SUNDAY'S SCORES
@Southeast Missouri 8, Western Illinois 7 (14)
@Murray State 13,
Southern Indiana 3
@Belmont 3,
Lindenwood 0
SIUE 8, UIC 1
(Millington, Tenn.)
@Samford 1,
UT Martin 0
ETSU 12,
@Tennessee Tech 0
Little Rock 8, @Northwestern State 6
SOUTHEAST MISSOURI 8, WESTERN ILLINOIS 7 (14)
CAPE GIRARDEAU, Mo. - Southeast Missouri (10-12) used fourteen innings to down Western Illinois (3-16) on Sunday afternoon by a final score of 8-7 in a game that last four hours and 50 minutes to complete the series sweep.
With the game tied at 6-6, WIU's short stop Derek Botaletto singled to left field to plate J.R. Heavilin to give the Leathernecks a 7-6 lead heading to the bottom of the inning.
The Redhawks' Peyton Leeper singled to right field to put the game-tying run-on base with one out in the bottom of 14. Right fielder Carlos Aranda hit a shot to the left center field gap that one hopped the wall, plating Leeper after he stole second base during the at-bat.
Third baseman Chance Resetich delivered the game winning hit after Aranda's double with a single up the middle off Leathernecks' Chase Golden (0-1) to plate Aranda.
Resetich finished the day going 2-for-5 at the plate, including a double and an RBI. Carlos Aranda was 3-for-6 at the dish with the fourteenth inning double and a pair of RBIs to pace the Redhawks offense.
The Leathernecks and Redhawks each scored a run in the first inning. A Heavilin single off Haden Dow in the first inning plated center fielder Nick Mitchell to give WIU a 1-0 advantage.
Back-to-back walks in the home first from Aranda and Resetich, a sacrifice bunt by Josh Cameron, put Redhawks on second and third with just one out in the inning.
WIU starting pitcher Mitchel Sampson threw a wild pitch to give SEMO its first run of the game to tie it at 1-1.
Western Illinois scored two runs in the third, one in the fourth, and another pair in the fifth inning. Heavilin and designated hitter Jack Sievers finished Sunday's contest with a pair of RBIs each.
The Redhawks scored a single run in innings three through seven as the game was tied at 6-6 heading to the eighth inning.
The game turned into a pitching duel as RHP Kyle Miller had his longest outing of the season, beginning in the eighth inning. Miller faced 22 WIU batters fanning three and allowed just four hits in 5.2 innings.
An error on Resetich in the top of the 14th inning allowed Heavilin to reach base who came around to score for the seventh run of the WIU afternoon off Miller. LHP Ethan Osborne came in to relieve Miller following Botaletto's RBI single (unearned).
For the Leathernecks, LHP Jack Bell matched Miller facing 23 SEMO hitters, fanning five and allowing just two hits over 5.2 innings as well.
In the bottom of the 13th inning, Bell hit first baseman Gunnar Doyle, ending his day as Chase Golden came on to relieve Bell. Golden took the loss in the contest as the Redhawks came from behind to win the game in the bottom of the 14th.
SEMO starting pitcher Haden Dow threw three complete innings, allowing three runs, four hits, and fanned a pair of batters in the outing.
The Redhawks and Leathernecks combined for 26 hits on Sunday.
LHP Ethan Osborne (2-2) was credited with the win in the contest.
MURRAY STATE 13, SOUTHERN INDIANA 3
MURRAY, Ky. - University of Southern Indiana Baseball lost the three-game series to Murray State University, falling in the series finale, 13-3, Sunday afternoon in Murray, Kentucky. USI watched its record go to 7-13, while Murray State goes to 10-10.
The Screaming Eagles were in a hole early in the game, surrendering two in the first, four the third, and one in the fifth to trail, 7-0. USI cut into the deficit, 7-2, in the top of the sixth with a two-run frame.
USI junior leftfielder Drew Taylor (Jeffersonville, Indiana) pushed the Eagles' first run of the game across the plate with a RBI-single to left that scored junior designated hitter Ren Tachioka (Japan). The Eagles cut the margin to five, 7-2, when junior rightfielder Steven Molinet (Elberfeld, Indiana) picked up a RBI with a bases-loaded walk.
USI missed a golden opportunity in the sixth, getting only the two runs after loading the bases with one out.
