SATURDAY'S SCORES
Morehead State 5, @Samford 2
@Texas A&M-Corpus Christi 13-7,
Lindenwood 3-6
@Dayton 8-7,
Eastern Illinois 7-6
Milwaukee 3-5,
@Southeast Missouri 1-6
@SIUE 11-7, Western Illinois 10-3
Tennessee Tech 8, @Queens 6
Valparaiso 7-9,
@Little Rock 6-3
Kent State 6-12,
@UT Martin 0-3
@Washington State 12,
Southern Indiana 5
MOREHEAD STATE 5, SAMFORD 2
BIRMINGHAM, Ala. -After three straight losses, the Morehead State baseball team found its stride on Saturday, picking up a series-salvaging win over Samford. Every starter for Morehead State reached base in the win.
Joe Rotkis (3-0) picked up the victory out of the bullpen for Morehead State (9-3). The right-hander went four innings, giving up one run on seven hits, allowing no walks and striking out four. Freshman Luke Lyman also made an impact on the mound for the Eagles, throwing two shutout innings while allowing two hits, with no walks and three strikeouts. Jarrett Miller picked up the save, his third of the season.
At the plate, the Eagles were paced by junior Jackson Feltner, who went 1-for-5 on the day with a double and three RBI. Nick Gooden put together a standout effort as well, going 2-for-3 with a walk, and Kyle Bartman also helped out for Morehead State putting together one hit in three trips to the plate while adding a double and a walk.
The Eagles were trailing 1-0 in the third inning when they first put runs on the board. Morehead State managed to push across two runs in the inning, tying the game on a groundout from Jackson Feltner and taking the lead when Nick Gooden crossed the plate on a Samford error.
The Bulldogs then tied the ballgame at two before the Eagles came back to reclaim their advantage in the fourth inning. Morehead State scored three runs in the frame, with Chase Vinson scoring on a wild pitch before a two-run double from Feltner gave MSU a 5-2 lead. The score remained 5-2 for the rest of the game, as Morehead State pitching kept the Samford offense at bay on the way to the Eagles' ninth victory of the season.
TEXAS A&M-CORPUS CHRISTI 13-7, LINDENWOOD 3-6
CORPUS CHRISTI, Texas - The Lindenwood baseball team (2-9) dropped both games on Saturday, falling to the Texas A&M-CC Islanders (6-5) 13-3 and 7-6, respectively.
Sophomores Marcus Heusohn and Ambrose Russo each went 1-for-1 with a home run and an RBI, while sophomore Eli Brown (0-2) started and took the loss on the mound for Lindenwood. Junior Bradley Chesterton also contributed, going 1-for-3 for Lindenwood (MO) with a double and an RBI.
The Lions were trailing 3-0 in the third inning when they first put runs on the board. Lindenwood scored twice in the inning, including one on a solo shot from Heusohn.
The Islanders expanded their lead to 13-2 before the Lions offense got back to work, cutting into that lead in the seventh. Lindenwood picked up a run on Russo's leadoff home run off of freshman Villegas, which tightened the Islanders lead to 13-3. The ballgame ended with that seventh inning rally falling short.
In game two, freshman Carson Subbert (0-1) came out of the bullpen for Lindenwood and took the loss. Freshman Michael Walsh was a bright spot for the Lions, starting the ballgame and throwing four innings, giving up two runs, all earned, on six hits, with no walks and six strikeouts.
Junior Logan Stevens led the way offensively for the Lions, going 1-for-2 in the ballgame with a double, a walk and two RBI. Senior Joe Copeland put together a standout performance at the plate as well, going 2-for-4 with a walk and an RBI. Sophomore Ambrose Russo also chipped in, going 1-for-3 for Lindenwood with two walks and an RBI.
Trailing 2-0, the Lions first put runs on the board in the second inning. Junior Bradley Chesterton came across to score the lone run of the inning for Lindenwood and get them on the board. The Lions kept the Islanders off the board before tying it up in the fifth. Lindenwood scored once on an RBI single off the bat of junior Brett Bowers, which brought the score level at 2-2.
