SATURDAY'S SCORES
@Southeast Missouri 4, Western Illinois 0
@Murray State 11,
Southern Indiana 4
@Belmont 5-9,
Lindenwood 1-7
UIC 13-6,
SIUE 3-9 (Millington, Tenn.)
@Samford 4-6,
UT Martin 1-4
ETSU 13,
@Tennessee Tech 4
@Northwestern State 5,
Little Rock 0
SOUTHEAST MISSOURI 4, WESTERN ILLINOIS 0
CAPE GIRARDEAU, Mo. - Southeast Missouri (9-12) took game two of the series with Western Illinois (3-15) behind starting pitcher Payton Lawrence's 8.1 innings pitched outing, as the right-hander registered seven strikeouts Saturday afternoon.
Lawrence completed his longest outing of the season giving way to RHP Kyle Miller in the ninth inning. Miller shut the door on the Leathernecks to pick up the second-straight victory for the Redhawks.
Lawrence finished the day allowing just four hits over 30 batters faced.
Offensively, the Redhawks pounded out six hits on a chilly afternoon and utilized small ball to scratch across four runs.
SEMO got going first with a two-run third inning. Brett Graber reached base on an error by WIU first baseman J.R. Heavlin.
Second baseman Ben Palmer laid down a perfect bunt down the first base line to move Graber to second and recorded a bunt single in the process as the Redhawks had runners on first and second with no outs.
WIU starting pitcher Tyler Kapraun (0-3) delivered a wild pitch that moved the runners up 90-feet. Left fielder grounded out to the shortstop to plate Graber for the first run of the game.
The second run of the inning came in unorthodox fashion with two outs in the inning. Josh Cameron reached base following a strikeout, dropped third strike by the WIU catcher. Palmer came across to score and the Redhawks led 2-0 through the first three innings.
Two more runs would come across for the Redhawks in the seventh inning to extend the SEMO lead to 4-0.
Palmer led off the inning with a base knock to right field, and advanced to second via a wild pitch on WIU relief pitcher Aron Harrington.
Mason singled down the first base line to plate Palmer for his second RBI of the day, giving the Redhawks a 3-0 lead.
The Redhawks left fielder finished the day going 1-for-4 with a pair of RBIs and a run scored.
First baseman Gunnar Doyle slapped a single between third base and the shortstop, and on a close play at the plate, Mason scored to give the Redhawks a 4-0 lead.
Nolan Ackerman and Ben Palmer each recorded a pair of hits to pace the Redhawks offense as SEMO improved to 9-12 on the season.
WIU's Tyler Kapraun (0-3) took the loss in Saturday's contest.
MURRAY STATE 11, SOUTHERN INDIANA 4
MURRAY, Ky. - University of Southern Indiana Baseball was grounded in the middle innings by Murray State University and lost 11-4 Saturday afternoon in Murray, Kentucky. USI watched its record go to 7-12, while Murray State goes to 9-10.
The Screaming Eagles had a first inning lead, 1-0, on a RBI-single by freshman shortstop Caleb Niehaus (Newburgh, Indiana). Murray State erased USI's lead in the bottom half of the frame with a four-run rally to get out in front, 4-1.
USI bounced back with a three-spot in the top of the fourth to tie the game, 4-4. The Eagles scored on a sacrifice fly by junior catcher Parker Stroh (Grand Forks, North Dakota) to get the deficit to 4-2; pushed the third run of the day across on an RBI-single by junior rightfielder Steven Molinet (Elberfeld, Indiana) to pull to within one, 4-3; and tied the game, 4-4, when senior centerfielder Evan Kahre (Evansville, Indiana) knocked a run after reaching on a fielder's choice.
The rest of the game would belong to Murray State as the Racers took the lead for good with one in the bottom of the fourth, two in the fifth, and four in the sixth to seal the 11-4 final.
