TUESDAY'S SCORES
@Middle Tennessee 8,
Southeast Missouri 3
@Lipscomb 6,
Southern Indiana 4
@SIUE 6, Illinois State 5 (10)
@#20 Alabama 7,
Tennessee Tech 4
@Little Rock 8, Arkansas-Pine Bluff 3
UT Martin 5, @Murray State 2
MIDDLE TENNESSEE 8, SOUTHEAST MISSOURI 3
MURFREESBORO, Tenn. - Ty Stauss and Josh Cameron each hit a home run as Southeast Missouri (1-3) fell to Middle Tennessee (2-2), 8-3, Tuesday afternoon at Reese Smith Jr. Field.
SEMO met former Ohio Valley Conference member MTSU for the first time in 20 years during its first midweek matchup of the season.
MTSU built an early 4-0 lead after scoring one run in the second and three in the third.
Jeremiah Boyd led off the second with a single and went to second on a fielder's choice. After Gabe Jennings was hit by a pitch, Luke Vinson knocked in JT Mabry on a single for the game's first run.
A solo home run by DJ Wright got the Blue Raiders going in the bottom of the third. MTSU used a pair of doubles, took advantage of two SEMO errors and had a sacrifice fly to tack on two more runs, both unearned, to push its lead to 4-0.
Two more home runs helped widen MTSU's lead to 8-1 in the late innings.
Wright hit a two-run shot in the seventh and Boyd hit a solo home run in the bottom of the eighth. Vinson touched home on a wild pitch in the eighth inning as well.
The Redhawks three runs came via the long ball in the eighth and ninth innings.
Stauss homered off the batter's eye in center field for his sixth career round-tripper in the eighth and Cameron hit a two-run home run with one out in the ninth for the first homer of his SEMO career.
Freshmen right-handers Bryant Beranek and Justin Lee teamed up to allow just three runs on five hits.
Beranek (1-0) was credited with the win working five scoreless one-hit innings with two strikeouts and no walks allowed.
Lee claimed his first save after scattering four hits and allowing three runs in four frames.
Bryce Grossius (0-1) took the loss in his first start of the season. Grossius gave up one run on three hits in 1.1 innings.
MTSU outhit SEMO, 10-5, and had three of its starters get multiple hits. Boyd went 4-for-4 with two runs, a double, home run and one RBI.
Cameron finished at 2-for-4 with a home run, double, one run scored and two RBI to pave the way for SEMO.
LIPSCOMB 6, SOUTHERN INDIANA 4
NASHVILLE - – University of Southern Indiana Baseball tried to rally in the ninth, but fell short Lipscomb University, 6-4, Tuesday afternoon in Nashville, Tennessee. The Screaming Eagles watch their record go to 3-2, while Lipscomb goes to 3-1.
USI spotted Lipscomb a 2-0 with tallies in the first and third before exploding for a trio of runs in the top of the sixth to take a 3-2 lead. USI junior designated hitter Jack Ellis (Jeffersonville, Indiana) singled in the first Eagle run, while senior leftfielder Evan Kahre (Evansville, Indiana) drove in the tying and lead runs with a double to center.
The 3-2 lead lasted until the bottom of the seventh when the Bison tied the game and jumped back in front, 6-3, with a four-run frame.
After the Eagles were blanked in the eighth, USI tried to rally in the ninth. Freshman second baseman Caleb Niehaus (Newburgh, Indiana) opened the final frame with a single, advancing to second on an error and third on a ground out before scoring on a wild pitch with two outs to cut the deficit to 6-4.
Sophomore shortstop Ricardo Van Grieken (Venezuela) extended the final frame by being hit by a pitch but was left on base when senior catcher Lucas McNew (Floyds Knobs, Indiana) struck out the end the game.
On the mound, USI used eight hurlers in the game with junior right-hander Shea Hendrixson (Centerville, Ohio) getting the loss. Hendrixon allowed two runs on two hits and struck out two in an inning of work.
SIUE 6, ILLINOIS STATE 5 (10)
EDWARDSVILLE, Ill. - SIUE baseball opened its home season with a 10th-inning walk-off win Tuesday, defeating Illinois State 6-5 at Simmons Baseball Complex.
A ground ball up the middle from Ole Arntson snuck under Illinois State shortstop Luke Cheng allowing Brennan Orf to score the winning from second base.
The Cougars (3-1) took an early lead with a two-run first inning against ISU starter Thomas Harper. Orf and Josh Ohl led off the inning with back-to-back doubles. Ohl doubled in Orf and then scored on single by Arntson.
Harper gave up just the two runs on five hits in four innings.
The Redbirds (2-2) managed a single run in four innings against SIUE starter Garrett Helsel before scoring three times in the sixth against reliever Alex Scherer to lead 4-2.
Nick Terrell's two-run single highlighted a three-run seventh to put the Cougars back on top 5-4.
Illinois State's Daniel Pacella led off the ninth inning with a home run to tie the game.