The Racers would respond with four in the bottom of sixth and two in the seventh to put the 13-3 final out of reach. USI scored its final tally of the game in the top of the seventh when senior centerfielder Evan Kahre (Evansville, Indiana) scored on a sacrifice fly by freshman shortstop Caleb Niehaus (Newburgh, Indiana).
On the mound, freshman left-hander Will Kiesel (Wadesville, Indiana) started and took the loss for the Eagles. Kiesel (0-1) allowed six runs on four hits and six walks, while striking out two in 2.2 innings of work.
BELMONT 3, LINDENWOOD 0
NASHVILLE - The Lindenwood baseball team (3-18) lost 3-0 to Belmont (11-11) on Sunday, ending the weekend road series.
Sophomore Bennett Stice (1-3) got the ball to start for Lindenwood and took the loss. At the plate, the Lions were paced by sophomore Dawson Hokuf, who went 1-for-3 on the day with a walk.
Lindenwood did not advance a runner past second base in the game. The Lions went 0-for-3 with runners in scoring position, last placing a runner as far as second in the fourth, when Hokuf made it into scoring position with one out. Hokuf drew a walk in the top of the ninth with one out, but Belmont closed the door in the final game of the series.
SIUE 8, UIC 1
MILLINGTON, Tenn. - Tyler DeLong fired six shutout innings, and SIUE scored five times in the first two innings on its way to an 8-1 win over UIC Sunday at USA Stadium.
The Cougars won two of three in the weekend series and improved to 13-5 overall. UIC dropped to 7-8.
Josh Ohl led off the bottom of the first inning with his first home run of the season to get the scoring started. Nick Terrell's first long ball, a three-run shot, highlighted a four-run second inning. Chase Bloomer drove home the other run in the inning with a single off of UIC starter Tyler Ingram.
Brady Bunten singled to drive in a run in the fourth inning and then doubled to drive in another in the eighth inning. Ole Arntson added a sacrifice fly to straight away center later in the inning. The ball would have been a home run had it not been for a leaping catch by UIC centerfielder Bobby Grimes.
DeLong (2-0) worked a season-best six innings, while striking out a career-best nine hitters. He allowed three hits and he waked one.
Spencer Smith worked two innings allowing a run on a home run. He struck out two.
Zeus Ponder finished the game with a scoreless ninth inning. He struck out one.
SIUE outhit UIC 8-4. Bunten and Bloomer each finished with a pair of hits.
SAMFORD 1, UT MARTIN 0
BIRMINGHAM, Ala. - University of Southern Indiana Baseball lost the three-game series to Murray State University, falling in the series finale, 13-3, Sunday afternoon in Murray, Kentucky. USI watched its record go to 7-13, while Murray State goes to 10-10.
The Screaming Eagles were in a hole early in the game, surrendering two in the first, four the third, and one in the fifth to trail, 7-0. USI cut into the deficit, 7-2, in the top of the sixth with a two-run frame.
USI junior leftfielder Drew Taylor (Jeffersonville, Indiana) pushed the Eagles' first run of the game across the plate with a RBI-single to left that scored junior designated hitter Ren Tachioka (Japan). The Eagles cut the margin to five, 7-2, when junior rightfielder Steven Molinet (Elberfeld, Indiana) picked up a RBI with a bases-loaded walk.
USI missed a golden opportunity in the sixth, getting only the two runs after loading the bases with one out.
The Racers would respond with four in the bottom of sixth and two in the seventh to put the 13-3 final out of reach. USI scored its final tally of the game in the top of the seventh when senior centerfielder Evan Kahre (Evansville, Indiana) scored on a sacrifice fly by freshman shortstop Caleb Niehaus (Newburgh, Indiana).
On the mound, freshman left-hander Will Kiesel (Wadesville, Indiana) started and took the loss for the Eagles. Kiesel (0-1) allowed six runs on four hits and six walks, while striking out two in 2.2 innings of work.
ETSU 12, TENNESSEE TECH 0
COOKEVILLE, Tenn. - It was a tough day at the ballpark for the Tennessee Tech baseball team Sunday afternoon, as the Golden Eagles fell in its rubber match with in-state rival ETSU at Quillen Field and Bush Stadium at the Averitt Express Baseball Complex, 12-0. The two sides played just seven innings, having agreed to a run rule prior to the beginning of the contest.
The visiting Buccaneers controlled things from the start, taking an early lead and using a great showing on the mound to hold the Tech offense at bay all day. ETSU jumped on top in the first inning with an RBI single.