Niehaus finished the game as USI's top hitter with three hits, a run scored, and a RBI. The three hits were half of all of the Eagle hits in the game.
On the mound, sophomore right-hander Gavin Seebold (Brazil, Indiana) took the loss for the Eagles. Seebold (1-2) allowed five runs, four earned, on four hits and three walks, while striking out one in 3.2 innings of work.
The six USI pitchers allowed the 11 runs, 10 earned, on eight hits and 10 walks.
BELMONT 5-9, LINDENWOOD 1-7
NASHVILLE - The Lindenwood baseball team (3-17) lost two games on Saturday to Belmont (10-11) by scores of 5-1 and 9-7, respectively.
In game one, sophomore Dawson Hokuf went 2-for-3 with a home run and an RBI for the Lindenwood Lions in a 5-1 loss. Sophomore Eli Brown (0-4) got the ball to start for Lindenwood and took the loss. Graham Breite was a bright spot for the Lions, coming out of the bullpen and throwing one scoreless inning, allowing one hit, with no walks and one strikeout.
Senior Joe Copeland put together a noteworthy performance at the plate as well, going 2-for-3.
Trailing 5-0, the Lions first put runs on the board in the seventh inning. Hokuf put Lindenwood on the board with a one-out solo home run off sophomore Jordan Zuger. The ballgame ended with that seventh inning rally falling short.
In game two, freshman Aaron Jungers was a bright spot for the Lions, coming out of the bullpen and throwing 3.2 innings, giving up one run on two hits, with three walks and six strikeouts.
Offensively, the Lions were led by senior Sam Kissane, who went 2-for-3 on the day with a double. Junior Logan Stevens furnished a noteworthy performance at the dish as well, going 1-for-2 with two RBI. Junior Brett Bowers also chipped in for Lindenwood, putting together two hits in three trips to the plate while adding a walk.
The Lions were trailing 7-0 in the fifth inning when they first put runs on the board. Lindenwood managed to push across two runs in the inning.
The Lions deficit expanded to 9-2 before their offense got back on the scoreboard, cutting into that deficit in the seventh inning. The Lindenwood offense exploded for five runs, highlighted by a one-run error off the bat of Copeland, which brought the score to 9-7 in favor of the Bruins. The ballgame ended with that seventh inning rally falling short.
UIC 13-6, SIUE 3-9
MILLINGTON, Tenn. - SIUE baseball split a doubleheader with UIC Saturday dropping the opener 13-3 in eight innings before winning the late game 9-6 at the USA Baseball Complex.
The series was scheduled to be played in Edwardsville, but cold temperatures forced the change of venue.
SIUE is now 12-5. UIC is 7-7.
After, playing scoreless baseball over the first five innings, SIUE got to UIC starter Brandon Bak in the fifth and sixth innings.
Chase Bloomer, Nick Terrell and Josh Ohl opened the inning with consecutive singles to load the bases. Brennan Orf reached on a fielder's choice, forcing Bloomer out at home and then Brady Bunten doubled down the left field line, plating all three runners to put SIUE up 3-0.
After UIC picked up a run in the top of the sixth, Chase Bloomer answered with an RBI-single in the bottom of the inning. He was on base along with Josh Ohl when Brennan Orf drilled a three-run home run to left to make it a 7-1 advantage.
SIUE added a pair of runs in the seventh to lead 9-1.
UIC pressured in the top of the ninth, scoring five times on two hits and five walks and forcing SIUE to use three pitchers in the inning. Zeus Ponder finally extinguished the Flames coming on with the bases loaded before picking up the final two outs for his fifth save of the year.
Bunten led SIUE with three hits and three RBIs. Bloomer and Avery Owusu-Asiedu each had two hits. Orf also had three RBIs.
Teague Conrad (3-0) started and worked into the seventh inning. He allowed a run on six hits while striking out three.
