SATURDAY'S SCORES
Western Illinois 5-0,
Southern Indiana 2-6 (Millington, Tenn.)
Morehead State 7-3, @Norfolk State 6-2
@Tennessee Tech 11, Bowling Green 9
South Dakota State 3,
@Little Rock 1
Eastern Illinois 4, @Florida A&M 3
@Central Arkansas 3,
Southeast Missouri 0
UT Martin 4-7, @Belmont 2-3
Lindenwood 3, @Nicholls 2
@Incarnate Word 5,
SIUE 1
WESTERN ILLINOIS 5-0, SOUTHERN INDIANA 2-6
MILLINGTON, Tenn. - University of Southern Indiana Baseball battled back in game two to earn a doubleheader split with Western Illinois University Saturday afternoon at USA Stadium in Millington, Tennessee. USI stumbled in game one, 5-2, before shutting out WIU, 6-0, in the nightcap.
The Screaming Eagles watch their record go to 2-1, while Western Illinois goes to 1-2.
USI had a pair of one-run leads early but lost for the first time in 2023, 5-2, to open the doubleheader. USI took a 1-0 lead in the top of the second on a solo blast by junior first baseman Tucker Ebest (Austin, Texas), his first of the season.
After WIU tied the game in the bottom of the second with a home run of its own, the Eagles regained the lead, 2-1, in the top of the third when junior catcher Parker Stroh (Grand Forks, North Dakota) singled in senior second baseman Lucas McNew (Floyds Knobs, Indiana). The lead was short lived as the Leathernecks posted two in the bottom of the third to take lead, 3-2, and finished the scoring with two more in the fifth for the 5-2 final.
USI junior right-hander Trent Robinson (Louisville, Kentucky) took the loss for the Eagles. Robinson (0-1) allowed three runs on six hits, while striking out two in three innings of work.
In game two, USI sophomore right-hander Tyler Hutson (Villa Hills, Kentucky) was dominating for five innings and senior centerfielder Ren Tachioka (Japan) drove in two runs as the Eagles shutout the Leathernecks, 6-0.
Hutson (1-0) threw five scoreless innings, allowing three hits and three walks, while striking out four for his first victory of the season.
At the plate, USI scored twice in the first and second innings to take a commanding 4-0 lead early in the seven-inning nightcap. The Eagles scored their two first inning runs on a bases loaded walk and a wild pitch before Tachioka made it 4-0 with a two-run double in the second inning.
The Eagles sealed the victory with a run in the fourth off of the first collegiate home run of freshman second baseman Caleb Niehaus' (Newburgh, Indiana) career and in the fifth when junior first baseman Tucker Ebest scored on a wild pitch for the 6-0 final.
MOREHEAD STATE 7-3, NORFOLK STATE 6-2
NORFOLK, Va. - The Morehead State baseball team kicked off the 2023 season a day later than expected but came away with two one-run victories on Saturday over Norfolk State, pushing the Eagles' all-time record against the Spartans to 5-0. Saturday marked the first time Morehead State has won a season opener since 2019, and the first 2-0 start since 2016.
In game one, Chase Vinson's sixth inning grand slam gave the Morehead State baseball team a lead it never surrendered in game one on Saturday, with Riley Bradshaw and John Bakke shutting down Norfolk State in the final four innings in the season opener.
Senior Luke Helton (1-0) started on the mound and picked up the win for Morehead State (1-0). The right-hander went five innings, giving up five runs, three earned, on eight hits, allowing one walk and striking out four. John Bakke also made an impact on the mound for the Eagles, throwing 3.2 innings, giving up one run on one hit, with one walk and seven strikeouts on his way to the save.
Junior Ryley Preece compiled a noteworthy performance at the plate as well, going 2-for-5 with a triple, a walk and two RBI. Junior Roman Kuntz also chipped in for Morehead State with an RBI double.
The Eagles were trailing 2-0 in the second inning when they put their first run of 2023 on the board on a Ryley Preece triple that scored Ryan Grabosch.
The Eagles deficit grew to 5-1 before their offense got back on the scoreboard, taking over the lead in the sixth inning. The Morehead State offense exploded for five runs, highlighted by a grand slam off the bat of Vinson, which brought the Eagles lead to 6-5.
Morehead State kept Norfolk State without a run before expanding their lead to 7-5 the following inning on an RBI single off the bat of Preece. Norfolk State put one run on the scoreboard before the game was over, but Morehead State still held on for the 7-6 win.
