SATURDAY'S SCORES
Eastern Illinois 8, @Morehead State 6
Austin Peay 10-0, @UT Martin 6-1
@Eastern Kentucky 9-1, Jacksonville State 5-11
Tennessee Tech 9-2, @Southeast Missouri 1-7
@Belmont 8-8, Murray State 2-5
SIUE 6-2, @Western Michigan 2-10
EASTERN ILLINOIS 8, MOREHEAD STATE 6
MOREHEAD, Ky. - Eastern Illinois (18-16, 8-10 OVC) won 8-6 after a ninth-inning homer by Dalton Doyle put the Panthers up by three runs. Trevor Nicholson entered in relief and didn't allow an inch, holding Morehead State (17-13, 8-4 OVC) hitless in the bottom of the ninth.
The Eagles scored first in the bottom of the second from a solo home run. Morehead State added two more runs in the third to put the Panther deficit 3-0.
The Panther notched a run in the top of the fourth inning, started by a Ryan Ignoffo walk. Dalton Doyle singled to put runners on first and second. Lawson followed with a single that scored Ignoffo and put the Panthers on the board.
The Panthers scored a pair of runs in the fifth inning. Sean Lynch Jr. led off the inning and reached on an error. DiLuca singled, and Trey Sweeney followed with an RBI single to right-center to score one. Knernschield grounded out to third base, but DiLuca crossed home plate to tie the game 3-3.
In the bottom frame of the fifth, the Eagles added another run to take the lead back, but EIU quickly responded. The Panthers added two more runs to take the lead, 5-4.
The Eagles claimed the lead 6-5 heading into the final inning of play, giving the Panthers three outs to take the lead and win the game. Knernschield started the inning with a single, and Ignoffo drew a walk to put Doyle up to back. Doyle smoked a deep shot to left-center field to score the game-winning runs for the Panthers and give the team the 8-6 lead. Trevor Nicholson entered in the bottom of the ninth and kept the Eagles hitless. The Panthers won 8-6.
AUSTIN PEAY 10-0, UT MARTIN 6-1
MARTIN, Tenn. - Austin Peay State University’s baseball team scored the final seven runs to battle back from a three-run deficit and post a 10-6 Ohio Valley Conference victory in the first game of a doubleheader against UT Martin, Saturday, at Skyhawk Baseball Field.
In the nightcap, starter Sebastian Martinez provided his best career outing on the mound but Austin Peay State University’s baseball team could not solve the UT Martin pitching staff, dropping the Ohio Valley Conference series finale, 1-0.
Trailing 6-3 after four innings, Austin Peay (12-20, 9-8 OVC) rallied to tie the game with a three-run fifth inning. Left fielder Knaje Guthrie had a run-scoring single, center fielder Garrett Spain drove in a run on a sac fly and third baseman Gino Avros stole home in a busy fifth frame.
The Governors offense kept going in the sixth with the first three batters reaching safely. Catcher Jack Alexander led off with a double and first baseman John McDonald singled to put men at the corners. Shortstop John Bolton hit a tie-breaking, run-scoring single to center field. Guthrie followed with a sac fly for another run and Avros’ sac bunt supplied the inning’s third run and a 9-6 lead.
The Govs’ midgame outburst helped starter Harley Gollert (3-3) pick up the win after allowing six runs, but only one earned run, on six hits and four walks. Austin Peay’s bullpen then provided four scoreless innings of relief, Drew McIllwain striking out six batters over his six innings and Tucker Weaver closing the game with a scoreless ninth.
Alexander went 3-for-5 with two doubles and a RBI to lead the Govs offense. Right fielder Bobby Head and Guthrie each had two RBI.
UTM reliever Ryan Insco (0-2) allowed four runs (three earned) on five hits and two walks over 2.1 innings and suffered the loss. Starter Nick Wohlbold surrendered five runs (four earned) on six hits over 4.2 innings.
Right fielder Wil Lafollette was 2-for-4 with three RBI, including a three-run home run as part of UT Martin’s (11-19, 4-7 OVC) five-run fourth inning that gave them a 6-3 lead.
Austin Peay and UT Martin conclude their three-game OVC series later Saturday at Skyhawk Baseball Field.
In game two, Martinez (2-3) went 7.1 innings, his longest career outing by four innings, and held UT Martin scoreless through seven innings. He struck out a career-high nine batters out of 26 faced and scattered five hits and a walk. However, he would end up the hard-luck loser after things got away from the Govs bullpen in the eighth.
On the other side of the pitcher’s duel, UT Martin starter Sam Folks also went 7.1 innings, holding the Govs without a run while scattering five hits and two walks. He faced down Austin Peay’s biggest scoring threat in the first inning with two runners on base and no outs, but worked out of the trouble with a pair of fielder’s choice outs.
Austin Peay (12-21, 9-9 OVC) was the first to get into their opponent’s bullpen. Folks hit center fielder Garrett Spain with one out, ending his day. Reliever David Hussey took the mound and quickly got a fly out and a strikeout to keep the shutout alive.
