SUNDAY'S SCORES
Canisius 6,
@Morehead State 2
@Tennessee Tech 11, Eastern Michigan 2
@Austin Peay 7, Bowling Green 6
@Southeast Missouri 10-12, Bellarmine 2-8
@Belmont 2, Youngstown State 0
SIUE 5, @Mercer 3
@Murray State 8-13, Northern Illinois 5-2
Eastern Illinois 13-3, @Tarleton State 3-1
CANISIUS 6, MOREHEAD STATE 2
MOREHEAD, Ky. - Morehead State pitchers struck out 10 Canisius batters for the second in the four-game series, but at the plate the Eagles hitters whiffed 12 times themselves as the Golden Griffins escaped town with a 6-2 win in the series finale Sunday at Allen Field.
Morehead State was only able to plate solo runs in the fifth and seventh innings, but with shortstop Colton Becker at the plate both times, as the Eagles dipped to 3-5 in 2022. Canisius moved to 4-4 as the team split the four games this weekend.
Trailing 4-0 in the fifth, Becker slashed an RBI double into the right field corner to score right-fielder Logan Castleman, who had recorded his first Eagle double as well just prior.
MSU cut the Griffs' lead in half in the seventh as left-fielder Alex Jacob led off with a double and moved to third when infielder Nick Gooden ripped a single to left field. After Gooden stole second, his third swipe of the season, Becker drew a walk. On the free pass pitch, the ball sailed past the catcher and Jacobs raced home for the Eagles' second run.
Canisius tacked on runs in the eighth and ninth and retired MSU in order in both to end the contest.
Starter Matt Betio (1-1) was saddled with the loss, allowing seven hits but just three earned runs in 3.0 innings. Reliever John Sherman had three punchouts over 2.1 innings and Jarrett Miller recorded both his outs via strikeouts.
The Eagles were held to five hits by three Griffin pitchers, including Chris Pouliet (1-0), who whiffed eight batters in 5.0 innings. Jacobs registered his first multi-hit day of the season for MSU.
TENNESSEE TECH 11, EASTERN MICHIGAN 2
COOKEVILLE, Tenn. - Solid pitching and another strong offensive showing propelled the Tennessee Tech baseball team to its second straight weekend sweep and a perfect 6-0 start to the year as the Golden Eagles defeated Eastern Michigan, 11-2, Sunday afternoon at Quillen Field and Bush Stadium at the Averitt Express Baseball Complex.
Completing the series sweep over the Eagles, Tech got off to not only the best start under the direction of head coach Matt Bragga, but also the program's best run out of the gates to start a season since 1970, when the team began the year 7-0 under W.A. Wright.
Both sides traded zeroes on the scoreboard out of the gates, but it was Tech that broke through first, denting home plate in the third with a trio of markers. Center fielder Austin Turner opened the frame with a four-pitch walk and promptly moved to second on a wild pitch.
The speedster showed off his wheels quickly, as shortstop Ed Johnson laced a single to right field. Turner rounded third and made a head-first slide that just beat the tag to give Tech a 1-0 lead.
Later in the frame, first baseman Golston Gillespie ripped a single down the first-base line, plating Johnson and doubling the advantage. For good measure, designated hitter Hayden Gilliland drove in one more, grounding out to second base for an early 3-0 Tech advantage.
Eastern Michigan responded in the top of the fourth, providing its only damage of the contest with a two-run home run with two outs. Neither side got much going in the fifth or sixth, but Tech made the most of its chances in the seventh.
The Golden Eagles opened the bottom of the frame with three straight singles from Turner, Johnson, and third baseman Gabe Lacy, the latter of which drove in in a big insurance run with his base knock down the third-base line. Left fielder Jason Hinchman made it four consecutive base hits for the purple and gold, peppering an RBI single to left field for a 5-2 Tech lead.
Unfinished with the run, Gillsepie turned in the Cookeville crew's sixth base hits in-a-row off the glove of the Eastern Michigan third baseman, plating one more. Right fielder Eric Newsom closed out the inning of scoring with a sacrifice line out to left field.