In game two, junior Grant Herron had everything working on Saturday, punching out nine Norfolk State hitters over five innings of work to help propel the Morehead State Eagles over the Spartans 3-2.
In addition to his nine strikeouts, Herron (1-0) threw five innings, giving up two runs, both of them earned, on two hits and walking six for Morehead State (2-0). Jarrett Miller also made an impact on the mound for the Eagles, throwing two shutout innings while allowing no hits, with one walk and three strikeouts.
Preseason OVC Player of the Year Jackson Feltner led the way offensively for the Eagles, going 1-for-3 in the ballgame with a first inning two-run homer. Junior Roman Kuntz furnished a standout performance at the dish as well, going 1-for-3 with an RBI double. Kuntz doubled in both games. Freshman Davis Germann also helped out, going 1-for-1 for Morehead State with a triple. Ryley Preece unfortunately saw his 37 game on-base streak end in Game Two after an 0-3 performance.
The Eagles got on the board immediately, scoring three runs in the first inning, highlighted by a two-run homer from Feltner. Norfolk State answered with two runs in the bottom half of the inning, but Grant Herron and Jarrett Miller shut down the Spartan lineup from there on the way to the second victory of the day.
TENNESSEE TECH 11, BOWLING GREEN 9
COOKEVILLE, Tenn. - A big seventh inning propelled the Tennessee Tech baseball team to an 11-9 victory over visiting Bowling Green Saturday afternoon, as the Golden Eagles clinched their season-opening series against the Falcons following Friday's 1-0 win.
It was all Bowling Green out of the gates, as the visitors from Ohio wasted little time in building a 5-0 run in the first inning. The Falcons plated four runs before recording their first out of the day, tallying four hits and a walk to do the early damage.
The purple and gold did provide an immediate response thanks to the bat of second baseman Eddie Garza. The redshirt freshman provided the first fireworks of the 2023 campaign for the Golden Eagles, blasting his first career home run down the right-field line to get a run back.
Rookie Brody Lanham took over on the hill for Tech to start the second inning and turned in a masterful performance. Over the next five innings, the Clarksville native allowed just a pair of base runners and struck out two, giving the Golden Eagles time to get a feel with the sticks.
Following a trio of scoreless frames from both sides, the Golden Eagle offense came to life again in the bottom of the fifth, thanks to a two-out rally started by Hayden Gilliland. The designated hitter drew a seven-pitch walk and would score later in the frame. First baseman John Dyer singled to right field and a throwing error allowed Gilliland to cross home plate safely to cut the deficit to 5-2.
Tech trimmed another run off the Falcon lead in the sixth, this time using patience to load the bases. A trio of walks gave third baseman Peyton Mills the opportunity to send a long fly ball to left-center field for a sacrifice fly.
It was in the seventh inning that the Golden Eagle bats truly went to work, starting with a lead-off walk by Dyer. Two batters later, catcher Will Long made it a one-run game by ripping an RBI double down the left-field line. Left fielder Preston Ford gathered his first hit in the purple and gold to put a pair on the base paths, setting up a big inning to come.
Shortstop Troy Baunsgard got plunked on the second pitch he saw, loading the bases for center fielder Austin Turner. The junior followed suit by also getting hit by a Bowling Green offering. Turner drove in the tying run the hard way, but Tech was just getting started.
Garza hit a ground ball to second base, reaching on a fielder's choice and driving in one run. The attempted throw to second base for a force sailed into the outfield, allowing a second Golden Eagle run to dent the dish and flip the lead in favor of the home squad, 7-5.
Before the inning came to a close, Mills double down on the Tech advantage, peppering a double through the left side to drive in two more for a 9-5 lead. Bowling Green refused to go down without a fight, answering back in the eighth inning with a pair of runs.
Tech responded to the Falcons' right cross with an uppercut in the bottom half of the frame, this time off the bat Baunsgard. After Ford drew a two-out walk, Baunsgard crushed the first pitch he saw to left field, clearing the fence for his first round-tripper as a Golden Eagle. His dinger set the purple and gold back up with a four-run lead.
After a pair of quick outs, Bowling Green did make some noise in the ninth, gathering a single, a walk, and another single for an RBI. A second run score on the second hit as well, this one following a fielding error by the Golden Eagles.
Senior hurler Colt Taylor entered the contest to lock down the win, delivering a fly ball to right field on a 2-2 pitch for the final out of the day. Taylor picked up his first save of the season on just six pitches.