Jake Bockenstedt (2-1) ran into trouble early in game one. Bockenstedt surrendered home runs in the first and second innings as SIUE fell behind 6-0. Bockenstedt allowed six runs on six hits over three innings. He struck out four and walked three.
Bunten got the Cougars on the board in the third with a two-run double to make it 6-2. It was 10-2 UIC in the sixth when Orf connected for his first home run of the day to make it 10-3.
Charlie Szykowny had a double, a home run and three RBIs to lead the Flames, who out hit SIUE 11-6 in the opener.
SAMFORD 4-6, UT MARTIN 1-4
BIRMINGHAM, Ala. - The University of Tennessee at Martin baseball team narrowly fell by scores of 4-1 and 6-4 today in the series-opening doubleheader against Samford at JL Griffin Field.
Will Smith, Blaze Bell and Caleb Hobson each had two hits on the day while Nate Self homered in Game 1 for the Skyhawks (5-15). Andrew Fernandez drove in a pair of runs at the plate as nine different UT Martin hitters combined for 12 hits in 14 innings this afternoon.
On the mound, J. Henry Hobson (1-2) and Eric Steensma each did not concede an earned run in relief appearances in Game 2, which was started by Jordan Armstrong (no-decision after tossing five innings with six hits allowed). Seth Petry (1-2) went the distance in the series opener, conceding six hits over six innings.
In game one, Self’s round tripper extended his hitting streak to eight games and Petry was solid throughout but Samford came out on top in a pitcher’s duel that lasted a brisk 83 minutes.
Petry breezed through the first two innings, retiring the side in order on 12 pitches in the bottom of the first before getting through the second on 13 pitches. The senior right-hander did not allow his first hit until the third inning as the Bulldogs scored three runs in that frame.
UT Martin’s offense appeared to have something cooking in the top of the fourth after Smith drew a one-out walk and Bell singled to center to put baserunners on the corners. However, Samford got out of the inning with its 3-0 lead intact.
After two quick outs in the bottom of the fourth, the Bulldogs scored once more to extend their lead out to 4-0.
The Skyhawks got on the scoreboard in the top of the fifth as Self cranked the first pitch he saw for a solo homer out to left center, his second longball of the 2023 campaign.
Petry kept the game close with a pair of scoreless innings in the fifth and sixth, retiring each of the final seven batters he faced.
Jack Culumovic singled up the middle with one out in the top of the seventh as a potential UT Martin rally loomed but Samford recovered to claim the frontend of the doubleheader.
In game two, the Skyhawks led 4-0 and were four outs away from a split on the day but three unearned runs in the bottom of the sixth led to a 6-4 setback.
Armstrong posted zeroes on the scoreboard for the first four innings as the UT Martin infield turned a pair of double plays behind him. The McDonough, Ga. native allowed just one hit through the first four frames, allowing the Skyhawks to take their first lead of the day.
UT Martin manufactured its first run in the top of the fourth. Smith reached on a two-out single and soon advanced 90 feet on a stolen base. Bell then lined a clutch opposite-field RBI single to break the scoreless tie.
In the top of the fifth, the Skyhawks sent eight batters to the plate – tallying three runs on four hits. Making his first start of the season, designated hitter Jonah Wichman singled up the middle on a nine-pitch at-bat to ignite the big inning. Mac Danford was then hit by a pitch and following a pitching change, UT Martin produced three consecutive two-out hits. Caleb Hobson legged out an infield single to load the bases for Fernandez, who laced a two-run single to right, extending the Skyhawk advantage out to three runs. Smith then plated Caleb Hobson with an RBI single to make the score 4-0.
The Bulldogs got three runs back in the top of the fifth. After the first two Samford hitters reached base in the sixth, UT Martin recorded outs on a sacrifice bunt and fielder’s choice (throwing out a runner trying to score). However, an error on what would have been the third out extended the inning and the next Bulldog cleared the bases with a go-ahead three-run double, giving Samford its first lead (6-4) of the ballgame.