A three-run home run in the second jumped the lead to 4-0. The Golden Eagles picked up their first hit of the ball game off ETSU hurler Nathanial Tate in the third, with shortstop Nick Spardone peppering a single up the middle, but it took just six pitches in the frame to retire the purple and gold.
The visitors blew the contest wide open in the fourth, scoring eight runs, including three unearned, behind five hits. Tech threatened to score in the fifth, with designated hitter Eddie Garza picking up an infield single to second base and advancing on a wild pitch. Second baseman Troy Baunsgard drew a walk to put two on, but the Bucs escaped with Tate retiring the next two Golden Eagles on punch outs.
Neither squad scored over the final three frames, as Tate finished his day with two hits allowed and a walk in six innings. Golden Eagle pitchers Parker MacCauley, Brock Smith, and Colt Taylor combined to complete three shutout innings down the stretch, each covering one frame. Taylor led the effort with a pair of strikeouts.
LITTLE ROCK 8, NORTHWESTERN STATE 6
NATCHITOCHES, La. - The Trojans got back on the winning side of things on Sunday afternoon with a convincing victory over Northwestern State at Brown-Stroud Field. The win improves Little Rock's record to 10-7 on the season with just one more game to go before the inaugural Ohio Valley Conference schedule begins next Friday.
Northwestern State took the early lead in the bottom of the first, scoring on a one out single through the left side that brought home an unearned run. Little Rock would become active in the top of the third, after two quick outs Aidan Garrett reached on a single to right in an 0-2 count. Luke Pectol then stepped up to the plate and hit his second homerun of the year to give the Trojans their first lead of the weekend. Tyler Williams then got to first on a dropped third strike and stole second before he scored on a single up the middle, giving Little Rock a 3-1 lead that would not be relinquished for the remainder of the game.
The Demons began the bottom of the third with a solo homerun which would briefly cut the lead to one, but Little Rock would go back on the attack in the top of the fifth. Garrett again began the action with a one out single up the middle, but he would be cut down at the plate on the double that followed from Pectol. Williams then showed off impressive speed by legging out an infield single to score Pectol and keep the inning alive for the Trojans.
Nico Baumbach then crushed the first pitch he saw to left center, putting the Trojans up by four as the ball sailed over the fence. After a walk to Ryan Lee, Skyler Trevino also homered on the first pitch he saw, bringing Little Rock to its final run total of eight. The five run inning extended the Trojan lead out to six runs at 8-2.
Both offenses quieted down through the rest of the middle innings and into the late stages of the game. Starter Preston Davis pitched through the fifth inning and only allowed two hits to the Demons. He was relieved by Austin Stubber in the sixth and Stubber would go on to keep Northwestern off the board for the next three innings. The eighth being especially impressive when, after a leadoff single and walk, the senior righthander would strike out the next three batters to snuff out any Demons threat.
Northwestern State made an effort at a comeback in the bottom of the ninth. A slicing double that just snuck into fair territory and a looping single to right field put the tying run on first with two outs. Trojan Reliever Jacob Weatherley kept his composure and struck out the final batter looking on three pitches, ending the game and securing a Trojan victory.
The Trojans scored all of their runs this afternoon with two outs in the inning, doing a great job capitalizing on scoring opportunities by leaving just four runners on base during the game. In addition, Little Rock showed off the power with homeruns from three different players, these round trippers were responsible for scoring six of the eight Little Rock runs today.
Davis was solid in his start today, earning the win and going five innings. The sophomore righty allowed just two hits and two earned runs while striking out five.
Baumbach led the Trojans in RBI for the day with three in a 2-for-3 performance which was cut short due to an ejection caused by an illegal bat flip following his homerun in the top of the fifth. The Euless, Texas native continues to lead the Trojans in homers, today brought his total to eight on the season.
Trevino and Pectol each collected a pair of RBI with their respective two run homeruns. Pectol went 2-for-5 on the afternoon while Trevino was 1-for-3.
Garrett and Williams served as offensive catalysts today. It was Garrett who reached first to start the offensive in both innings that the Trojans scored, singling in the third and fifth and scoring once. Williams kept the fifth inning alive with great speed, beating out a groundball to short for an infield hit. The Trojans center fielder was 2-for-5 in the game, adding his third triple of the year in the top of the ninth.
Stubber was yet again stellar out of the bullpen, he finished the game with 3.1 inning pitched allowing 2 hits and 2 runs while striking out six, a new career high.