Texas A&M-CC broke that tie and took a 3-2 lead heading into the sixth, when Lindenwood tied the game at three. The Islanders broke up the tie and took the lead heading into the eighth inning, when Lindenwood got back on the board. evening the score at 6-6. Texas A&M-CC then scored one time over the remaining two innings to break the tie and grab the 7-6 win.
DAYTON 8-7, EASTERN ILLINOIS 7-6
DAYTON, Ohio - In a pair of close games, Dayton was able to score late in both contests and take a pair of one run games over Eastern Illinois. Dayton won 8-7 in the opener in seven innings and then won 7-6 in the second game.
In game one, Dayton scored three runs in the bottom of the seventh inning to take game one of Saturday’s twinbill with Eastern Illinois, 8-7.
EIU jumped out to a 5-1 lead in the top of the third as the Panthers put a four-spot on the board in the top of the inning. Cole Gober began the scoring with an RBI single to left scoring Chris Worcester. Cade Zalewski then cleared the bases with a three-run homer to right.
Dayton began to chip away at the EIU lead with an RBI double by Eddie Yamin IV in the third and two more runs in the fourth. Ben Jones had a sacrifice fly and Marcos Pujols added an RBI single.
Ryan Ignoffo added to the Panthers lead in the top of the sixth with an RBI through the right side. Ignoffo and Gober led EIU with two hits each.
Carlos Castillo homered to left center in the sixth to bring the Flyers within two runs. He would tie the game with a two-run single up the middle in the seventh. Zachary Scott then reached on an error allowing the game winning run to score for Dayton.
Eli Majick (1-1) picked up the win in relief for Dayton. Ignoffo (0-1) had the loss on the mound for EIU.
In the second game of a four-game weekend series, Dayton edged Eastern Illinois 7-6 scoring two runs in the bottom of the seventh in a back-and-forth game.
Cade Zalewski hit his second home run of the day with a two run shot in the top of the seventh which put EIU up 6-5 at the time. Zalewski was 2-for-4 in the game.
In the bottom of the frame Dayton regained the lead with a two-run home run by Eddie Yamin IV, his second homer of the game. Yamin also homered in the Flyers three run third as they connected for three home runs in the inning. Marcos Pujols and Michael Adair had solo home runs in the inning. Matt Maloney had a solo home run in the fourth for Dayton.
The Panthers took an early 2-0 lead in the second scoring a pair of unearned runs. EIU would get another big run scoring hit in the fourth with a two-run single by Lincoln Riley which put the Panthers ahead 4-3.
Nicholas Rucker led EIU going 3-for-4 at the plate. Chris Worcester also added two hits.
Five different Flyers had two hits. Yamin IV drove in three runs for Dayton.
Matthew Johnson (1-0) picked up the win in relief. Johnathon Hanscom (0-1) suffered the loss in relief.
MILWAUKEE 3-5, SOUTHEAST MISSOURI 1-6
CAPE GIRARDEAU, Mo. - Southeast Missouri (3-8) split Saturday's double header with Milwaukee (6-3) coming from behind in game two to steal the game by a final of 6-5. The Redhawks pounded out 12 hits in the second game of the day, and used late-inning heroics to secure the third victory of the season.
With 2 outs in the sixth inning, center fielder (game 2) Josh Cameron delivered a two-RBI single up the middle to score Peyton Leeper and Brett Graber to cut the Milwaukee lead to just 4-3 over halfway through game two.
The Panthers would add to their one-run lead with an RBI sacrifice fly by Jack Thelen in the top of the eighth to make the score 5-3 with six outs remaining.
Cameron again in the eighth inning got on base, this time via a fielder's choice (4-6) driving in Jevon Mason from third to make it 5-4.
A Lincoln Andrews single to right field drove in the second run of the bottom half (Cameron scored) to tie the game at five.