After tossing one and one-third frames out of the bullpen, Jacob Morin claimed the win on the hill for the Golden Eagles. The right-hander struck out three Falcons on the day while allowing a pair of runs and just one hit.
Mills paced the offense with three RBI while Baunsgard added a pair and three runs scored. Eight different Golden Eagles combined for the team's eight hits on the day while Gilliland drew a team-high three walks.
LITTLE ROCK 3, SOUTH DAKOTA STATE 1
LITTLE ROCK, Ark. - Little Rock and South Dakota State engaged in a pitcher's duel Saturday afternoon at Gary Hogan Field, but it was the Jackrabbits that got the key runs when it counted, handing the Trojans a 3-1 loss for the first defeat of the 2023 season for Little Rock.
The loss overshadows a stellar pitching performance by the Little Rock staff. Preston Davis made the start for the Trojans and pitched four solid innings, allowing just three hits and striking out six, but a two-run homerun in the fourth would be enough to credit him with the loss in the game. Little Rock would scatter seven hits, all of which were singles, and were walked six times but could not cash in runs when given opportunities.
Chance Vaught made his 2023 debut in relief of Davis, going 2.2 innings and surrendering one run on two hits while striking out three. Sophomore Lukas Frers then came into the game in his Little Rock debut and threw the final 2.1 innings without allowing a run. The left-handed pitcher kept the Trojans in the game, allowing just two hits and striking out a pair in his appearance.
Little Rock was able to strike first in the bottom of the second when Jake Wright was brought home via a fielder's choice off the bat of Ben Harmon to take the early 1-0 lead. The Trojans would continue to threaten, reaching base in every inning but the eighth, but were unable to push a run across the plate for the remainder of the game.
Perhaps the best chance game in the bottom of the sixth, Noah Brewer began the inning with a single to center field. Ty Rhoades would be the next baserunner, singling through the left side before Harmon was hit by a pitch to load the bases with just one out.
South Dakota State then went to the bullpen and brought on 2022 Summit League First Team relief pitcher Ryan Bourassa to try to end the Trojan threat. Bourassa would strike out the next two Little Rock bats to end the inning and would go on to pitch the final three frames, being credited with the save in the process.
Rhoades and Alex Seguine each collected multiple hits for the Trojans on the afternoon, going a combined 4-for-7 while also reaching base by base on balls once each.
The Trojans and Jackrabbits finished the game even in the hits column with both teams getting seven. The difference is that for South Dakota State, five of the seven hits went for extra bases. This included four doubles as well as a two-run home run in the fourth inning.
EASTERN ILLINOIS 4, FLORIDA A&M 3
TALLAHASSEE, Fla. - Eastern Illinois (2-0, 0-0 OVC) wins their opening weekend series at Florida A&M (0-2, 0-0 SWAC) after taking game two of a three game series by a final score of 4-3. Ryan Ignoffo earns the save on the mound after throwing the final three frames and striking out four Rattlers.
Nicholas Rucker was the only Panther with multiple hits in the ballgame after going two for three with a double and a RBI. The Panthers last won an opening weekend series in 2021 when they took two of three games from Nicholls State.
Eastern Illinois took advantage of early mistakes in the first inning by the Rattlers after Lincoln Riley and Ignoffo were both walked. After Cole Gober grounded out to advance the runners, Riley and Ignoffo would score on a pass ball and a throwing error by the catcher. Eastern Illinois batters would be walked seven times on Saturday afternoon.
Through three innings of work, Conklin had struck out three batters and had not allowed a hit. Florida A&M would only produce two base runners within the first three innings.
Between innings four and six, both teams had produced a total of two hits each. Ben Gallaher earned his first hit of the season in the fourth inning while Rucker would pick up his double in the fifth inning. EIU would leave nine runners stranded in the contest compared to A&M's six.
The seventh inning saw the bats come alive for both teams. Lucas DiLuca and Gober would both single in the top of the inning which allowed Rucker to deliver the RBI single into left field and give EIU the 3-0 advantage.
Florida A&M did not go away as they would claw back into the game with a two-run home run by Janmikell Bastardo which would end Conklin's afternoon. Ignoffo would take over for Conklin in the seventh inning.
Riley would deliver the biggest RBI on the game in the eighth after hitting a single to left center field to score Eickhoff and put EIU up two. Ignoffo would give up a solo home run in the eighth to Jared Weber (third of the series) to bring the Rattlers within one run.
