SATURDAY'S SCORES
@Morehead State 15-5, Eastern Michigan 14-4
@SIUE 13, Western Michigan 11
@Tennessee Tech 7, Purdue Fort Wayne 1
@Alabama 6,
Murray State 1
@Southeast Missouri 11-12, Bradley 8-5
Kent State 8-16,
@Austin Peay 4-9
Dayton 6,
@Belmont 5
@North Alabama 7,
UT Martin 3
Eastern Illinois 13, @Grambling State 11
MOREHEAD STATE 15-5, EASTERN MICHIGAN 14-4
MOREHEAD, Ky. - Morehead State swept a doubleheader from Eastern Michigan on Saturday.
In a game that featured nine home runs, the Morehead State baseball team stormed back from a five-run deficit with eight runs in their final three at-bats as the Eagles upended Eastern Michigan 15-14 in game one of a doubleheader Saturday at Allen Field.
Trailing 13-8 heading into the seventh inning, Roman Kuntz started the fireworks with a three-run blast to center field. After Alex Jacobs singled, Nick Gooden followed with an RBI double to center field to bring MSU with within one.
Headed to the eighth, pinch hitter and newcomer Max Power knotted the game with a leadoff solo shot to center field. After EMU retired two batters, Jackson Feltner singled, Jacobs was plunked and Gooden drew a walk. Brody Shoupe stepped in a delivered the go-ahead punch with a two-out, two-run single to left field.
John Bakke came on for the final three outs, allowing the ninth homer of the game, but coaxing a fly out and ground out to seal it.
Both team' offenses were in high gear early, scoring in every half inning until the bottom of the fifth for MSU and the top of the seventh for the EMU Eagles. MSU scored three times in the bottom of the fourth on a bases-loaded walk and two bases-loaded hit by pitches.
Jarrett Miller struck out two EMU batters in the eighth to be credited with the win and improve to 1-0. It was Bakke's second save.
Of the home team's 16 hits, five Eagles recorded multi-hit games. Feltner, Gooden and Chase Vinson all had three hits each. MSU also drew 10 walks.
Contrary to the first game of Saturday's doubleheader, Morehead State Baseball (5-7) scored only five runs, but pulled out a victory over Eastern Michigan (2-7) by a score of 5-4 to take the series 2-1. Both teams scored 10 less runs than they did in the first game of the doubleheader, but the result was the same, a one-run game that Morehead State rallied in and won.
Morehead State took an early lead in this one thanks to a Jackson Feltner double that scored Ryley Preece in the bottom of the first, but Eastern Michigan pushed two across in the top of the second on a home run from Christian Bault and an RBI double from Aaron Dolney. Morehead State starter Alex Kafka then settled in and didn't allow a run until the top of the fifth inning.
In the bottom of the fourth, Morehead State took a 3-2 lead thanks to two RBI singles from Chase Vinson and Brody Shoupe. Shoupe finished his day 2-for4 with an RBI after his two-run single in game one gave the Eagles the win.
After Eastern Michigan took a 4-3 lead in the fifth and held the Eagles scoreless in the sixth, Chase Vinson came to the plate and hit a solo shot to right center-field that tied the contest at 4, before Nick Gooden, whose seven-game hit streak came to an end in game one of the series, did the exact same thing with his first homer of the season to give Morehead State a lead they never lost. That was the second time MSU batters have gone deep back to back this season, as Roman Kuntz and Jackson Feltner did so in a 17-5 victory at Kennesaw State opening weekend.
Morehead State's relief pitcher Jarrett Miller again showed his reliability out of the bullpen, throwing two scoreless innings and facing the minimum before closer John Bakke came on to slam the door on Eastern Michigan in the eighth and ninth. Bakke struggled a bit in the ninth as the opposing Eagles loaded the bases, but he struck out Brady Huebbe on three pitches to register his second save of the day and third of the season.
SIUE 13, WESTERN MICHIGAN 11
EDWARDSVILLE, Ill. - SIUE and Western Michigan combined for 24 runs, 29 hits and seven home runs and the Cougars came out on top with a 13-11 win over the Broncos on a blustery day at Simmons Baseball Complex.
SIUE has won the first three games of the series and straight games and overall to improve to 5-4. Western Michigan dropped to 1-8.
After a scoreless first, Western Michigan took a 3-0 lead in the second thanks to a three-run home run from Dylan Nevar. Richie Well's second home run of the series on the first pitch he saw scored Ole Arntson and pulled SIUE within a run at 3-2.
