SATURDAY'S SCORES
@UT Martin 9, Eastern Illinois 5
Southeast Missouri 7-4, @SIUE 5-5
Morehead State 3, @Southern Indiana 2
@Little Rock 4-9, Lindenwood 3-3
@Davidson 12,
Tennessee Tech 10
UT MARTIN 9, EASTERN ILLINOIS 5
MARTIN, Tenn. - – The University of Tennessee at Martin baseball squad put an end to one of the NCAA’s longest winning streaks this evening, chalking up a season-high 16 hits in a 9-5 triumph over Eastern Illinois to kick off the 2023 Ohio Valley Conference schedule.
In addition to hits, the Skyhawks also set season-high tallies in doubles (six), extra-base hits (eight) and total bases (27) against a Panther pitching staff that entered the series leading the OVC in ERA.
Six UT Martin batters posted multi-hit efforts, paced by Hunter McLean’s three base knocks and one run scored. Zac Rice went 2-for-3 with two RBI’s and two runs scored out of the 9-hole in the lineup while Caleb Hobson (two runs scored, one RBI), Will Smith (two RBI’s), Andrew Fernandez (one run scored) and Nate Self (one run scored) each generated two hits apiece. Jonah Wichman homered and drove in two runs for the Skyhawks, who snapped Eastern Illinois’ eight-game winning streak.
Seth Petry (2-2) received the starting nod for UT Martin and picked up the win, allowing three earned runs over five innings. That was more than enough support for Tristan Walton, who earned his first save after shoving through four innings – striking out six Panthers while conceding zero earned runs in an electric performance.
The Skyhawks (6-17, 1-0 OVC) wasted no time getting on the scoreboard, crossing the plate twice in the top of the first. Hobson drew a five-pitch walk to lead off the contest and advanced to third on a Fernandez double. Smith (groundout) and Blaze Bell (sacrifice fly) drove both runners home to put UT Martin ahead, 2-0.
Eastern Illinois (12-5, 0-1 OVC) scored once in the bottom half but Petry did a good job of limiting the damage – stranding the bases loaded.
A four-run top of the second was in store for the Skyhawks. McLean roped a leadoff double before Self was issued a walk. Cameron Brady executed a perfect sacrifice bunt to move both runners up for Rice, who smoked a two-run double. Three pitches later, Rice came around to score on an RBI double off the bat of Hobson, who soon sprinted home on a wild pitch to make the score 6-1 in favor of UT Martin.
Two runs (one unearned) crossed the plate for the Panthers in the second but Wichman got one run back in the top of the third, drilling a 2-1 pitch for a towering home run beyond the right field wall for the first round tripper of his Skyhawk career.
UT Martin’s defense shined in the next two innings behind Petry. The Skyhawks turned a big double play to hold Eastern Illinois to one run in the third before a full-extension diving catch from Smith out in left field ended the inning and potentially saved two runs from scoring.
Bell came out on top of an 11-pitch at-bat to lead off the fifth, ripping a triple off the wall in left center. He then trotted home on a Wichman sacrifice fly to extend the Skyhawk advantage out to 8-4.
Petry worked scoreless frames in his final two innings, inducing three groundouts in the bottom of the fifth to wrap up his day.
UT Martin produced its final run in the top of the sixth as Rice singled through the left side to start the inning. He advanced to second on a fielder’s choice and eventually came in to score on a Smith RBI single to center, opening up a 9-4 lead for the Skyhawks.
Walton’s magnificent appearance started with a pair of strikeouts to leave the bases loaded in the sixth. The Panthers did scratch across an unearned run in the seventh but the lefty out of Clay, Ala. notched two more strikeouts in the inning, including an inning-ending punchout with a pair of runners on.
Walton needed just 12 pitches to face the minimum in a scoreless eighth and displayed wipeout stuff in the ninth, striking out the first two batters he faced. He then induced a soft lineout to retire the side in order, elevating UT Martin to the victory.
SOUTHEAST MISSOURI 7-4, SIUE 5-5
EDWARDSVILLE, Ill. - Southeast Missouri (11-14, 1-1 OVC) split Saturday's double header with SIUE (14-7, 1-1 OVC) winning the first contest 7-5. The Redhawks fell in the second game by a final score of 5-4.
