FRIDAY'S SCORES
Purdue Fort Wayne 10-5,
@Murray State 6-9
@Ohio 6-1,
Morehead State 0-3
Army 2,
Austin Peay 1 (Cary, N.C.)
Eastern Illinois 12-17, @Little Rock 6-1
@#2 Arkansas 7,
Southeast Missouri 3
@Belmont 5-10, Northern Kentucky 4-11
@Jacksonville State 5, Valparaiso 4
@Wichita State 10,
SIUE 4
PURDUE FORT WAYNE 10-5, MURRAY STATE 6-9
MURRAY, Ky. - Despite a rain delay, the Murray State baseball team (1-3) split the opening day at Reagan Field with Purdue Fort Wayne (1-1).
Jordan Cozart was 4-for-4 in game two with three extra base hits, three RBIs and two runs scored.
The Racers fells behind early as Purdue Fort Wayne put up a pair of runs in the second, third and fourth innings to jump out to 6-0 lead.
The Racers began mounting their comeback in the bottom of the fifth. Three straight one-out walks loaded the bases for Murray State and they were able to push its first run of the day across with Alex Crump scoring a fielder's choice.
The Mastodons tacked on another run in the top half of the sixth.
Murray State responded with a pair of runs of their own. For the second straight inning, the Racers loaded the bases. Brock Anderson scored on a balk and Tanner Booth scored on a sacrifice fly by Crump.
In the top of the seventh, Bloomer hit his first home run of the season.
The following inning, Booth led off by hitting his first career home run as a Racer. With two outs, Jake Slunder singled to center field to drive in Crump from second base to cut the Mastodons lead to one.
The Racers comeback fell short as Purdue Fort Wayne added three runs in the ninth inning and Murray State went down 1-2-3 in their half of the inning.
The Racers were able to get on the board early in game two. Back-to-back two out doubles gave Murray State an early 1-0 lead in the first.
The lead didn't last long as Purdue Fort Wayne responded with a run of their own in the top half of the second.
Murray State broke the tie for good in the fourth inning. Leadoff singles by Jordan Cozart and Anderson put runners on the corner. After Anderson stole second, Woosley singled to left field to bring both runners home. Woosley moved to second on a stolen base and scored on an RBI single from David Hudleson.
The Murray State offense found its groove in the fifth. Five straight runners reached base to start the inning. The Racers put up five runs, highlighted by Cozart hitting his first home run of the season.
Purdue Fort Wayne hit a grand slam in the top half of the seventh to cut Murray State's lead in half but it was too little too late as the Racers won 9-5.
The Racers feature seven pitchers over the two games. Quinton Kujawa, Cade Vernon, Adam Weihe and Jack Wenninger all made their Racer debuts. In game one, Vernon threw 4.2 innings, allowed three hits, zero earned runs, striking out three. Wenninger started game two, going 5.0 innings, allowing two hits, zero earned runs and struck out seven.
OHIO 6-1, MOREHEAD STATE 0-3
ATHENS, Ohio - Morehead State baseball pitchers totaled 24 strikeouts and just one earned run allowed in 18 innings, and the Eagles used a pair of runs in extra innings in game two to pick up their first win of 2021 in a doubleheader split at Ohio's Bob Wren Stadium Friday.
After being no-hit on offense in game one's seven-inning contest for the first time in 15 years, the Eagles scored twice in the top of the 11th in game two and held on to improve to 1-5. Despite not allowing an earned run, Morehead State saw Ohio take the opener 6-0 before the Eagles prevailed 3-1 in the nightcap.
It was the first extra-inning win for Morehead State since March 27, 2018, ironically also against Ohio in a 9-8 triumph at Allen Field.
In the game two win, the teams battled to a stalemate until the top of the 11th when junior Stephen Hill led off with a single. Layne sacrificed Hll to second, and senior catcher Jack Gardner broke the tie with an RBI single to center field. After a single by senior Jon Burghardt, freshman Jacob Ferry drew a walk and then senior Logan Goodnight coaxed a bases-loaded free pass.
Ohio got two runners on with one out in the bottom of the 11th, but senior left-hander Cory Conway got two fly outs to left field to end the game.
The 18 strikeouts by Eagle pitchers Luke Helton (career high 9), John Bakke (3), Grant Herron (2) and Conway (4) were the most by MSU since 23 versus Dayton in 2015 in a 14-inning game that was suspended and finished the next day at the LakePointe Complex in Georgia.
In game one, senior right-hander Jason Goe (0-2) was the tough luck loser. He struck out three in 3.2 innings but allowed three walks, hit a batter and uncorked a wild pitch.