The Cougars tied the game on a Connor Kiffer RBI-triple in the third and then took the lead when Brady Bunten reached on an error and Kiffer scored with two outs. Arntson reached on a hit and Avery Owusu-Asiedu was hit by a pitch when Well came back to the plate. He blasted another first pitch out for a grand slam to put the Cougars in front 8-3. Well was 3-4 with the pair of home runs and six driven in.
Western Michigan got a two-run homer from Brendan Harrity in the top of the fourth to make it 8-5. Kiffer drove home a run in the fourth and Arnston crushed his second home run of the year in the fifth and SIUE led 10-5.
The Broncos scored four runs in the fifth to pull within a run. Nevar hit his second three-run home run of the day to make it 10-9 SIUE. The Broncos went ahead 11-10 with a pair of runs in the sixth. Brett Johnson followed a triple from Josh Ohl in the bottom of the inning to tie the game at 11-11.
Ohl hit a solo home run in the eighth and Arntson added his fourth hit to drive later in the inning in a run for the 13-11
Arntson finished 4-5 with three runs scored to go along with the two RBIs. Ohl and Kiffer each finished with three hits for SIUE.
Brant Glidewell started and worked five innings before leaving. Taylor Bruninga (1-0) relieved for the Cougars and allowed a pair of runs in the sixth before throwing two scoreless innings to secure his first win for SIUE. He struck out five. Quinn Waterhouse worked a scoreless ninth inning, striking out one for the save.
Hayden Berg (0-2) worked three innings and took the loss for Western Michigan. He gave up three runs.
TENNESSEE TECH 7, PURDUE FORT WAYNE 1
COOKEVILLE, Tenn. - A pair of strong pitching performances and more impressive work with the bats were plenty for the Tennessee Tech baseball team to secure yet another victory Saturday afternoon, as the Golden Eagles (9-0) defeated Purdue Fort Wayne 7-1 at Quillen Field and Bush Stadium at the Averitt Express Baseball Complex.
The victory secured a perfect 9-0 start to the 2022 campaign for the purple and the gold, the second-best in program history and best since the 1955 team started 14-0.
The offense provided the Golden Eagles with a quick start to the day, with a pair of long balls providing the early sparks. Shortstop Ed Johnson wasted no time, working a full count before smashing a screaming line drive deep over the wall in right-center field. It marked his third of the year.
Two batters later, left fielder Jason Hinchman took his turn uncorking on an offering, hammering a solo blast to left-center field for a 2-0 Tech lead. The dinger represented the senior's fourth of the year and 48th of his career, putting him just two away from passing Chase Chambers on the program's all-time career list and becoming just the fourth Golden Eagle in program history to crush 50.
The two-run lead proved more than enough for starting pitcher Carter Gannaway to work with. The right-hander tossed six complete innings, scattering four hits and a pair of walks while allowing just a single run on a solo home run in the third. Collecting his second win of the year, the Decatur, Ala. native struck out three batters.
The Golden Eagle bats provided Gannaway with some room to breathe in the fourth, with right fielder Ryan Guardino singling to his counterpart to kick off the frame. Two batters later, second baseman Nick Spardone collected a base knock, singling off the outstretched glove of the Mastodon third baseman.
Center fielder Austin Turner delivered the big hit in the inning, peppering a shot down the first-base line that rolled all the way to the right-fielder corner. The speedster legged out the team's first triple of the year and drove in a pair. Johnson made it three in the frame, driving in Turner with a single to left field.
Third baseman Gabe Lacy drove in another for the purple and gold in the sixth, singling through the right side to drive in Johnson. Noah Hattier scored in the seventh for Tech's final run of the game, entering as a pinch-runner and advancing three bases on three wild pitches.
Fifth-year senior reliever Tyler Sylvester finished off the game on the mound for the Golden Eagles, covering each of the final three frames to secure his first save of the year. It marked the eighth of his career, tying him for fifth place in Tech history with Cullen Park. The right-hander fanned three while holding Purdue Fort Wayne to two hits, two walks, and no runs.
Johnson paced the offensive effort for the Cookeville crew, finishing 4-for-5 with two RBI and two runs scored. Hinchman collected three hits in five at-bats with an RBI and run scored. Five more Golden Eagles secured hits on the day as well.
MURRAY STATE 6, ALABAMA 1
TUSCALOOSA, Ala. - Murray State (8-2) baseball fell to SEC foe Alabama 6-1 on Saturday afternoon in Tuscaloosa, Alabama. The Racers were led by sophomore starting pitcher Cade Vernon in a strong outing against the Crimson Tide.