Catcher Ty Stauss put the ball in play with Andrews on second with a dribbler up the third-base line. A throwing error on Milwaukee third baseman Aaron Chapman would bring Andrews around to score.
The score was 6-5 heading into the final inning as junior Logan Katen registered his first save of the season to secure the victory for SEMO.
Designated Hitter Carlos Aranda hit a solo home run to right field as the Redhawks fell in game one of Saturday's double header by a final score of 3-1.
LHP Noah Niznik (0-2) got the nod pitching 6.1 innings allowing just two earned runs over 27 batters. Niznik recorded three strikeouts in the contest.
Milwaukee's Riley Frey (2-1) held the Redhawks offense in-check over seven complete innings of work. Frey allowed just one earned run on five hits.
Milwaukee recorded a single run in the first, sixth, and eighth inning to hand SEMO its eighth loss of the season.
Jevon Mason and Peyton Leeper led the Redhawks offense with two hits apiece, including a triple from Leeper in the bottom of the fifth inning, but a groundout and strikeout ended the threat.
In the sixth inning, the Redhawks threatened again. Mason led off the inning with a single and then went first to third via a Chance Resetich sacrifice bunt. Later in the inning, Mason would be cut down at the plate.
That would prove to be the final threat of the game for the Redhawks as Milwaukee's Nate DeYoung would record the save to win the contest, 3-1.
SIUE 11-7, WESTERN ILLINOIS 10-3
EDWARDSVILLE, Ill. - SIUE baseball swept a doubleheader from Western Illinois Saturday winning 11-10 in 11 innings and 7-3 at Simmons Baseball Complex.
The Cougars have won three in a row improved to 7-2 overall. Western Illinois dipped to 1-9.
The Cougars took a 2-0 lead into the ninth inning in game one, but needed extra innings after the Leathernecks plated six runs in the top of the ninth to take a 6-2 lead.
The Cougars answered with four in the bottom of the inning to force extras. Both teams scored twice in the 10th and the game went to the 11th tied at 8. Western scored two more in the top of the 11th before the Cougars scored three times in the bottom half to end it. Chase Bloomer was walked with the bases loaded for the winning score.
Brady Bunten drove in four in the game, including the game-tying runs in the 10th with a single.
Jacob Kampf (2-0) pitched the top of the inning, allowing two runs and striking out one, to earn the win.
Jake Bockenstedt started the game and threw six scoreless innings. He allowed one hit, walked three and struck out a season-high nine hitters. Bockenstedt retired the last 11 hitters he faced in the game.
The Cougars struck for four runs in the first inning in game two and never trailed. Bunten got the scoring started with an RBI double. Braedyn Brewer drove home two more on a double off the top of the left field fence. Brewer added an RBI-hit as part of a three-run Cougar seventh inning and finished 2-4 with the three RBIs.
Hayden Cooper (1-2) started and worked six scoreless innings for his first win. He allowed three hits and struck out four.
TENNESSEE TECH 8, QUEENS 6
CHARLOTTE, N.C. - A huge seventh inning lifted the Tennessee Tech baseball team to a series-evening victory over Queens University of Charlotte Saturday afternoon, as the Golden Eagles rallied from a four-run deficit to down the Royals, 8-6, at Tuckaseegee Fields in Charlotte.
It was a slow start for the visiting bats, as Queens held the Golden Eagles without a hit through the opening four innings to build a 4-0 lead one day after earning a 13-12, walk-off win on the same field. Unfortunately for the home squad, Tech knew there were still five innings in the ball game and made the most of two of them.
In the top of the fifth, third baseman Peyton Mills rocked a 1-0 pitch to right field, smashing a one-out home run to break up the no-no attempt by Queens. His second dinger of the year kickstarted the Golden Eagle comeback, with one more run to come in the frame.