It was the first time Morehead State had been no-hit since March 26, 2006 when Christian Friedrich (who later pitched for the Colorado Rockies) no-hit MSU in a 1-0 game at Allen Field.
ARMY 2, AUSTIN PEAY 1
CARY, N.C. - Starting pitcher Harley Gollert retired the first 19 batters he faced, but Austin Peay State University’s baseball team could not deny a late Army charge and fell, 2-1, Friday’s at Coleman Field.
Gollert was in control through six innings, striking out six Army batters in his 19-batter streak. The Black Knights’ biggest threat to break up the no-hitter in those first six frames was shortstop Kevin Debrule’s fly ball ticketed for the gap in left-center field. Yet Govs center fielder Garrett Spain tracked the ball down at the warning track to extend Gollert’s perfect-game bid.
Austin Peay (0-4) supplied the game’s first run in the fourth. Catcher Jack Alexander singled through the infield with two outs to start the rally. Right fielder Skyler Luna followed with a double deep into the left-field corner, allowing Alexander to score from first for a 1-0 lead.
Army (1-3) broke through three innings later when center fielder Carter Macias broke up the perfect game with a single up the middle. After a stolen base, left fielder Jeremiah Adams singled into center field, and Macias scored to level the game.
Gollert would start the seventh inning and got a flyout to start before surrendering a double into the right-field corner, ending his day. Relievers Matt Magraan and Sebastian Martinez shut the door to maintain the tied game.
The Black Knights would not be denied in the ninth inning. Macias walked to start the inning, and Army moved him to second with a sacrifice bunt. The Govs issued an intentional walk, and designated hitter Cameron Cerruto reached on an infield single to load the bases. First baseman Sam Ruta supplied the winning sac fly to center field.
Gollert went a career-long 7.1 innings and struck out six batters, walking none. Martinez (0-1) allowed one run on two walks, and two sacrifice plays in one inning of work.
Army starter Anthony Loricco struck out nine Govs hitters over six innings and allowed just one run on four hits. Reliever Harry Flannery (1-0) picked up the win after tossing a scoreless top of the ninth.
Alexander led the Govs with the game’s only multi-hit outing, going 2-for-4 with a run scored. Designated hitter Harrison Brown and second baseman John Bolton notched their first collegiate base hits.
Macias was 1-for-3 with a walk and scored twice to pace Army.
EASTERN ILLINOIS 12- 17, LITTLE ROCK 6-1
LITTLE ROCK, Ark. - Eastern Illinois baseball (4-2) defeated the Arkansas Little Rock Trojans (1-4), 12-6 in game one, and 17-1 in game two. Ky Hampton and Trevor Nicholson walk away with wins today; Cameron Doherty records his first save this season. On the offensive end, the team put up a combined 29 runs today. Trey Sweeney finishes with six RBI on the day and a home run. Keith Kerrigan went 4-5 in the first game, including two runs and two RBI. The Panthers will finish the series tomorrow at 11 a.m. against the Trojans.
The Panthers' offense was ready for the preseason Sunbelt Pitcher of the Year, Aaron Funk. The Panthers started a two-out rally with a Sweeney, Pena, and Knernschield walk. Kerrigan stood in the box and ripped the pitch into right field to bring Sweeney and Pena home.
Hampton started a little shaky, giving up a double in the first and advancing the runner home on a wild pitch. He allowed three hits as the Trojans tied the game at the end of the first.
The Panthers were able to get the best of Funk in the second as well. Dane Toppel drew a walk that was followed by a bunt single from DiLuca. Eickhoff advanced the runners on a sacrifice bunt. Grant Emme drew a walk to load the bases for Trey Sweeney. Sweeney delivered a two-RBI single and advanced to second. Pena followed with a sac-fly that scored Emme and advanced Sweeney to third. The catcher, Knernschield, singled to left field to bring Sweeney home.
Hampton tightened his grip and persevered through his first inning. He allowed one hit, which was ended with a double play. The Panthers led 6-2 heading into the third.
In the next inning, the Panthers were able to manage another run. Toppel drew a walk, and DiLuca poked one into right-field, bringing the top of the order back up to bat. Eickhoff bunted into a single and loaded the bases for Emme, who hit one deep enough to send Toppel home to score.
Hampton again allowed no runs in the inning and allowed only one hit. The Panthers led 7-2.
The Panthers stayed hot as they scored another three runs in the fourth inning. Knernshield was the first to reach base, followed by another hit from Kerrigan. Doyle hit a single to load the bases for Toppel. Toppel reached on a fielder's choice as Knernschield touched home plate. DiLuca singled to allow Kerrigan to score and kept the line moving back to the top of the order. Toppel scored on a wild pitch to score another.