UT Martin (12-19, 0-0 OVC) got into the Governors bullpen in the bottom of the eighth. Martinez saw his day end after he surrendered a one-out single to catcher Blake Davis. The Govs bullpen could not end the frame quickly, surrendering a single and hitting a batter to load the bases. Third baseman Blake Daniels, facing the second Govs reliever of the inning earned a four-pitch, bases-loaded walk to break the tie. The next UTM batter hit into an inning-ending double play but the damage was done.
Hussey (2-0) picked up the win with his 1.2 innings of scoreless relief, striking out three of the five batters he faced. Daniels went 1-for-2 with two walks, including the game-winner, to lead a UTM offense that finished with just six hits.
Five different Govs recorded a base hit in the contest, but they were 1-for-6 with a runner in scoring position in the night cap.
EASTERN KENTUCKY 9-1, JACKSONVILLE STATE 5-11
RICHMOND, Ky. - Eastern Kentucky University’s baseball team won the first game of a doubleheader on Saturday, 9-5, to secure a series victory over Jacksonville State University. The Gamecocks won game two, 11-1 in seven innings.
Eastern took an early lead in game one, but then had to come from behind for the win. The Colonels capped a four-run first inning with a two-run home run off the bat of catcher Chance Bodine.
JSU platted five in the top of the third to go in front 5-4. Tre Kirklin started the big inning with a home run. Alex Carignan hit a three-run shot later in the frame.
The Colonels took the lead for good in the bottom of the fourth. With two outs, Brent Lovell doubled to right center and then tied the game when he scored on a single through the left side by Logan Thomason. Cam Ridley singled up the middle to put runners at the corners. A balk allowed Thomason to score from third and moved Ridley into scoring position. Kendal Ewell singled to right to finish off the three-run inning and give the home squad a 7-5 lead.
Daniel Harris IV finished the first game 3-for-4 with two runs and an RBI. Charlie Ludwick had a 3-for-4 game with two runs and two RBIs. Jacob Abbott provided four and one-third innings of scoreless relief. He allowed just two hits and did not walk any batters.
Kirklin was 2-for-5 with a run and an RBI for Jacksonville State.
EKU (12-22, 7-11 OVC) grabbed the lead first in game two when Ridley scored from first base on a throwing error in the bottom of the first inning. However, JSU scored 11 unanswered.
The Gamecocks (17-17, 8-7 OVC) took the lead for good with two runs in the top of the second. Mason Maners’ single to short drove in a run. Cole Frederick’s ground ball scored Carignan later in the inning.
Alex Webb hit a grand slam as part of a six-run seventh inning that put the game away. Webb had a 3-for-3 game with two runs and five RBIs.
TENNESSEE TECH 9-2, SOUTHEAST MISSOURI 1-7
CAPE GIRARDEAU, Mo. - Southeast Missouri (18-15, 11-7) split a doubleheader with Tennessee Tech (12-16, 6-9) to grab its fifth Ohio Valley Conference series win Saturday. After dropping game one, 9-1, the Redhawks rallied to claim the nightcap, 7-2.
Danny Wright had a career-high four hits and Collin Wilma was strong on the mound in SEMO's game two victory.
Wilma, who improved to 2-0, allowed only one run in 6.2 innings, his longest outing this season. He struck out two, gave up three hits (all singles) and walked two. Wilma retired TTU in order in the first, third and fifth innings.
Ahead, 1-0, after Andrew Keck tripled home Wright with two outs in the first inning, SEMO tacked on three more runs in the bottom of the third.
Tyler Wilber led off the third with a triple to right and scored on a nicely executed bunt by Wright. On the next play, Keck reached on an error and Wright scored. Keck later touched home on a sacrifice fly by Wade Stauss to widen the Redhawks lead to 4-0.
Still not finished, SEMO scored again on a sacrifice fly by Stauss in the seventh inning before getting its final runs in the bottom of the eighth.
Peyton Leeper walked and Brett Graber hit a pinch-hit single to left to start the eighth. After a wild pitch advanced the runners, Leeper scored when Connor Basler flied out to right field. Jevon Mason followed with a single and Graber scored.
SEMO outhit TTU, 11-4. The Redhawks registered 10 or more hits for the 14th time this year.
Wright went 4-for-5 with two runs scored, two RBI and a walk. Wilber followed with a hit and two runs scored, while Keck added two hits, a run scored and two RBI. Stauss had two RBI, as well.
Additionally, Wilber and Keck extended their hitting streaks to 11 and 10 games, respectively.
In game one, TTU used a trio of three-run innings to key its 9-1 victory.
Run-scoring hits by Brett Roberts, Gavin Johns and Gabe Lacy gave the Golden Eagles a 3-0 advantage in the top of the first inning.
Jason Hinchman drove in a pair of runs on a single to right field and Ed Johnson walked with the bases loaded to increase TTU's lead to 6-0 in the third.