After a scoreless top of the ninth by the Panthers, Ignoffo would shut the door on a walk-off opportunity with three straight strikeouts to give EIU their second victory of the season.
FAMU's Weber had two hits and a RBI in the game while Bastardo collected the other two RBI. The losing pitcher was Grant Harrison (0-1) who threw three innings allowing six walks and two runs.
CENTRAL ARKANSAS 3, SOUTHEAST MISSOURI 0
CONWAY, Ark. - – Lincoln Andrews had two hits as Southeast Missouri (1-1) fell to Central Arkansas (1-1), 3-0, Saturday.
Andrews had two of SEMO's three hits for the day. All three of those hits were singles.
SEMO had a hard time getting anything going against right-hander Jess Barker. Barker threw 5.2 scoreless innings with nine strikeouts to only two walks and allowed three hits.
Tate Busey was credited with the save adding 3.1 scoreless no-hit innings with two Ks.
UCA scored once in each of the third, fourth and fifth innings to get its first win of the season.
Andrews finished at 2-for-4, while Peyton Leeper had SEMO's other hit.
Collin Wilma (0-1) fell to his first loss after giving up two runs on four hits. Wilma struck out three and walked one, as well.
Ethan Osborne and Logan Katen pitched the rest of the way out of the bullpen.
Osborne struck out two and allowed one run on five hits, while Katen, in his first appearance as a Redhawk, tossed four shutout innings with four strikeouts.
SEMO left six runners on base.
Reid Bowman, Noa Argenta and Tan Leonard paced UCA with two hits apiece.
UT MARTIN 4-7, BELMONT 2-3
NASHVILLE - Timely hitting and clutch pitching throughout the day resulted in an impressive doubleheader sweep for the University of Tennessee at Martin baseball squad, who defeated Belmont by scores of 4-2 and 7-3 at ES Rose Park.
Today marked the first time since 2010 that the Skyhawks started their season with a pair of wins in a doubleheader.
As a team, UT Martin's offense banged out 15 hits today – led by a perfect 5-for-5, 3-RBI effort from newcomer Andrew Fernandez in the nightcap. Fernandez's five-hit effort was the first five-hit performance by a Skyhawk since March 27, 2021. Zac Rice was also 3-for-7 with a pair of RBI's at the dish today while Caleb Hobson (two hits, two walks) was an on-base machine. Alec Beaman also went deep in the frontend of the doubleheader for UT Martin, who topped a Bruin squad that won the Ohio Valley Conference regular season championship last spring.
On the hill, Jordan Armstrong drew the start in Game 1 and earned the win after whiffing eight batters over five innings, conceding just two runs on five hits. Tristan Walton started the backend of the doubleheader and also was awarded the victory, allowing only two runs on five hits with four strikeouts over six frames. The bullpen duo of Campbell Cleveland (two innings in Game 1) and Choyce Diffey (three frames in Game 2) was flawless as they each collected saves after combining to concede zero earned runs over five innings of work.
Pitted against reigning OVC Pitcher of the Year Andy Bean, the Skyhawks came out victorious after strong pitching performances of their own.
The Bruins got on the scoreboard first with a run in the first inning but Armstrong quickly settled in, striking out a pair of batters in each of his first three frames.
UT Martin got on the scoreboard in the top of the third as Beaman launched the third pitch he saw for a homer that cleared the left field wall. It was the second career round tripper for the Franklin, Tenn. native as he delivered the Skyhawks' first hit of the 2023 campaign.
Following Beaman's home run, Rice singled and Will Smith followed with a walk to put a pair of UT Martin runners on the basepaths. The speedy Rice stole third base and scampered home on an error by the catcher, giving the Skyhawks a lead they would not concede the rest of the way. Mac Danford later singled in the inning to put men on the corners before Smith came in to score on a wild pitch to push UT Martin's lead out to 3-1.
Belmont got one run back in the third but Armstrong was electric over his final two frames – not allowing a ball out of the infield during that span. The righty from McDonough, Ga. retired the side in order on just eight pitches in the fourth and received an inning-ending 6-4-3 double play to wrap up the fifth, also needing only eight pitches in that frame.
Meanwhile, the Skyhawk bats tacked on another run in the top of the fifth to make the score 4-2. Rice led off the inning with a single to centerfield and came home two batters later on an RBI off the bat of Smith.
Cleveland then made his UT Martin debut and easily converted a six-out save. The 6-3, 210-pounder posted a strikeout and induced a pair of flyouts in the sixth before closing out the seventh with a groundout and pair of flyouts.