Helsel, making his first collegiate start, tossed four innings, allowing a run on a single hit. He walked one.
DeLong allowed just the run on two hits over 3 1/3 innings of work. He walked two and struck out two. Ponder (1-0) worked a 1 2/3 innings of scoreless relief for his first win in a Cougar uniform.
SIUE outhit Illinois State 10-6. The top five in the Cougar order accounted for eight of the hits. Orf, Ohl, Arntson each had two hits apiece.
#20 ALABAMA 7, TENNESSEE TECH 4
TUSCALOOSA, Ala. - The bats got the Tennessee Tech baseball team off to an early lead Tuesday afternoon, but the offense couldn't keep pace with No. 20 nationally-ranked Alabama at Sewell-Thomas Stadium as the Golden Eagles fell to the Crimson Tide, 7-4.
Shortstop Troy Baunsgard kicked off the contest with some fireworks, wasting no time in putting the purple and gold on top. The junior uncorked a monster swing on the fourth pitch of the ball game, blasting a solo home run to left field for a 1-0 Tech lead and his second long ball of the year.
Alabama responded by loading the bases without an out in the bottom half, but the Tech defense limited the damage. A double play ball allowed one run to score for the price of two outs and ground out on the following batter averted any other danger in the inning.
The Crimson Tide jumped on top for good in the third, plating a pair with a lead-off dinger, a triple, and RBI single to open the frame. Another double play by the Golden Eagle defense ended the inning.
Tech went back to work with the sticks in the fourth, with senior John Dyer cutting the deficit in half. Trailing 3-1, the slugger smashed a solo jack to left field on a 2-1 offering, his first round-tripper of the season and 25th of his career.
Once again, the Alabama offense responded back, scoring twice in the fifth with a two-run homer and once more in the sixth with an unearned run.
The purple and gold put together one more comeback bid in the seventh, with right-fielder Theo Bryant IV blistering an RBI single to right-center field to make it a 6-3 contest. Following a walk to third baseman Peyton Mills, catcher Hayden Gilliland loaded the bags with a base knock to left field.
Dyer took his turn in the box and fought off an 0-2 count with a sac fly to right field, driving in his second run of the game. The Crimson Tide collected one more home run to lead off the bottom of the seventh before the scoring came to a close for both sides.
Bryant paced Tech with a pair of hits in four at-bats while Dyer led the squad with a pair of RBI. On the mound, freshman Josh Beasley provided an inning of scoreless relief while sophomore Parker MacCauley and rookie Jaxson Pease combined to toss up a zero in the eighth frame.
LITTLE ROCK 8, ARKANSAS-PINE BLUFF 3
LITTLE ROCK, Ark. - The Little Rock offense was active early in the game yet again on Tuesday afternoon, scoring eight runs in the first four innings to coast to an 8-3 win over the visiting Arkansas-Pine Bluff.
The first inning was smooth for the Trojans starting pitcher, Noah Burkey. After a single to begin the game, he coaxed two fly ball outs from the Golden Lions before Jake Wright threw out a would be base stealer to get Little Rock up to bat.
After a 1-2-3 bottom of the first including three groundouts on six pitches Burkey was back to work in the second. The sophomore righty allowed another single, this time with one out, but UAPB was unable to muster another baserunner and the inning ended with yet another zero in the run column.
In the bottom of the second inning Skyler Trevino took the 1-1 offering and split the outfielders in right-center for a one out double. He would then steal third before being brought home by a ground ball to the right side off of the bat of Wright. With two outs, Ty Rhoades sent a triple to the wall for the first of his Trojan career but was left stranded as a strikeout ended the inning.
The Golden Lions got off to a good start in the third with a double from Ben VanMaanen who then advanced to third on a groundout. Fortunately, Burkey was able to strikeout UAPB centerfielder Micah Brown before getting a ground ball to end the threat.
Little Rock came to the plate in the bottom of the third looking to capitalize on the momentum. After a one out triple by Alex Seguine, Ben Harmon stepped up to the plate and was hit by the 1-0 pitch. Harmon then stole second and Nico Baumbach worked a walk to load the bases. Noah Brewer also reached on a base on balls, driving in a run on the bases loaded free pass. Skyler Trevino was next to bat and turned around the first pitch he saw for a grand slam that sailed over the left-center field wall and secured the Trojan lead for good.
UAPB showed signs of life in the fourth, hitting two singles and a double to bring in a run before a two out homer by Aidan Martinez to cut the Little Rock lead in half at 6-3. Burkey would go on to get the final out of the inning with a three pitch strikeout.
The Golden Lions would go to the bullpen for the bottom of the fourth and the new pitcher started out poorly, hitting sophomore Aidan Garrett on the second pitch thrown. Garrett would get it done with his legs, advancing to third on a stolen base and wild pitch before being brough home on a sac fly in foul territory by Seguine. With two outs in the inning, Baumbach crushed a homerun to dead center field, the first of his Little Rock career. This run got back two of the three given up in the previous inning about brought about the final run of the game.