Vernon, a Bowling Green, Kentucky native went four-plus innings on the mound while allowing just three Alabama runs on the day. Vernon is now up to 14.1 innings pitched on the year with a 4.40 ERA and seven strikeouts. Shane Burns relieved Vernon to the line of three innings pitched while allowing one earned run.
Offensively, Jacob Pennington swatted a single and scored the lone Racer run while also drawing a walk. Redshirt junior Seth Gardner drove the lone extra-base hit for MSU on the day with a double down the right-field line in the second inning. Second baseman Jordan Holly singled up the middle for the Racers third and final hit of the day and Brennan McCullough secured the lone Murray State RBI on the day.
Pennington is now hitting .455 on the season while slugging .864 on the year while throwing 10.1 innings and allowing zero runs thus far
Vernon continues to be a strong starting pitching presence for the Racers, leading the team in innings pitched while allowing opponents to hit just .241 this season
SOUTHEAST MISSOURI 11-12, BRADLEY 8-5
CAPE GIRARDEAU, Mo. - Southeast Missouri (9-1) unloaded to hit eight home runs in a 11-8, 12-5, doubleheader sweep of Missouri Valley Conference affiliate Bradley (3-6) Saturday afternoon at Capaha Field.
SEMO slugged three homers in game one and a season-high five in the second contest to blow by the Braves. The Redhawks completed their second-straight series sweep and third series win of 2022. They have posted 11 consecutive series wins dating back to the beginning of April last year.
The Redhawks improved their record to 9-1 and are off to the best start in their NCAA Division I era. Overall, it is SEMO's best start since it began the 1983 campaign at 10-1. Additionally, the Redhawks are on a seven-game winning streak for the first time since their shortened 2020 season and are a perfect 7-0 at home thus far.
Five different players homered for SEMO which scored early and often to chop down the Braves.
The front end of the doubleheader saw a combined five long balls between the teams on a windy Cape Girardeau day.
SEMO rocked freshman right-hander Jacob Kisting for six runs on five hits out of the gate. A walk and four-straight hits quickly put Kisting behind.
Jevon Mason walked, went to third on a double by Peyton Leeper and scored the first run of the game on an ensuing single by Tyler Wilber. Andrew Keck and Lincoln Andrews followed with RBI-singles.
After Brett Graber struck out, Joel Vaske launched a three-run home run to right center giving the Redhawks a 6-0 advantage in the bottom of the first inning. SEMO sent 10 hitters to the plate in its opening at-bat of the contest.
The Redhawks added more to their lead in the second inning. With one out, Keck and Lincoln Andrews singled ahead of Graber who stepped in to smash a three-run home run over the left center wall. Graber's first career round-tripper put SEMO ahead, 9-2.
SEMO continued its early onslaught in the third, this time with Mason clobbering a two-run home run to right. Mason's second homer of the season increased the Redhawks lead to 11-5.
BU homered in the second and third innings and used a pair of RBI-doubles, including one in both the fifth and sixth frames for its eight runs.
Tennessee transfer right-hander Jason Rackers picked up his first career win as a Redhawk. Rackers struck out six, walked three and gave up seven runs on six hits in 4.1 innings.
Kyle Miller struck out two of the three hitters he faced in a one-two-three seventh to earn his first save of the season.
Keck and Andrews teamed up for five hits, four runs scored and two RBI in the heart of SEMO's lineup. Keck went 3-for-4 with two runs and one RBI, and Andrews finished at 2-for-4 with two runs and one RBI. Eight of the Redhawks nine starters got a hit.
SEMO pounded out 12 hits and put up 11 or more in its fourth-straight game. The Redhawks reached double-digit hits in seven of their first 10 contests.
The Redhawks picked up where they left off in the nightcap and struck again in the first inning.
Keck reached on a two-out, two-base error and the flood gates opened. Andrews delivered a single to right and Keck scored. On the next play, Graber smacked his second home run of the day and, just like that, it was 4-0 SEMO.
The Redhawks continued to pick apart BU pitching in the bottom of the second, where they used home runs by Ty Stauss and Wilber to widen their lead to 7-0.
BU started chipping away at SEMO's lead when Connor O'Brien hit a three-run home run in the top of the third.
Two innings later the Braves scored twice more to get within two (7-5) and that was as close as they would get.
Mason and Vaske each blasted their second homers of the twin bill. Mason hit a solo shot in the sixth and Vaske added his in the seventh to grab the Redhawks a 9-5 lead.
SEMO loaded the bases with one out in the bottom of the eighth and Andrews stepped in to double home two runs. Graber then grounded out to plate Keck capping the 12-5 victory.