After a base hit by designated hitter Preston Ford, Tech turned in a two-out rally, gathering a nine-pitch walk by catcher Will Long and an infield single by left fielder Austin Turner to load the bases. Center fielder Jackson Green delivered the clutch at-bat, ripping an RBI single through the left side to make it a two-run game.
With right-handed reliever Andrew Guardino holding the Royals off the scoreboard in the fifth and sixth, the purple and gold went to work again in the top of the seventh. The junior finished the day with two innings, two runs allowed, two punch outs, and his first victory as a Golden Eagle.
The Tech bats sang again in the seventh, this time churning out six runs to move out front. First baseman John Dyer opened the session with a one-out single up the middle and Long followed with another walk. Turner legged out his second infield single of the day to load the bases once again.
Green continued his delivery service, earning an RBI by drawing a walk on four pitches. Shortstop Troy Baunsgard made it back-to-back, run-scoring free passes to tie the game at 4-4. Following a pitching change by the Royals, right fielder Theo Bryant IV turned in the big swing, peppering a two-run double down the left-field line for a 6-4 Tech lead.
Not to be outdone, second baseman Eddie Garza smoked a single to right field for another RBI and Tech run. Mills made it an even half-dozen in the frame with an RBI ground out to third base.
Queens plated a pair in the seventh after Guardino exited the contest following a pair of hits allowed to start the frame. Freshman Brody Lanham took over and limited the damage to the two runs on a hit and sac fly.
The rookie shut things down from that point on, gathering three outs with one walk allowed in the eighth. In the ninth, Lanham pitched around a pair of baserunners, one via a wild pitch on a strikeout to open the frame and one on a walk. The right-hander gathered three grounds outs in the frame to lock down his first career save with three innings pitched, no runs allowed, and just one hit surrendered.
Bryant finished with a pair of hits and two RBI while Mills and Green each tallied multiple RBI as well. Seven different Golden Eagles combined for the team's nine hits in the contest.
VALPARAISO 7-9, LITTLE ROCK 6-3
LITTLE ROCK, Ark. - It was a rough day to open the series against Valparaiso as Little Rock dropped a pair of games Saturday at Gary Hogan Field. The Trojans led or were tied through much of both games, but eventually fell 7-6 in game one and 9-3 in game two, falling to 4-4 in the young season.
Both teams got on the board early in the first inning of game one. Valpo was able to score a run in the top of the first with a two-out single, but the run was unearned due to a fielding miscue earlier in the inning which allowed the runner to advance a base. The Trojans struck back in the bottom of the first when Nico Baumbach took the first pitch he saw and sent it over the center field fence for a homerun.
Little Rock starting pitcher Jackson Wells then found his groove and kept the game at a stalemate until the bottom of the third when the Trojans would add another run to the board and take the lead. This time it was Luke Pectol to leave the yard as he led off the bottom of the third with his first homerun of the season as well as his first hit in a Little Rock uniform. Baumbach would double later in the inning but was stranded at second.
After a three-up three-down inning by Wells it was Jake Wright who took his turn to hit a solo shot for Little Rock, this time with two outs in the bottom of the fourth, crushing the baseball over the left-center field wall to extend the Trojan lead to 3-1.
Wells would continue his performance into the top of the sixth where, after a one-out double, he was relieved by Austin Stubber. Stubber would go on to get a strikeout and a flyout in the inning to keep the Beacons off the board and maintain the lead.
In the bottom of the sixth Baumbach would leave the yard yet again, this time as the leadoff batter for his second homerun of the game and Trojans' fourth solo homer of the matchup.
Valparaiso brought a run home in the top of the seventh on a two-out single to right field, but Little Rock would take that and double it in the bottom of frame after a triple off top of the center field wall from Tyler Williams scored Pectol and Wright.
The Beacons refused to go away however, after a leadoff walk Brady Renfroe worked his way to third before scoring on a groundout to short. The Trojans would then go down in order in the bottom of the eighth and in the top of the ninth Valparaiso had loaded the bases with no outs trailing 6-3. The Beacons would go on to score four runs in the inning and Little Rock was unable to mount a comeback in the ninth, falling 7-6.