The Trojans had their most productive inning in the bottom of the fourth. The Panthers let up five hits and four runs to put their lead at 10-6.
The Panthers put in Doherty in the sixth inning. The freshman went on to pitch four scoreless innings and record a save.
Eastern Illinois struck again in the eighth inning. Kerrigan smacked a double into left-center. Doyle stepped into the box and delivered a deep shot to add two runs to the board. Eastern Illinois led Arkansas Little Rock, 12-6, which ended as the final score in game one.
Neither of the two teams could get much going at the start of the first game. Nicholson was keeping Trojans off the bases, and the Trojans kept the Panthers from scoring.
In the third inning, DiLuca and Eickhoff both managed to get on base. Sweeney stepped up to bat and clobbered the ball over the right-field wall to break the scoreless streak for the game thus far.
The Panthers followed up their third inning with one of the best offensive displays in EIU's history. The Panthers continued to keep the line moving until the batting order went through almost two full times to give EIU 13 runs on six hits.
Nicholson allowed a homer to the first batter he faced but quickly responded by getting through the jam. He continued to keep the ball away from the Trojan's bat's until Jalen Cardinal entered in relief in the sixth inning. Cardinal faced only one batter but got him to fly out.
In the seventh, the Panthers had put some of their bench bats in the game to get some experience. Sean Lynch Jr. started it off by getting on base by a beanball. Sweeney walked to bring up Ben Snapp. Snapp fouled out far enough to bring Lynch Jr. around to score to put the lead at 17-1.
Jesse Wainscott entered to finish out the seventh inning for the Panthers. Wainscott got all three out in seven pitches. The game was called due to the mercy rule.
#2 ARKANSAS 7, SOUTHEAST MISSOURI 3
FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. - #2 Arkansas (5-0) hit four home runs to key a 7-3 win over Southeast Missouri (2-3) Friday at Baum-Walker Stadium.
Left-hander Noah Niznik started strong on the mound retiring the first eight hitters he faced.
SEMO gave Niznik a 2-0 lead in the top of the third when Peyton Leeper walked and Tyler Wilber and Andrew Keck each singled. Keck's hit to center scored Leeper. Lincoln Andrews then grounded out and Wilber scored.
Arkansas quickly tied the game during its at-bat in the third inning when Robert Moore drove a two-run home run over the left field wall. Dylan Leach, who singled, scored on Moore's
round-tripper knotting things up at 2-2.
The Razorbacks took their first lead two outs in the bottom of the sixth.
Moore led off the inning with a bunt single and Cayden Wallace homered after Christian Franklin grounded out and Cullen Smith struck out. Brady Slavens tripled and touched home on an ensuing home run by Charlie Welch to extend the Razorbacks lead to 6-2.
The Razorbacks added one more tally courtesy of a leadoff solo home run by Franklin in the bottom of the eighth.
Connor Noland (1-0) earned his first win of the season. Noland struck out five, did not allow a walk and gave up just one run on two hits in 4.2 innings.
Niznik (0-1) took his first loss of the season. He finished with six strikeouts, no walks and gave up six runs on six hits in 5.2 innings.
Arkansas outhit SEMO, 8-5.
Wilber went 2-for-4 with a run scored and one RBI to pace the Redhawks. Leeper followed with one hit and two runs scored, while Keck and Ty Stauss contributed a hit apiece.
Moore went 2-for-4 with two runs, a home run and two RBI at the top of Arkansas' lineup.
BELMONT 5-10, NORTHERN KENTUCKY 4-11
NASHVILLE - The Belmont University baseball team split Friday's doubleheader with Northern Kentucky at Rose Park, winning the first game 5-4 and dropping the second game 11-10.
Junior Stone Selby picked up his second career win in game one and junior Kyle Brennan recorded his 16th career save. Sophomore John Behrends and freshman Mason Landers led the Bruins offensively in game two, each going three-for-four at the plate.
In game one, after three shutout innings, Northern Kentucky struck first by scoring four runs in the top of the fourth inning. Belmont chipped away at the deficit, starting with a solo home run from Carson Shacklett in the bottom of the fourth inning.
Following two one-out singles, junior Logan Jarvis collected an RBI double to cut the NKU lead 4-2. A single to right field from junior Jackson Campbell allowed Belmont to cut the deficit to one run, with freshman Drew Lowry delivering the tying and go-ahead runs with his first career triple.