Reliever Tommy Windt (2-0) threw 3.2 scoreless no-hit innings. Windt struck out four and allowed two walks.
Blake Cisneros closed things out strong by striking out the side in the top of the ninth.
Andrews and Vaske led the Redhawks with two hits each. Andrews scored a run and posted three RBI, while Graber knocked in three runs, as well. Leeper (3), Keck (2) and Wilber (2) accounted for seven of their team's tallies.
SEMO outhit BU again, this time by a count of 9-6.
KENT STATE 8-16, AUSTIN PEAY 4-9
CLARKSVILLE, Tenn. - Outfielder Jeremy Wagner had a five-hit day but Austin Peay State University’s baseball team could not keep pace with visiting Kent State, dropping both ends of Saturday’s doubleheader – 8-4 and 16-9 – on Joe Maynard Field at Raymond C. Hand Park.
In the day’s first game, Kent State (4-5) scored six unanswered runs between the third and fifth innings to build an 8-2 lead they would not relinquish to post the 8-4 win. In the nightcap, the Golden Flashes scored in each of the final eight innings to slowly pull away from Austin Peay en route to the 16-9 victory.
Wagner led the Govs with a 3-for-4, two RBI effort in Game 1, including a 400-foot solo home run to center field in the fifth inning. He went 2-for-4 with two runs scored in Game 2, finishing the day 5-for-8 at the plate. Outfielder Harrison Brown paced the offense in Game 2, going 2-for-3 with four RBI, including a two-run double to tie the game in the second inning.
Austin Peay starting pitchers Luke Brown (1-1) and Drew McIllwain (1-1) were unable to make it out of the fourth inning in their respective starts and drew losses. Brown, the Game 1 starter allowed four runs on five hits in three-plus innings of work. McIllwain, Game 2’s starter, allowed seven runs on eight hits and five walks over 3.2 innings.
Kent State center fielder Colin Mathews reached base safely in 10 of his 11 plate appearances. He opened the day with a 3-for-3, two RBI performance which included a pair of walks. Mathews followed that with a 2-for-3, three RBI effort in the nightcap, with two walks and a two-run home run.
Collin Rommel (1-2) was the Golden Flashes winning in the opener, holding APSU to four runs on five hits over 5.1 innings. Reliever Evan Wolf was credited with the win in Game 2 with 1.2 innings of scoreless relief.
DAYTON 6, BELMONT 5
NASHVILLE - Despite a furious ninth inning rally, the Belmont University baseball team lost their first game since Opening Day on Saturday, falling 6-5 to Dayton at E.S. Rose Park.
The loss snaps a ten-game winning streak, the longest for the Bruins since they started the 2010 season 10-0.
Trailing 6-3 entering the ninth inning, the Bruins got a leadoff single from Jackson Campbell and a one-out pinch-hit single from Blake Barton to put two runners on. After a wild pitch allowed Campbell to get to third and Barton to second, Jack Rando grounded out to score Campbell, bringing it to a 6-4 game. Guy Lipscomb then singled up the middle to drive in Barton and cut the deficit to one run, but John Behrends was retired to end the game.
Dayton (6-3) hit two home runs on a windy day at E.S. Rose Park, the first time Belmont (10-2) had given up multiple home runs in a single game this season. Coming into the game, the Bruins had allowed just two home runs in 11 games.
Andy Bean (L, 2-1) took the loss on the mound. Aaron Hubbell pitched well in relief for Belmont, going 3 2/3 innings with two hits and only one run allowed. Dusty Baird pitched the eighth and ninth innings, allowing one run on two hits and two walks. On the day, Belmont pitchers issued ten walks, the most in a game this season.
After Dayton went ahead 1-0 in the first inning, Belmont responded with a single from Carson Shacklett and a double from Jackson Campbell before a wild pitch scored Shacklett from third. Tommy Crider delivered his second RBI hit of the series with a single to right field to give Belmont a 2-1 lead.
The Flyers brought across three runs in the third inning to take a 4-2 lead, but the Bruins made it a one-run game on a single to right field from Logan Jarvis that drove in Lipscomb.
Dayton added insurance runs in the seventh and ninth inning to build up enough cushion to withstand the Belmont ninth inning rally.
NORTH ALABAMA 7, UT MARTIN 3
FLORENCE, Ala. - Four combined hits, three total RBI, and a two-run homer in the top of the 8th from the combination of Ethan Whitley and Alec Beaman weren’t enough for the University of Tennessee at Martin baseball team’s comeback attempts versus North Alabama on the road Saturday afternoon, unable to withstand a 6-0 UNA burst midway through the contest that ultimately led to a 7-3 decision to even up the three-game series at one win apiece.