LHP Noah Niznik got the nod in the first game of the weekend series. The St. Louis, Mo.-native went 5.1 innings pitched allowing five runs. Niznik recorded 10 strikeouts in the outing over 24 SIUE batters faced and just four hits in the 110-pitch outing.
The Redhawks used a five-run top of the ninth inning to take game one beginning with a single by catcher Nolan Ackerman to get the rally started. Two straight walks to Peyton Leeper and Danny Sperling and a hit-by-pitch from Carlos Aranda made the score 5-3, as SEMO had the bases loaded. Designated hitter Jevon Mason roped a double down the left field line to score Ben Palmer and Peyton Leeper to make the score 5-5 with just one out in the inning.
Chace Resetich delivered the game-winning hit, a two RBI single that scored Aranda and Mason as the Redhawks would hold on for the game one victory.
RHP Fischer Rausch (1-0) was credited with the win. Rausch recorded three strikeouts in the outing, pitching 1.1 innings allowing no hits.
Kyle Miller picked up his second save of the season as he shut the door on the Cougars in the home ninth to pick up their first Ohio Valley Conference win of the season.
Eight different Redhawks recorded a hit as SEMO as a team registered eight hits in the first nine innings of Saturday.
Jevon Mason led the Redhawks offense in the second game of Saturday afternoon, going 3-for-5 including a double and an RBI as the Redhawks fell 5-4.
SIUE got on the board first against RHP Payton Lawrence as the Cougars scratched a run across in the opening frame. Ole Arntson singled off Lawrence to plate the first run of the contest as SIUE jumped out to a 1-0 lead.
The Redhawks would respond with three runs in the top of inning two as Chance Resetich led off the inning with a single to right field. With runners on the corners following a Nolan Ackerman single put runners on the corners with just one out in the inning. Center fielder Brett Graber drove in Leeper from third base as the Redhawks tied the game. A walk loaded the bases for Danny Sperling who was hit-by-a-pitch to score Ackerman to put the Redhawks in front, 2-1.
Carlos Aranda hit a sacrifice fly to right field to plate the third run of the inning for SEMO as the Redhawks took a 3-1 lead into the home second.
SIUE left fielder Brennan Orf hit a two-run homerun in the bottom of the third off Lawrence to tie the game at three. The Cougars would take the lead in the fifth inning with a RBI double to center field by Brady Bunten to score Orf, giving SIUE a 4-3 lead midway through the second contest.
Jevon Mason drove in his RBI in the seventh inning to tie the contest at four as Aranda came into score with just one out in the inning.
Right-fielder Kyle Ratliff hit a solo home run in the bottom of the eighth inning with the game tied to give SIUE a one-run lead as the Cougars held on to take the second game.
Lawrence finished the game going 4.2 innings pitched with eight strikeouts. The right-hander gave up four runs on six hits. LHP Ethan Osborne (2-3) took the loss in the second game, allowing just two hits and a run in an inning of work.
MOREHEAD STATE 3, SOUTHERN INDIANA 2
EVANSVILLE, Ind. - Preseason OVC Pitcher of the Year John Bakke lived up to the hype in the Morehead State baseball team's conference opener on Saturday, striking out eight Screaming Eagles in the 3-2 win over Southern Indiana.
In addition to his eight strikeouts, Bakke (2-2) went seven shutout innings while giving up just one hit and walking four for Morehead State (11-10, 1-0).
Jackson Feltner led the way offensively for the Eagles, going 2-for-3 in the ballgame with a double, a walk and an RBI. Freshman Carter Owens provided a standout performance at the plate as well, going 1-for-3 with a triple. Roman Kuntz also contributed, going 2-for-4 for Morehead State with a double.
A three spot in the third inning proved to be enough for Morehead State in the win. Carter Owens smashed a triple into the gap in right center and scored on a wild pitch. Ryley Preece drew a walk soon after and came around to score on a double from Jackson Feltner (his 20th RBI of the season). Feltner would then score on a sacrifice fly from Colton Becker, capping the three-run third. Southern Indiana pushed across a run in the eighth and ninth, but Jarrett Miller stranded the tying run at third base with a strikeout to end the ballgame.