Walton was in cruise control for a majority of his start, allowing the Skyhawks to take both ends of the doubleheader. The Lawson State Community College product sat down the first six Bruins he faced on 20 combined pitches.
UT Martin grabbed a 1-0 lead in the top of the third as Hobson drew a one-out walk and flew home on a Fernandez double to centerfield.
Belmont came back to even the score at 1-1 in the bottom of the third but the Skyhawks sent nine batters to the plate in a four-run fourth. Jackson Cooke was hit by a pitch to lead off the inning before a two-out rally ensued. Hobson smoked the first pitch he saw for a double to right center before Rice came through with a two-run single. Fernandez then singled before back-to-back RBI singles from Danford and Blaze Bell extended UT Martin's lead out to 5-1.
That run support was more than enough for Walton, who whiffed a pair of batters in the bottom of the fourth and sat the Bruins down in order in the fifth.
The Skyhawks tacked on a run in the sixth when Fernandez sprinted around the bases for an inside-the-park home run, providing UT Martin with a 6-1 advantage.
Belmont scored once in the sixth before Diffey took over on the mound during the following inning. The Sallis, Miss. native held the Bruins off the scoreboard in the seventh, recording a strikeout for his first out in a Skyhawk uniform.
UT Martin added an insurance run in the eighth. Hobson fought off an 0-2 pitch for a single up the middle and soon moved up 90 feet on a stolen base. Fernandez continued his historic day with his fifth base-knock – a single through the right side to plate Hobson and make the score 7-2.
Belmont was able to push across an unearned run in the eighth but that was as close as it would get the rest of the way. Diffey did a masterful job of pitching out of a potential jam in the ninth, overpowering the Bruins with three strikeouts – including the No. 2 and No. 3 hitters in the Belmont lineup with the bases loaded to end the game.
LINDENWOOD 3, NICHOLLS 2
THIBODAUX, La. - The Lindenwood baseball team (1-1) rallied from down 2-1 in the eighth inning to win in breathtaking fashion, scoring two runs in the ninth to earn a 3-2 victory over Nicholls State (1-1) on Saturday.
Freshman Easton Rakers (1-0) picked up the victory out of the bullpen for Lindenwood. The right-hander went 1.2 shutout innings while giving up one hit, allowing one walk and striking out one. Sophomore Eli Brown also made an impact on the mound for the Lions, starting the ballgame and throwing 5.2 innings, giving up one run on one hit, with one walk and four strikeouts.
Junior Brett Bowers led the way offensively for the Lions, going 2-for-2 in the ballgame. Junior Tyson Ludwig put together a noteworthy performance at the plate as well, going 1-for-1 with an RBI. Senior Joe Copeland also chipped in, going 1-for-4 for Lindenwood with an RBI.
Trailing 1-0, the Lions first put runs on the board in the seventh inning. Lindenwood got an RBI single from Copeland, scoring sophomore Marcus Heusohn from second base.
The Colonels broke the tie and re-took the lead heading into the ninth inning, when the Lions got back on the scoreboard. Lindenwood brought home a pair, with one run driven in by Ludwig's single, which brought the score to 3-2 in favor of the Lions. The score remained 3-2 for the rest of the game, as Lindenwood held on for the win.
INCARNATE WORD 5, SIUE 1
SAN ANTONIO - SIUE baseball dropped game two of its season-opening series at Incarnate Word, falling 5-1 Saturday afternoon.
The Cougars and Cardinals are each 1-1 and will play the rubber game Sunday at 12 p.m.
UIW starter Isaiah Zavala (1-0) struck out 11 Cougars in 5.1 innings. The Cougars' only run came when Brady Bunten walked with the bases loaded in the sixth inning.
Otto Stacey and Steve Hayward combined to throw 3.2 scoreless innings.
SIUE starter Hayden Cooper allowed five runs on seven hits in his SIUE debut. Alec Carr hit a solo home run in the fourth before the Cardinals scored four times in the fifth inning. Cooper did not walk a batter and he struck out four.
Tyler DeLong made his first appearance for the Cougars finishing the fifth and working 3.2 scoreless innings in relief. He struck out two, did not walk a batter and gave up just a single hit.
Ole Arntson finished 2-4 with a pair of singles. He had the Cougars' only two hits. Carr was 1-3 with two RBIs for Incarnate Word. Wilson Ehrhardt had two hits for the Cardinals.