In the eighth, Tech used its patience and some struggles from the visiting Eagles to do its damage. Luke Jones pinch-hit and drew an immediate free pass to lead off the bottom of the eighth. Turner singled and advanced on a throw to put runners on second and third.
Johnson hit a ground ball to shortstop, but the play was mishandled, allowing the speedy Golden Eagle to reach safely. Pinch-runner Jackson Green broke for home on the miscue, scoring after the throw from the shortstop sailed wide for the second error on the play.
A walk to Lacy loaded the bases, with Turner eventually scoring on a wild pitch that advanced the runners. Hinchman followed with a walk to fill the base paths once again.
Gillespie then worked a full count and drew his own free pass for an RBI, giving Tech double figures in the scoring column for the fifth consecutive game. Gilliland made it an 11-2 ball game after getting plunked in the back with the bases juiced.
On the mound, southpaw Connor Adams turned in a solid start with five strikeouts over three and two-thirds innings on the hill. He allowed just two earned runs and three hits while walking one.
Brock Myers took over on the mound in the fourth, completing the next four and one-third frames to collect his nation-leading third win of the year. The right-hander punched out five batters while scattering three hits and a walk. Frankie Cresta completed the contest, turning in a scoreless ninth with just one hit allowed.
Four Golden Eagles picked up multi-hit efforts, led by Johnson with three. He also tied with Lacy and Turner for the team lead with three runs scored each. Gillespie led the way with three RBI on the power of two hits.
AUSTIN PEAY 7, BOWLING GREEN 6
CLARKSVILLE, Tenn. - Third baseman Michael Robinson drove in two runs, including the game-winner courtesy an eighth-inning walk, as Austin Peay State University’s baseball team held off Bowling Green, 7-6, Sunday on Joe Maynard Field at Raymond C. Hand Park.
With the victory, Austin Peay swept the three-game series from Bowling Green. It was the Govs’ first series sweep since 2019 and its second-straight series victory to open 2022.
Austin Peay (5-2) jumped out to a 5-3 lead in the opening three innings. Robinson singled and scored on shortstop John Bolton’s two-run single in a two-run second. One inning later, Robinson and catcher Jack Alexander hit back-to-back doubles to drive in two more runs for the 5-3 lead.
The Govs would get a key run in the bottom of the fourth. With two outs, Bowling Green issued three walks to load the bases. First baseman John McDonald drove in a run with a hard infield single, extending the lead to 6-3.
Bowling Green (2-4) began its comeback in the eighth against the Govs’ bullpen. Center fielder Jack Krause led off the frame with a solo home run. Right fielder Jared Johnson followed with a walk and scored on designated hitter Kyle Gurney’s bases-loaded walk later in the inning, slashing the Austin Peay lead to one run, 6-5.
But the Bowling Green bullpen returned the favor in the bottom of the eighth, loading the bases with a hit batsman, intentional walk, and a walk. A second-straight walk issued to Robinson pushed in a run to extend the lead back to two runs, 7-5.
Gurney again did damage in the ninth, hitting a one-out solo home run to get the Falcons back within a run. Govs reliever Nick Wellman struck out the next two batters to close the game for his season’s first save.
Austin Peay starter Luke Brown (1-0) outlasted his rough start and went five innings for the win. He allowed three runs on six hits and four walks while striking out five batters.
Robinson paced the APSU offense with his 2-for-4 with two RBI effort, including a double and a walk. Alexander added a 2-for-3 outing with an RBI, double, and two walks. Designated hitter Ty DeLancey and shortstop John Bolton had two hits each.
Bowling Green starter Peyton Wilson (0-1) allowed six runs in 3.2 innings, allowing eight hits and four walks. Krause led the BGSU offense with a 2-for-5, two-RBI performance.
Austin Peay continues a busy stretch of baseball when it hosts Bellarmine in a 3 p.m. Tuesday game at The Hand.
SOUTHEAST MISSOURI 10-12, BELLARMINE 2-8
CAPE GIRARDEAU, Mo. - Recap coming soon.