Nelson Smith relieved Burkey in the top of the fifth, pitching a perfect inning which began with two strikeouts and ended with a groundout to first. Trevino walked to begin the bottom half of the inning and stole a base but was stranded at third after reaching with two outs. Smith would collect two more strikeouts in the top of the sixth, working around a double in the process.
Both offenses were retired in order in the bottom of the sixth and top of the seventh and Smith would bring his total number of strikeouts to six with two more in the seventh, he would go on to be credited with the win for the game.
Calvin Hint came on in the eighth for his first appearance of the young season. After a leadoff bunt-for-hit attempt was snuffed out to begin the inning, Hunt would strikeout the next batter on three pitches. He then induced a pop out to second base to end the inning, only throwing six pitches.
Senior Christian Bernabe saw his first action of the season in a pinch hit appearance in the bottom of the eighth, sending a single into right-center field with one out before it was erased by a double play in the next at-bat.
Newcomer Scott McDonough came on to close the game out in the ninth. The Glen Allen, Virginia native struck out the first two batters he faced before getting a fly ball to center to end the game following a walk.
The grand slam by Trevino was the first for the Trojans since the win against Auburn on March 14, 2021. This was Trevino's' third homerun of the season in a performance that saw him go 2-for-3 with four RBI, as well as two stolen bases.
Smith was outstanding in his Little Rock debut, pitching three innings for the Trojans while striking out six in the process. He allowed just one hit during his time in the game and didn't give up a free pass.
Baumbach was one of two Trojans to have a multi-hit game in Tuesday's contest, going 2-for-3 and hitting his first homerun of the season.
Hunt and McDonough combined for two innings pitched and struck out a combined three batters in their six outs. The pitching staff as a whole was in the zone all day for the Trojans, only walking one batter in the game.
Little Rock will be back in action this Friday when Bradley University comes to town for a three game series. Game one is scheduled for a 3 p.m. first pitch.
UT MARTIN 5, MURRAY STATE 2
MURRAY, Ky. - Sophomore right-hander J. Henry Hobson spun six innings of one-run baseball while the University of Tennessee at Martin banged out 13 hits in a superb 5-2 road victory at Murray State.
This afternoon marked the first collegiate victory for Hobson, who was making his season debut and third career start. The Fort Myers, Fla. native allowed a run in the first inning but soon settled in, ending his day by scattering six hits with three strikeouts on 74 pitches.
After 88 career games as a position player, Will Smith made his pitching debut for the Skyhawks (3-2) and needed only 11 pitches to cruise through a scoreless seventh. The Racers scored once in the eighth but Colin Millar stranded a pair of runners to keep UT Martin on top. Campbell Cleveland took over in the ninth and quickly shut the door on Murray State, earning his second save of the early 2023 campaign.
Zac Rice continued his blazing start to the season with three hits (including two doubles), two RBI’s, two stolen bases and a run scored out of the leadoff spot. Jack Culumovic reached base safely four times (two singles, two walks) and drove in a run while the trio of Blaze Bell, Alec Beaman and Caleb Hobson also produced multi-hit performances.
The Skyhawks wasted little time getting on the scoreboard. Rice lined the first pitch of the game for a single to center and soon stole second while advancing to third base on a throwing error by the Racer catcher. Two batters later, Culumovic singled through the right side to put UT Martin on top 1-0.
Murray State scored on a sacrifice fly in the bottom half of the first but the Skyhawks pushed across a pair of runs in the top of the second and never trailed from that point forward. Beaman and Hobson led off the frame with back-to-back singles before Rice ripped a double down the left field line, plating a pair of UT Martin runs.
From parts of the first inning through a portion of the fourth, Hobson retired 10 of 11 Racer hitters. He pitched around back-to-back two-out singles in the fourth to induce an inning-ending groundout and keep the Skyhawk lead at 3-1.
In the top of the fifth, Mac Danford doubled off the base of the wall out in left center to ignite a UT Martin rally. Beaman then fought off a 1-1 pitch for an RBI single to right field to increase the Skyhawk advantage out to 4-1.
After the slick UT Martin defense turned an inning-ending double play in the fifth, UT Martin took advantage of Murray State miscues to pad its lead even more. Andrew Fernandez reached on a two-base error to lead off the inning and moved up 90 feet on a flyball to right field off the bat of Bell. Fernandez then trotted home on a wild pitch to nudge the Skyhawk lead to 5-1.
In Hobson’s final inning of work, he stranded a pair of runners in scoring position by recording his seventh groundball out of the day.
Following Smith’s shutout seventh, Millar appeared for the second time this season in the eighth inning. The frame was extended by an error but that didn’t faze the lefty out of Fairhope, Ala., who fought back to record back-to-back outs with the tying run at the dish.
Cleveland was called upon to pitch the ninth as the 6-3, 210-pound righty was up for the challenge – earning his second save in as many chances in a UT Martin uniform.