Wells was impressive yet again in his start, finishing with 5.1 innings pitched and giving up no earned runs allowing just six hits and striking out three.
Baumbach didn't have an at bat that ended in an out the entire game, going 3-for-3 with two homeruns and a double and walked once.
Wright hit his first homerun of the season in his 2-for-4 performance and was the only other Trojan with multiple hits in the game.
Valparaiso again got out to a fast start in the second game, after a walk and double off of Little Rock starter Preston Davis, a sacrifice fly was enough to give the Beacons an early lead in the first inning.
The Trojans would draw even in the bottom of the second when Ty Rhoades scored Noah Brewer on a two-out single up the middle. The tie didn't last for long as leadoff double eventually led to a second run for Valpo in the top of the third.
The score stayed at 2-1 in the Beacons favor until the top of the fifth when a leadoff walk combined with a one-out double led to two runners in scoring position. A fielder's choice would bring the third run of the game home for Valpo before a groundout to first ended the inning.
A trio of singles created a run for Little Rock in the bottom of the fifth before an unfortunate double play ended the threat before the Trojans could strike for any more damage. After a quiet top of the sixth, Baumbach hit his third homerun of the day to lead off the bottom of the inning, again over the center field wall and this time in a 1-1 count to even up the game at three all.
But again, the tie did not last for long as the Beacons were able to push five runs across in the top of the seventh before adding another in the eighth to bring the score to its eventual final of 9-3 in favor of Valparaiso.
Rhoades was the only Trojan to collect multiple hits in the second game of the doubleheader, going 2-for-4 while driving in and also scoring a run.
Baumbach extended his homerun streak to five games dating back to February 21 against Arkansas-Pine Bluff. The sophomore from Euless, Texas had a very impressive day, slugging three homeruns across two games to bring his season total to six.
KENT STATE 6-12, UT MARTIN 0-3
MARTIN, Tenn. - The University of Tennessee at Martin baseball team continued its long homestand today, hosting Kent State for the first two contests of a three-game nonconference series. The Skyhawks were defeated by scores of 6-0 and 12-3 in the third doubleheader already of the 2023 campaign.
Hunter McLean, Blaze Bell and Zac Rice each had two hits apiece today while McLean and Rice both drove in a run. The trio of Nate Self, Caleb Hobson and Jackson Cooke all scored once today for UT Martin, who is now 3-8.
On the hill, Zach Wager and Choyce Diffey did not allow an earned run in relief appearances for the Skyhawks today. UT Martin’s starting pitchers of Jordan Armstrong (Game 1) and Tristan Walton (Game 2) combined to strikeout nine batters over 10.1 innings as six different Skyhawks saw action on the mound today.
UT Martin closes out the series tomorrow with a 1 p.m. matchup at Skyhawk Field.
Game 1
The Skyhawks put together a rally after chasing Golden Flashes starter Ben Cruikshank in the bottom of the seventh but the Kent State bullpen held on for the win.
The Golden Flashes scored twice in the top of the first but Armstrong (1-1) shut down the Kent State offense for the next three innings, retiring 10 straight batters. He needed only nine pitches to breeze through the second frame before recording strikeouts in each of the next two frames.
The Skyhawks brought the tying run to the plate in the fourth as the speedy Hobson reached on a one-out error. However, the Golden Flashes got out of the inning with their 2-0 lead intact.
Kent State managed two runs with two outs in the top of the fifth to go ahead by a 4-0 margin. In the bottom half of the inning, Culumovic singled with one away while Mac Danford reached on a fielder’s choice and moved into scoring position on a passed ball. Unfortunately, the Golden Flashes once again escaped a potential UT Martin threat.
J. Henry Hobson was summoned from the bullpen for the final two innings and started his appearance with a scoreless sixth.