Less than 24 hours after a solid performance in the opener – a featurette of 12 runs on 11 hits for a nine-run victory – the Skyhawks found a bit more difficulty bringing players around the base pads in part two, taking the loss despite a 9-7 edge in the hitting department. Designated hitter Jack Culumovic and first-time starting catcher Chance Merithew added two more doubles to try and help UTM’s cause to no avail.
Sophomore lefty Lawson Russell gained the starting job for the third straight weekend Game 2, throwing the first three frames before a host of relief from Noah Walters, Tucker Reed, Eli Martin, and Warren Lee. The second-year hurler from Decatur, Ala. Only surrendered a single hit to the Lions on two earned runs and three K’s.
Breaking out for a 3/4 batting effort yesterday as a major component of the Skyhawks’ order, Beaman again showed out at the shortstop spot with two more connections and the game’s first RBI, occurring in the top of the 2nd with a base-hit that drove in second-baseman Hunter McLean.
Never trailing at any point against North Alabama in the first outing of the weekend, UT Martin then found themselves in that unfamiliar position later that same inning, giving up the first two of what ended up being six straight scores that put the game in jeopardy.
Breathing new life into the order with his second home run of the young season in the 8th, Whitley’s shot past the wall swiftly trimmed a four-run hole in half at 6-3 by also scoring pinch-runner Tanner Park with just a single out recorded. UTM has notched 11 long-balls in nine outings thus far on the year.
Unfortunately for the visitors, two of the next three batters went down swinging to retire the order, ending the Skyhawks’ hopes for a late rally with another North Alabama run added shortly thereafter to put a button on the four-run result.
While hitting wasn’t necessarily the problem for UT Martin on Saturday, leaving runners stranded turned out to be an itch more often left unattended, as the Skyhawks stranded 10 players throughout the midway series defeat.
EASTERN ILLINOIS 13, GRAMBLING STATE 11
GRAMBLING, La. - Eastern Illinois (5-3) wins a shoot-out in game two against Grambling State (2-7) by a score of 13-11. Lucas DiLuca hit a grand slam early in the game for the Panthers. Three other Panthers hit a homerun in game two including Ryan Ignoffo, Nathan Aide, and Lincoln Riley. Hayden Birdson picked up his first win of the season after throwing 4.2 innings out of the bullpen. He allowed one earned run, two hits, and had six strikeouts.
After a scoreless first inning for both teams, EIU struck first with a grand slam from DiLuca off of Roy Peguero. DuLuca scores Ja'Lil Akbar, Ben Gallaher, and Traivs Reaves. This marked his first homerun of the season, and first home run at the division one level. Akbar also scored an RBI single to start the inning to put the Panthers up 5-0.
EIU was able to extend their lead in the third inning after an Ignoffo solo homerun, and a Travis Reaves RBI double to score Riley to put the Panthers up 7-0. The Tigers were held scoreless in the bottom half of the inning.
After EIU was held scoreless in the fourth inning, the Tigers put up a nine run inning in the bottom half. The inning was led off by two solo homeruns by Cameron Bufford and John Garica. Daylon Ardoin would then single through second base to score one, and leave the bases loaded. Terry Burrell would then double to score three more for the Tigers. After a pitching change by EIU that brought in Kyle Lang, Jarficur Parker doubled to score one more to make the score 7-7. John Garcia would then bring home to more to increase the Tigers lead to 9-7.
Lincoln Riley scored the lone run in the fifth inning as he had his first homerun of his career in the top of the fifth with a solo shot. The Panthers would leave two on base. EIU would hold the Tigers scoreless in the bottom half of the fifth.
The Panthers would go scoreless in the sixth inning, but the Tigers would add one in the bottom half of the inning after a failed pickoff at third.
Reaves would single to start the inning, and with two outs DiLuca was hit by a pitch. Logan Eickhoff would then single to center field to score Reaves from second. Aide would cap off the inning with a homerun to score three more to bring EIU's lead back to 12-10. Grambling State would add a solo homerun in the bottom half of the inning to bring it within one run.
Both teams were held scoreless in the eighth. EIU would add one more run in the ninth thanks to a Eickhoff single that scored Akbar. Robbins would close out the ninth inning with two strikeouts to give EIU the win, 13-11.
EIU posted 13 runs on 14 hits with two errors. Grambling State had 11 runs on 14 hits and errors.
The Panthers play their final game against Grambling State tomorrow afternoon at 1 p.m. Recap will follow the game.