SUNDAY'S SCORES
Southern Illinois 22,
@Morehead State 5
@Eastern Kentucky 8-11, Siena 3-2
@Murray State 25, Bowling Green 5
@Southeast Missouri 9, Ohio 7
Bradley 16,
@Tennessee Tech 1
@Belmont 4, UNC Asheville 3
@Mercer 11,
UT Martin 4
@Jacksonville 7,
Austin Peay 0
@Jacksonville State 15, Gardner-Webb 6
@Central Arkansas 4,
SIUE 1
@Northwestern State 6,
Eastern Illinois 3
SOUTHERN ILLINOIS 22, MOREHEAD STATE 5
MOREHEAD, Ky. - Connecting on their first home runs of the season, seniors, designated hitter Jon Burghardt and centerfielder Ryan Layne combined to drive in four of Morehead State baseball's five runs Sunday as the team dropped its series finale against Southern Illinois.
In the game, Burghardt and Layne each registered a multi-hit effort, collecting three and two hits, respectively, tallying five of Morehead State's nine hits in the contest. On the other side, Southern Illinois recorded 22 runs on 25 hits while taking advantage of three Eagle errors to capture the series victory.
The win improves the Salukis to 7-5 on the year while the Eagles drop to 4-6.
Striking out 10 batters Sunday, Morehead State recorded double-figure strikeouts in all three games of a weekend series for the first time since doing so against UT Martin on April 5-6, 2018.
With two more home runs in Sunday's series finale, the Eagles have homered in three straight games for the first time since accomplishing the feat against Tennessee Tech (May 11), Dayton (May 14), and Southeast Missouri (May 16) during the 2019 season.
EASTERN KENTUCKY 8-11, SIENA 3-2
RICHMOND, Ky. - Sophomore Logan Thomason went 6-for-8 with three doubles, four runs scored and three RBIs in both games of Eastern Kentucky University’s doubleheader sweep of Siena College on Sunday at Earle Combs Stadium. With the wins, the Colonels complete the four-game weekend sweep of the Saints.
Eastern won game one 8-3. Thomason went 4-for-4 with a double, two runs and two RBIs in the opener. EKU earned an 11-2 win, in seven innings, in game two. The Richmond native was 2-for-4 with two doubles, two runs and an RBI in the second contest.
In game one, EKU grabbed a 2-0 lead in the bottom of the second when Daniel Harris IV hit a 2-run home run over the wall in left center.
The Colonels pulled away with five runs in the bottom of the fifth. Thomason drove in two with a single to center. Two batters later, Christian Lucio’s single brought home another run to make it 5-0. Thomason later stole home and Nick Howie’s bases loaded walk forced in the final run of the inning to make it 7-0.
Lucio was 2-for-3 with four stolen bases, a run and an RBI. Eastern had eight stolen bases in game one. Jake Lewis (2-1) started on the mound and allowed just one run on four hits, walked two and struck out five in five and one-third innings. It was the longest outing of his career and he tied his career-best for strike outs in a game.
In game two, Howie staked Eastern Kentucky to a first inning 1-0 lead when he hit his first home run of the season. After Siena (0-12) went in front 2-1 in the top of the third on a 2-run home run off the bat of Pat O’Hare, the Colonels answered with three runs in the bottom half.
Thomason’s RBI double to left center tied the score. Harris followed with a RBI double to left. A ground ball from Charles Ludwick was enough to score Harris and make it 4-2.
Lucio’s 2-run home run highlighted a 4-run fifth inning that pushed Eastern Kentucky ahead 9-2. It was his third of the season.
Harris was 2-for-3 with two runs and an RBI in the second game. Ludwick went 3-for-4 with two runs and three RBIs.
Bryce Mordecki had two of Siena’s four hits in the game. O’Hare had the other two, finishing 2-for-3 with a run and two RBIs.
MURRAY STATE 25, BOWLING GREEN 5
MURRAY, Ky. - There was a fireworks show at Reagan Field Sunday afternoon as the Racers took down Bowling Green 25-5 to improve to 7-5 on the year and 7-0 at home.
The 25 runs are the most for MSU since hanging a school-record 31 runs on Eastern Illinois on April 2, 2016. It is also the first time the Racers eclipsed 20 runs since scoring 22 runs against Kentucky State on March 2, 2017.
Brock Anderson led the way with two home runs, including a grand slam, and nine RBI. Ryan Perkins also added a home run, home run, and three runs scored. Both players now have 17 RBI this season, which the fourth-most in the country.
Every Racer starter had a hit in the game, in addition to three guys who came of the bench. Six different Racers had multiple RBI while nine players scored multiple runs.