Kent State scored two runs in the seventh but the Skyhawks kept battling. Andrew Fernandez (walk), Will Smith (single) and Culumovic (walk) all reached base off Cruikshank, forcing the Golden Flashes to go to their bullpen with the bases loaded and one out. However, Kent State was able to induce a game-ending double play.
Game 2
Things were tight through five innings but UT Martin could not overcome an early deficit.
Walton (1-2) threw up a zero on the scoreboard in the top of the first. Bell roped a double in the bottom half of the inning but the contest was scoreless through one frame.
The Golden Flashes managed five runs (four earned) in the top of the second but the Skyhawks got one run back in the bottom half. Self singled with two away and advanced to second base on a throwing error. McLean drove a 2-2 pitch for an RBI single to center to get UT Martin on the scoreboard. Rice singled through the left side to put a pair of runners aboard but Kent State got out of the jam with a 5-1 lead.
Walton cruised through the third, pitching through a scoreless frame in just 12 pitches. Bell posted his second hit of the night with a single in the third inning but the Skyhawks could not bring him around to score.
In the top of the fourth, Walton recorded two quick outs before throwing another zero on the scoreboard – ending the inning with a pickoff.
Another two-out rally was in store for UT Martin in the fourth. Cooke walked and McLean was hit by a pitch to put two men aboard the basepaths for Rice, who produced a single up the middle for an RBI that plated Cooke. With a pair of baserunners in scoring position, the Golden Flashes kept the score at 5-2 through four innings.
Walton was once again untouchable in the fifth, dialing up a pair of strikeouts and a popup to shortstop to retire the side in order.
Kent State then managed four runs (three unearned) in the top of the sixth. In the bottom half, Culumovic (walk) and McLean (single) safely reached base but the Skyhawk offense could not manufacture a run.
After an unearned run crossed the plate in the top of the seventh, UT Martin got back on the scoreboard in the bottom half. Hobson and Fernandez both drew walks to start off the inning and Hobson eventually came around to score.
The Golden Flashes scored twice in the eighth before Baylor Jones did not allow a hit in a shutout top of the ninth. However, the Skyhawks could not chip away any further.
WASHINGTON STATE 12, SOUTHERN INDIANA 5
PULLMAN, Wash. - University of Southern Indiana Baseball was overpowered by Washington State University, 12-5, Saturday afternoon in Pullman, Washington. The Eagles watch their record go to 5-5, while WSU goes to 9-1.
USI had the momentum early, building a 3-0 lead after two-and-half innings. USI junior third baseman Nolan Cook (Evansville, Indiana), who had a team-best three hits in the game, gave the Eagles a 2-0 lead in the second inning with a two-run blast over the left field wall. The home run was the first home run of Cook's career at USI.
The Eagles increased the lead to 3-0 in the third when senior centerfielder Evan Kahre (Evansville, Indiana) stole home on a double steal with junior first baseman Tucker Ebest (Austin, Texas). Kahre had moved into scoring position by singling to open the frame, advanced to third on a sacrifice, and to third on an error.
The momentum swung to WSU in the bottom of the third with the Cougars scoring four time to take a 4-3 lead. The Cougars would increase the margin to 7-3 with a tally in the fifth and two in the sixth before the Eagles could get back on the scoreboard.
The Eagles narrowed the gap to 7-4 in the seventh when senior catcher Lucas McNew (Floyds Knobs, Indiana) singled in sophomore shortstop Ricardo Van Grieken (Venezuela). Van Grieken had doubled with one out to get in scoring position.
After WSU posted four more in the seventh and one in the eighth for a 12-4 advantage, USI closed the margin to 12-5 in the ninth. Ebest singled up the middle to score Kahre with the final run of the game as WSU closed out the 12-5 final.
USI junior right-hander Caleb Meeks (Evansville, Indiana) started and took the loss for the Eagles. Meeks (1-1) allowed four runs on two hits and five walks, while striking out one in 2.2 innings of work.