Momentum remained on the Bulldogs’ side in the top of the seventh as the Skyhawks could not bring the tying run to the dish.
ETSU 13, TENNESSEE TECH 4
COOKEVILLE, Tenn. - Defensive struggles and inconsistency on the mound proved too much for the Tennessee Tech baseball team to overcome Saturday afternoon, as the Golden Eagles fell in game two of their weekend series against in-state rival ETSU at Quillen Field and Bush Stadium at the Averitt Express Baseball Complex, 13-4.
On the day, the purple and gold made seven errors in the field, leading to five unearned runs for the Buccaneers. The Tech pitching staff also issued 13 walks, battling baserunners throughout the contest.
ETSU (9-8) took the early lead on the day, scoring the first run of the game on a wild pitch in the opening frame. Golden Eagle hurler Hunter Mann rebounded in the second and third innings, recording three straight outs in the second and striking out the side in the third for three of his season-high seven punch outs in the contest.
In the bottom of the third, Tech evened the score, with shortstop Nick Spardone lacing an RBI single to center field. The Bucs jumped back on top in the fourth, taking advantage of one of Tech's defensive miscues to plate an unearned run.
ETSU scored twice more in the fifth and produced another three in the sixth, including two more unearned markers. The Golden Eagles fought back in the bottom half, with third baseman Peyton Mills leading things off with a solo home run to right field.
Spardone made it two runs in the frame, lacing an RBI single to right-center field to cut the deficit to 7-3. Three more Golden Eagle errors in the seventh led to four runs for the Bucs, putting the game all but out of reach at 11-3.
Tech got one more run back in the eighth, thanks to an RBI ground out by center fielder Austin Turner. ETSU plated its final two runs in the ninth, using two more TTU defensive mistakes to score a pair of unearned runs for the 13-4 final.
Leading the Tech offense with two hits and two RBI was Spardone, hitting out of the leadoff spot. Eight other Golden Eagles picked up hits on the day.
NORTHWESTERN STATE 5, LITTLE ROCK 0
NATCHITOCHES, La. - Strikeouts and missed opportunities cost Little Rock in a 5-0 loss at Northwestern State Saturday afternoon at Brown-Stroud Field. The defeat drops the Trojans to 9-7 on the year, facing the threat of a sweep on Sunday.
The afternoon started with flashes of offense as Luke Pectol led the game off with a double before a single from Nico Baumbach created a first and third situation with just one out. However back to back strikeouts would end the threat and keep Little Rock off the board.
Northwestern State got out in front in the bottom of the second inning, scoring on a wild pitch with the bases loaded. Further damage was avoided courtesy of an inning ending double play, again with the bases loaded.
The Demons would strike again in the bottom of the third, collecting a pair of runs on a double that scored an unearned run and a swinging bunt single.
Both offenses remained at bay until the bottom of the sixth when NSU again scored on a wild pitch with the bases full, extending the lead to 4-0.
NSU would score for the last time in the bottom of the eighth on a double down the right field line and a Demon baserunner scoring all the way from first.
The Trojans had opportunities, leaving nine runners on base throughout the course of the game. This included getting multiple runners on base in five of the nine at bats for Little Rock.
Little Rock managed just four hits against four Northwestern State pitchers as the Demon staff combined for 19 strikeouts against Trojan batters. The Demons also retired the final 10 Trojan hitters of the game.
Baumbach was the lone Trojan player to collect multiple hits on the afternoon, going 2-for-4 with a pair of singles. The Euless, Texas native also stole a base.
Andrew Pickering and Aidan Garret showed good presence at the plate as each worked two walks in the game.
Chance Vaught aided the pitching effort for Little Rock in a big way, throwing 4.2 innings out of the bullpen while allowing just two runs on five hits, striking out five. This marks a career high in innings pitched in a game for the Mobile, Alabama native and ties a career high in strikeouts.