Lost in the shuffle in the all the offense was the Racer pitching, which only allowed four hits. Sam Gardner threw five innings while not allowing an earned run and striking out four.
The Racers got the scoring started early as they scored four runs in both the first and second innings before doubling that with eight runs in the third to take a 16-0 lead after three innings.
Murray State reached 20 runs on a double by Jacob Pennington in the sixth. Anderson put a capper on the game with his opposite-field grand slam in the seventh inning.
SOUTHEAST MISSOURI 9, OHIO 7
CAPE GIRARDEAU, Mo. - Justin Dirden hit two home runs, scored twice and had three RBI to lead Southeast Missouri (6-6) to a 9-7 win over Ohio (3-8) Sunday at Capaha Field.
SEMO swept Ohio in four games as Dirden posted his third multi-home run game of the season.
The Redhawks built a 9-3 lead after scoring two times in four of the first six innings of the game. Andrew Keck and Austin Blazevic each had RBI-hits to get SEMO an early 2-0 lead in the bottom of the first inning.
After Dirden led off the third with a solo home run to right, the Redhawks scored two more runs in the fourth, fifth and sixth inning to pull ahead by six. Ohio made things close late after scoring two runs in both the seventh and ninth frames. Michael Richardson doubled home Dan McCauley and Devonte Washington knocked in Ryan Sargent on a base hit.
Trevor Hafner scored the Bobcats final two runs on a double to left center.
Bryan McNeely (1-2) earned his first win of the season. McNeely gave up three runs on five hits and struck out one in 5.2 innings. Keegan Meyn was credited with the save after recording the last two outs of the game.
Tyler Wilber, Dirden and Keck all had two hits and two runs scored in the heart of SEMO's lineup. The Redhawks had 11 hits for the game. Wilber, Wade Stauss and Caleb Feuerstake also homered along with Dirden.
BRADLEY 16, TENNESSEE TECH 1
COOKEVILLE, Tenn. - The Tennessee Tech baseball team dropped its series finale with Bradley Sunday afternoon, falling to the visiting Braves at Bush Stadium at the Averitt Express Baseball Complex, 16-1, in seven innings.
The Golden Eagles (3-7) looked primed to avenge a pair of losses to the Braves (4-6) in the first inning, turning a 4-6-3 double play to bring their bats to the plate. On the very first pitch, freshman shortstop Brett Roberts legged out an infield single to third base to kick things off.
Two offerings later, senior left fielder Cody Littlejohn laced a double down the left-field line. Roberts displayed some heads-up base running, scoring all the way from first to give the Golden Eagles a quick 1-0 lead.
From that point on, Bradley's Matt Hamilton flipped a switch, holding the Tech offense to just three more hits the rest of the contest. The Brave offense also turned itself around quickly, answering the Golden Eagle run with five of its own in the second inning.
Bradley tallied an unearned marker in the fifth, to go up 6-1, then exploded in the sixth and seventh frames. The Braves racked up 10 more runs in the two innings, finishing the day with 14 hits and 16 runs to earn a sweep over the Golden Eagles.
BELMONT 4, UNC ASHEVILLE 3
NASHVILLE - Behind a walk-off home run and a 3-for-4 day at the plate from sophomore Carson Shacklett, the Belmont baseball team managed to earn a 4-3 win over UNC Asheville and complete the series sweep on Sunday at Rose Park.
Shacklett collected a career high of three hits and his walk-off home run was his first collegiate home run.
Belmont was the one to strike first in the bottom of the first inning following a leadoff base hit, with freshman Brodey Heaton hitting an RBI single to left field to score senior Hagan Severance and gave Belmont a 1-0 lead. A leadoff double down the left field line from junior Logan Jarvis in bottom of the fourth inning allowed Belmont to add to its lead after senior Chandler Adkins hit a sacrifice ground ball to make it a two-run advantage.
UNC Asheville responded in the top of the fifth inning, hitting four consecutive singles to tie the game.
A solo home run in the top of the eighth inning by UNC Asheville allowed the Bulldogs to take a 3-2 lead. Belmont, however, responded with a solo shot of their own as sophomore John Behrends hit his first home run of the season to tie the score 3-3.
Junior Kyle Brennan set up the walk off opportunity for the Bruins, retiring all three batters in the top of the ninth inning with a fly out and two strikeouts.
After a strikeout, Shacklett delivered on the second pitch he saw with his first collegiate home run. The walk-off marks the fourth time in the last seven games where the Bruins have won by a way of walk-off.
MERCER 11, UT MARTIN 4
MACON, Ga. - The University of Tennessee at Martin's baseball squad dropped the third straight game against the undefeated Mercer University Sunday.