An inning later, Johns hit a two-RBI double and Will Long singled home a run to make it 9-0 in favor of the Golden Eagles.
Jevon Mason doubled and ended up scoring SEMO's only run on a sacrifice fly by Keck in the bottom of the ninth inning.
Noah Niznik (3-3) took the loss. Niznik gave up six runs on seven hits, struck out two and walked two in 2.1 innings.
Ty Fisher (3-3) picked up the win after working 8.1 innings. Fisher allowed only one run on six hits, struck out one and walked none.
Mason and Wilber each had two hits at the top of SEMO's lineup, while Keck and Leeper followed with one apiece.
BELMONT 8-8, MURRAY STATE 2-5
NASHVILLE - Belmont University baseball head coach Dave Jarvis is credited for helping the Bruins transition from NAIA to NCAA Division I and guiding the Bruins unprecedented heights.
The 24-year captain of the program's ship achieved another significant milestone on Saturday at Rose Park.
Belmont defeated Murray State 8-2 in game one and 8-5 in game two in Saturday's doubleheader, allowing Jarvis to claim his 664th win to become the winningest coach in program history.
Former athletic director Mike Strickland built a relationship with Jarvis during the Ellsinore, Mo., native's time as an assistant coach at Murray State, with Strickland eventually hiring Jarvis to be the successor for the legendary Dave Whitten at Belmont in 1998. Whitten, who had compiled 663 wins from 1969-1997 as Belmont's head coach, stayed on Jarvis' coaching staff as an assistant coach.
Not only did Whitten help the first-year Belmont head coach and the Bruins to a winning record in their first season of competition in NCAA Division I, he also became a great mentor and friend to Jarvis. Jarvis and Whitten had a close relationship until Whitten's death in 2012, with Jarvis still using his mentor's values as the cornerstones for the baseball program.
Heading into Saturday's doubleheader with a chance to give their head coach the record-breaking win, the Bruins fueled that motivation from batting practice to first pitch. Belmont's bats caught fire to open game one, with the Bruins jumping out to a quick 4-1 lead at the end of two innings.
After Murray State cut the deficit to two runs in the top of the fourth inning, the Bruins pounced on the Racers by responding with three runs in the bottom of the fourth inning to give Belmont a 7-1 advantage.
Behind four consecutive shutout innings by South after the Bruins added to their lead, Belmont held the Racers at bay. An RBI single from freshman Brodey Heaton in the bottom of the eighth inning added an insurance run for Belmont and extended the lead 8-2.
The Bruins retired Murray State's final three batters in game one, officially making Jarvis the winningest coach in program history.
Murray State seeked revenge in game two, attacking with an early 3-0 lead. Behind a three-run home run from sophomore John Behrends and a five-run bottom of the sixth inning, the Bruins quickly regained the advantage.
Despite the Racers picking up a pair of runs in the top of the eighth inning, Belmont retired Murray State's final six batters to claim the 8-5 game two win and secured the series.
SIUE 6-2, WESTERN MICHIGAN 2-10
KALAMAZOO, Mich. - SIUE baseball and Western Michigan split a pair of seven-inning games Saturday at Hyames Field. The Cougars won for the fifth time in six games, taking to opener 6-2. Western Michigan bounced back with a 10-2 win in the second game.
The Cougars moved to 17-14 after the split. Western Michigan is 11-4.
Western Michigan picked up a run on two hits in the first inning against SIUE starter Jake Bockenstedt, who was making his first start since March 13.
SIUE tied the game in the second inning when Ole Arntson led off the inning with a single. He advanced to third on a pair of passed balls and scored on a wild pitch. Brett Johnson and Richie Well each added RBI-singles in the inning to give SIUE a lead for good at 3-1.
WMU cut the lead to 3-2 with a run on a hit and an SIUE error in the fourth inning.
SIUE extended its lead to 4-2 with some small ball in the fifth inning. Brady Bunten walked to open the inning and Ole Arntson singled to move him to second base. Avery Owusu-Asiedu followed with a sacrifice bunt to move both runners. Bunten then scored on a groundout by Steven Pattan.
Raul Elguezabal led off the seventh inning with a triple and scored on a groundout. Pattan added an RBI-hit to drive home Bunten who had walked.
Arntson finished with two of SIUE's nine hits. Pattan was 1-3 with two RBIs and a run scored.
Bockenstedt (2-0) worked three innings on a limited pitch count. He allowed a run on two hits and struck out two to earn his second win of the year. Kaid Karnes allowed an unearned run on three hits and struck out five in three scoreless innings of relief.
Western Michigan right hander Easton Sikorski tossed a complete game, limiting SIUE to two runs on five hits in game two. The Broncos took control of the game with a six-run fourth inning.
The Cougars' only runs came in the fifth inning. Trailing 9-0, Owusu-Asiedu picked up an RBI hit and Arntson scored on a wild pitch after singling earlier in the inning.