BELMONT 2, YOUNGSTOWN STATE 0
NASHVILLE - he Belmont University baseball team came out on the right side of a thrilling pitcher's duel on Sunday afternoon at E.S. Rose Park, outlasting Youngstown State, 2-0, to secure both a four-game series sweep and their eighth straight victory.
The winning streak is the longest for the Bruins since they won eight straight to close out the shortened 2020 season.
Belmont (8-1) picked up their fourth shutout of the season, limiting Youngstown State to just five baserunners.
Scoreless through the first 7 ½ innings, the Bruins scratched across the game's only two runs on clutch RBI base hits from Guy Lipscomb and John Behrends.
Lipscomb stepped in with runners on first and third with one out in the bottom of the eighth inning, delivering with a single to center field that scored Austin Ehren.
Behrends then climbed in and provided a base hit to left-center that drove in Jackson Werth, making it 2-0 in favor of the Bruins.
That proved to be all the run support the Bruin pitching staff would need.
Jalen Borders went 6 2/3 shutout innings, scattering four hits and one walk in a no-decision. The sophomore left-hander collected six strikeouts in the victory, and has yet to allow a run in 13 2/3 innings on the mound this season.
Will Jenkins (W, 1-0) replaced Borders with two outs in the seventh inning and struck out three of the four batters he faced, earning his first win of the season.
Senior closer Kyle Brennan (SV, 4) came on to shut the door in the ninth and retired the side in order to send the Bruin dugout over the railing and into celebration mode.
Brennan now has 21 career saves and is currently fourth all-time in Belmont program history, five behind Jon Ivie (26, 2008-11).
The Bruins currently hold a team ERA of 1.12, good for top 10 in the country, and have not committed an error over the past eight games.
At 8-1, Belmont is out to their best start to a season since they began the 2010 campaign 10-0.
SIUE 5, MERCER 3
MACON, Ga. - SIUE baseball handed Mercer its first defeat Sunday, knocking off the Bears 5-3 in the finale of a three-game series.
SIUE improved to 2-4. Mercer dropped to 7-1.
For the second day in a row, SIUE picked up first inning runs. Connor Kiffer hit his first home run of the year. It followed a one-out hit form Brett Johnson and put the Cougars up 2-0. The Cougars added on in the fourth when Ole Arntson hit his first home run of the year, after Brady Bunten had walked, to put SIUE up 4-0.
The Bears pulled within a run with a three-run bottom of the fourth. Collin Price homered in the inning for Mercer.
Josh Ohl hit a solo home run in the fifth for the final tally. Ohl finished the day 2 for 4. He was 8 for 13 in the series with a pair of home runs. Kiffer was 2-4 with the home runs and two RBIs.
Collin Baumgartner (2-0) earned the win in a planned four-inning start. He allowed three runs and struck out five.
Taylor Bruninga tossed five hitless innings striking out three to earn the save.
MURRAY STATE 8-13, NORTHERN ILLINOIS 5-2
MURRAY, Ky. - Murray State baseball (6-0) continued its winning ways on Sunday afternoon by sweeping the doubleheader over Northern Illinois (0-7) at Johnny Reagan Field in Murray, Kentucky. In-game one the Racers would use the momentum of a four-run first inning to secure the victory.
In the first inning of game one, Jacob Pennington's two-run blast to right field highlighted the MSU offense that included a hit from Jake Slunder and walks from Bryson Bloomer and Alex Crump. After the Huskies tied the game in the third inning, a Drew Vogel double allowed Seth Gardner to score the go-ahead run in the bottom of the inning.
Slunder was 3 for 4 in game one with a triple and three runs scored to go along with an RBI.
It was much of the same in game two of the doubleheader as the Racers defeated the Huskies 13-2 in the seven-inning affair. MSU starting pitcher Cade Vernon went five innings while not allowing an earned run. The Bowling Green, Ky. native allowed just three hits while walking none in his outing.
Murray State drew nine walks from the NIU pitching staff in game two, while sophomore Parker Estes drove in three on a bases-clearing triple to right-center field for his first three RBI of the year.
EASTERN ILLINOIS 13-3, TARLETON STATE 3-1
STEPHENVILLE, Texas - Recap coming soon.