In the third straight day, the Skyhawks were unable to make enough happen from either side of the plate against the Bears. The first inning seemed the most pivotal as Mercer scored seven runs leading to UT Martin's 11-4 defeat.
For the first time, this season, senior Jefferey O'Doherty got the start for the Skyhawks. Against a high power offense that is nationally recognized, O'Doherty had a rough go at things. He allowed seven runs to cross the plate (six earned) on five hits as he was unable to produce an out in the affair. He was replaced after the fact by Freshman Ryan Insco. Insco got out of the inning, but the damage was down as the Skyhawks tried to combat the early deficit.
Junior Blake Davis showcased UT Martin's ability to fight momentum as he singled to bring home a run in the second. Putting the Skyhawks on the board was a success in the early goings of this high scoring game.
As Insco faced off against Mercer in the second, he pitched to his strengths. However, he gave up his first few runs on the year after allowing none to cross the plate thus far in this young season. Insco finished the day going four innings as he allowed three runs in the solid relief effort.
Down 9-1 in the fourth, the effort was focused on making anything happen. Junior Blake Daniels did just that as he hit a sacrifice fly to make it 9-2.
The Skyhawks allowed one more in the fourth to push the Bears into the double-digit mark. Both teams stopped scoring until the seventh inning as both senior Sean Dixson and junior Ethan Whitley singled in runs to cut the lead to 10-4.
While the lead was significant, the Skyhawks produced quality relief as freshman Mitchell Ford, and sophomore Seth Petry both pitched scoreless innings in the fifth and sixth.
Senior Derek Hussey also showcased his abilities as he pitched the final two innings, only allowing one run. Regardless of the excellent relief effort, the starting deficit was to large to overcome as the Skyhawks fell 11-4.
JACKSONVILLE 7, AUSTIN PEAY 0
JACKSONVILLE, Fla. - Austin Peay State University’s baseball team could not pick up Sunday where it left off Saturday and dropped the final game of its three-game set against Jacksonville, 7-0, at Sessions Stadium.
After scoring 11 runs on 13 hits in a Saturday victory that leveled the three game series, Austin Peay (4-7) was stymied throughout Sunday’s contest by the Jacksonville pitching staff. The Dolphins limited the Govs to four hits and five walks, and Austin Peay could not take advantage of nine plate appearances with a runner in scoring position.
Austin Peay’s best scoring chance came in the third inning when designated hitter TJ Foreman led off with a single, catcher Tyler Cotto walked and third baseman Gino Avros loaded the bases with a bunt single. Jacksonville starting pitcher Austin Temple retired each of the next three batters to keep APSU off the board.
The Govs would get a leadoff batter in scoring position again in the sixth when first baseman Tyler DeLancey doubled down the right-field line. But two strikeouts and a pop out later and the Govs were left without a run again.
Jacksonville (5-7) took control in the second inning, scoring four runs with 10 batters coming to the plate. Shortstop Dakota Julyia delivered a two-run single for the rally’s big blow with left fielder Langston Provitt and second baseman Scott Dubrule each supplied a RBI each. The Dolphins would add a run in the fourth and two more in the eighth to set the final score.
Avros, Foreman, Cotto and DeLancey each had one of the Govs four hits. Avros’ bunt single in the third extended his reached safely streak to 25 games dating back to last season.
Austin Peay pitcher Kyle Nunn (1-1) suffered the loss in his first start, allowing four runs on four hits in 1.2 innings. Reliever Tyler Thompson went a career-high 5.1 innings, allowing one unearned run on four hits.
Temple (2-1) struck out eight over six scoreless innings, scattering three hits and four walks, for the win.
Dubrule went 3-for-5 with two RBI to lead Jacksonville’s nine-hit effort. Julyia went 2-for-2 with three RBI, including a sacrifice fly in the eighth.
JACKSONVILLE STATE 15, GARDNER-WEBB 6
JACKSONVILLE, Ala. - Senior Andrew Naismith collected five hits to lead Jacksonville State to a series win over Gardner-Webb with a 15-6 Sunday rout on Rudy Abbott Field at Jim Case Stadium.
The Gamecock (5-5) bounced back after the Runnin' Bulldogs (6-5) evened the non-conference set on Saturday. Jax State opened the weekend with a 9-3 win on Friday. JSU will close out its season-opening homestand on Tuesday, hosting the Owl of Kennesaw State on Tuesday night. First pitch is set for 6 p.m. on JSU Faculty and Staff Night at the ballpark. All JSU faculty and staff get in free with their JSU ID. JSU students and all fans 18 years old and younger are admitted free as well.
