 4-4 for the season. Central Arkansas improved to 4-5 with the win.
The two teams posted 11 hits apiece despite each facing a quality starter. It was SIUE which struck first, scoring twice in the second inning. Steven Pattan and Josh Ohl each drove home runs in the inning.
Central Arkansas seized the lead for good, scoring three runs in each of the third and the fourth innings on seven total hits against SIUE starter Collin Baumgartner. In an uncharacteristic rough outing, Baumgartner (0-1) allowed six runs on eight hits over four innings. He walked two and struck out four.
UCA pushed its lead to 7-2 in the fifth before both teams scored runs in the sixth inning for an 8-3 score. For SIUE, Parker Wielt tripled to drive home Raul Elguezabal who had singled with one out in the inning.
The Cougars trimmed the Bears' lead to 8-6 thanks to a three-run, four-hit seventh inning. Justin Perkins collected a two-run double and Elguezabal added an RBI single in the inning. UCA picked up an unearned run in the bottom of the inning.
UCA reliever Conner Williams finished the game out for the Bears. He struck out five of the seven hitters he faced.
SIUE got two hits apiece from Ohl, Connor Kiffer, Perkins and Elguezabal.
NORTHWESTERN STATE 3, EASTERN ILLINOIS 0
NATCHITOCHES, La. - The Panthers fell 0-3 in the first game of the series against the Demons of Northwestern State. The offense struggled to put the bat on the ball against one of NSU's toughest pitchers Logan Hofmann. The Panthers record drops to 3-4, while NSU continues their wining streak and moves to 8-1.
Will Klein was given the start in today's game after getting his first win of the season last weekend against FAMU. Klein recorded nine strikeouts in the game today, but let up five walks. Klein also let up five hits and three runs in six innings pitched.
Jack Wolfe came in to relieve Klein and let up no hits in the two innings he pitched. Wolfe recorded one strikeout in his second appearance this season.
The offense couldn't get it going as they recorded only four hits on the game. Christian Pena, Trey Sweeney, Dalton Doyle and Tyler Tesmond were the only Panthers to record hits. Pena and Dane Toppel reached on walks, while Matt Waznis reached on a HBP.