Brennan forced a groundout, strikeout and a fly out in the top of the seventh inning to seal the save and the win. The Franklin, Tenn. native is now two wins away from moving into a tie with Will Tucker (2001-04) for fourth on the program's all-time career save list. Belmont won its first seven-inning game since a 14-4 victory over Murray State on April 30, 2017.
With both teams scoring one run each after one inning, the Bruins opened the gap with a seven-run third-inning lead. The scoring spree marked the second time in the last three years where the Bruins have scored at least seven runs in an inning, with that last outing coming on March 2, 2019 against Bowling Green.
A Tommy Crider triple and a single from Jarvis drove in two runs to push Belmont out to a 3-1 lead, with Campbell hitting his first home run of the season and 19th career bomb to double the advantage. With Crider's triple, the 2021 team is the first team in the last 10 years of the program to record a triple in each of its first three games of the season.
Following an RBI single from Jack Capobianco, Behrends collected a double down the right field line to bring in two more runs. Shacklett scored two innings later off the double steal attempt to make it a 9-1 game after five innings.
NKU used a six-run top of the sixth inning to cut the deficit to two runs, but Landers hit his first collegiate home run to add an insurance run for Belmont. The Norse, however, answered with four runs in the top of the seventh inning to complete the comeback.
JACKSONVILLE STATE 5, VALPARAISO 4
JACKSONVILLE, Ala. - Jaylyn Williams delivered the game-winning single to lift Jacksonville State past Valparaiso, 5-4, in walk-off fashion on Friday afternoon in the opening game of a weekend series on Rudy Abbott Field at Jim Case Stadium.
Williams, a graduate transfer from Jackson State, drilled a 3-2 pitch to centerfield for the game winner. The Greenville, Mississippi native drove in junior Javier Ramirez, who led off the final frame with a walk. JSU moved him to second base on a sacrifice bunt by junior Cole Frederick. Valpo intentionally walked senior Tre Kirklin. With two outs, Ramirez and Kirklin stole second and third before Williams base hit. It was Williams' second RBI on the day as he recorded a sacrifice fly to put JSU;s first run on the board in the first and tie the game 1-1 after Valpo struck for a run in the first inning.
Walk off wins have become familiar for JSU as it turned in 10 last at bat wins during the season.
Valpo rallied in the top of the inning after trailing 4-2 going into the last opportunity. Valpo strung together three hits in the inning and pushed a pair of two-out runs across the dish to even the game. Redshirt Redshirt sophomore Trey Fortner closed out the inning with a pop up on the infield with the bases loaded. Fortner picked up the win to move to 1-1 on the season.
The Gamecocks took their first lead of the contest in the third after back-to-back RBI by Kirklin and Alex Webb. Kirklin registered an RBI triple, followed by Webb's ground out RBI. With his second career triple, Kirklin extended his hitting streak to 13 games dating back to the final eight games of the 2020 season. Webb joined Williams with two RBI as the senior extended JSU's one-run lead to a two-run contest with a sacrifice fly in the seventh.
Frederick, junior Isaac Alexander and Nash Adams all carded hits in the win.
Junior Christian Edwards made his second consecutive Friday start and was effective for 4.2 innings. The Hartselle, Alabama righthander scattered four hits, two runs and fanned four Valpo hitters. Freshman Camden Lovrich was the first man out of the bullpen and pitched 2.1 innings before junior Jackson Tavel tossed a clean eighth inning. Senior Corley Woods ran into trouble in the ninth the two runs before Fortner closed out the inning.
WICHITA STATE 10, SIUE 4
WICHITA, Kan. - Wichita State scored eight unanswered runs Friday to come from behind to win 10-4 in game one of a three-game weekend series.
SIUE dropped to 0-3 with the loss. Wichita State improved to 1-2.
The Shockers got on the board with a walk and a two-run homer by third baseman Paxton Wallace in the third inning to lead 2-0.
The Cougars made their push in the fifth inning against WSU starter Liam Eddy. The Cougars used a leadoff walk and four hits to score four times and take a 4-2 lead.
Ole Arntson, Steven Pattan, Brett Johnson and Josh Ohl each picked up RBIs in the inning.
Wichita tied the game with two runs in the bottom of the inning and went back on top with two in the sixth to lead 6-4. Wallace drove in both runs in the sixth with a two-run single.
The Shockers scored four times in the seventh inning, with Wallace homering for the second time in the game, this time a three-run shot.
Wallace finished with three hits, including the two homers and seven RBIs.
David Llorens (0-1) and Alec Kubik each surrendered four runs in relief for the Cougars. Tyler Bastunas started for SIUE and gave up two runs, on the home run, over 2.1 innings.
SIUE scattered five hits among five different players.