Naismith capped off a stellar performance at the plate, going 5-for-6 with three doubles and driving in three runs on Sunday. His lone at bat in the contest was a deep fly ball to the warning track in right field in JSU's eighth inning. The Auburn, Alabama native had back-to-back doubles in his first two plate appearances, including a key double in Jax State's six-run second inning to break an early 2-2 deadlock. His second RBI double of the contest came in the fifth inning. The fifth hit came on an RBI single in a lengthy five-run seventh to break open the contest. On the weekend, Naismith hit .688 (11-for-16), with four doubles and registering five RBI. He scored five times and accumulated a slugging percentage of .938 and one strikeout the entire weekend.
He becomes the first Gamecock to record five hits or more in a single game since former JSU standout Nic Gaddis tallied six hits on March 3, 2018 against Florida International. He matches Alex Webb's mark of three doubles in a game as Webb delivered three doubles last season against Belmont. In all, eight different Gamecocks combined for the 14 hits in the win, including multiple hits by Webb and junior Isaac Alexander. The Gamecocks finished with seven doubles in the outing.
Webb collected three RBI on single in the first and a double in the eighth. Junior Cole Frederick recorded a pair of RBI on a single in the second frame. Freshman Jack Henry Milligan, who made his JSU debut on Sunday, finished with an RBI double. Senior Tre Kirklin, freshman Colton Lewis and redshirt sophomore Nash Adams all had hits in the game.
Sophomore Michael Gilliland turned in another quality start to earn his first win in a starting role. The Boaz, Alabama lefthander went 5.0 innings to qualify for the win and scattered seven GWU hits. Gilliland posted five of Jax State's 10 strikeouts as a pitching staff. Junior Colin Casey was sharp for two innings with three strikeouts. Freshman Austin Downey and redshirt junior Sean Rape tossed the final two innings.
CENTRAL ARKANSAS 4, SIUE 1
CONWAY, Ark. - Central Arkansas righthanders Mark Moyer and Conner Williams stymied SIUE's offense Sunday, limiting Cougar baseball to a run on six hits in a 4-1 win.
Central Arkansas improved to 5-6 with the three-game series with the Sunday win. SIUE even its record at 5-5.
Moyer worked seven innings allowing a run on four hits. He walked one and struck out 10. Williams worked two scoreless innings allowing two hits and striking out four.
SIUE took a 1-0 lead with its lone run, coming in the third inning. John Stallcup doubled with one out. He advanced to third on a failed pickoff attempt and then scored on a wild pitch when Josh Ohl walked.
The Bears immediately took the lead with two in the bottom of the inning on two hits against SIUE freshman starter Preston Salazar (0-2).
Salazar, making his second career start, worked five innings, allowing just the two runs on three hits. He walked one and struck out three. Ryan Swanson relieved Salazar in the sixth and worked 1.1 scoreless frames.
The Bears added a pair of runs in the eighth inning. Kaid Karnes was charged with the runs after starting the inning and allowing a pair of hits. Karnes entered in the seventh and worked 2/3 of an inning allowing the two runs. Braydon Bone finished the eighth, allowing two hits and striking our three.
At the plate, Josh Ohl led SIUE, going 2-3. Ben Ayala and Josh Ragan each had two hits for UCA.
NORTHWESTERN STATE 6, EASTERN ILLINOIS 3
NATCHITOCHES, La. - The Panthers fell 3-6 in the final game of the series against the Northwestern State Demons. The Panthers notched seven hits on the day, including three in the ninth inning. The team put up two runs in the final inning, but were unable to finish the rally with the tying run at the plate.
Jesse Wainscott was given the start today and pitched 4.2 innings before being pulled for Trevor Nicholson. Wainscott let up two runs off of four hits. Wainscott started to get loose with his pitches which forced coach Jason Anderson's hand. Wainscott is given a loss in his first start of the season.
Nicholson pitched two innings and recorded four strikeouts. Nicholson let up four hits and four runs in his time on the mound. He was later relieved for Blayke Cutts.
Cutts was brought in to close out the game and pitched 1.1 innings. Cutts got it done for the Panthers, as he allowed no runs and only one hit to the Demons.
Christian Pena led the Panthers with two hits on the day, including a double and accounted for a EIU run. Grant Emme also recorded a hit in the game, and was the only other double on the day.
Trey Sweeney continued to find success at the plate; ending with a hit and recording a RBI. Ryan Knernschield also recorded one hit and a RBI along with great play behind the plate per usual. Gunner Smith was the other Panther to account for a RBI as he went 1-4 at the plate.