LITTLE ROCK 4-9, LINDENWOOD 3-3
LITTLE ROCK, Ark. - Stellar starting pitching served as the catalyst for Little Rock this afternoon in both games of Saturday's doubleheader. The Trojans won a close contest in game one by a score of 4-3 before a convincing 9-3 win in game two of the day on a soggy Gary Hogan Field. The wins improve Little Rock's record to 12-8 on the year and a 2-0 start to Ohio Valley Conference play.
Little Rock starter Jackson Wells started off the day hot, striking out three through the first two innings of play and did not allow a Lindenwood baserunner until the third inning.
The Trojan offense got things going in the bottom of the second inning. Noah Brewer and Skyler Trevino hit back to back doubles to begin the inning and kick off the scoring. A batter later Ty Rhoades would single up the middle, plating Trevino and giving Little Rock an early 2-0 lead.
Both starting pitchers would settle into a groove and things went quiet until the top of the fifth when a double and single from the Lions would score their first run of the game and bring the game within a run. Lindenwood added another run in the top of the sixth with a two out solo homer to pull the contest even at 2-2.
Little Rock would go up for good in the bottom of the frame thanks to some miscues from the Lion defense. Alex Seguine reached third base with one out on a pair of throwing errors which was followed by Rhoades reaching on another error. Jaxson Anderson then reached safely on a fielder's choice where a throw was mishandled by Lindenwood's second baseman resulting in Rhoades advancing to second. Jake Wright brought home the final Little Rock run of the game in the next at bat with a single through the left side, putting the Trojans up 4-2.
Wells struck out the first two batters in the seventh before a two out single chased him from the game. Austin Stubber came in and got out of the inning with no damage done to the Little Rock lead.
Two doubles in the eighth by the Lions scored a run and again closed the gap to just one run, but further damage was avoided. Stubber was able to induce three harmless fly balls in the ninth inning to close out the game and earn the save in the 4-3 win.
Wells struck out eight and walked none in his 6.2 innings of work, allowing six hits and just two runs while earning the win.
Four Trojans scored once each in the first game of the day in Brewer, Rhoades, Seguine and Trevino.
Brewer, Trevino and Tyler Williams all had doubles in game one for their only hits in the competition.
Game two began with a strikeout from starter Preston Davis who then completed the first inning without allowing a runner past first base, and after a 1-2-3 inning from Lindenwood headed back to the field.
Davis struck out the first batter of the inning before three consecutive singles loaded the bases for the Lions with just one out in the inning. The sophomore from Texarkana, Texas then reared back and struck out the next two batters, escaping the jam while striking out the side.
Rhoades began the bottom of the third inning with a double down the right field line which was followed by four more Little Rock hits before the first out of the inning was recorded. Anderson would single to put runners on first and third before another single by Seguine scored Rhoades. A third single in as many batters off the bat of Williams scored Anderson as the Trojans continued to swap places on the basepath. Yet another single by Nico Baumbach plated Seguine and sent Williams to third where he would eventually be scored on a fielder's choice. By the end of the inning the Trojans would find themselves up 4-0 with five hits in the inning, four of which being singles.
A scoreless top of the fourth was ended with another strikeout from Davis and Little Rock promptly got back to work at the plate. Wright reached on an error to begin the inning and made his way to third with a stolen base and ground ball to the right side. Anderson would then single through the left side to score Wright and put Little Rock up five.
Chance Vaught took over for Davis in the top of the sixth and he escaped a bases loaded situation with a ground ball to end the inning and preserve the then shutout. The Trojans added another run in the bottom of the frame as Rhoades singled and then advanced to third on a wild pitch and balk, then scoring on a single from Williams.
Lindenwood would get on the board via a wild pitch with the bases loaded in the top of the seventh. Little Rock countered with two runs of its own in the bottom of the seventh when Brewer and Trevino scored on a double down the left field line off the bat of Wright.
The Lions added two more runs in the next inning with singles into left field accounting for both runs. The Trojans would score last when Williams reached on a single, stole second, advanced to third on a failed pickoff attempt, and was brought home on a wild pitch.
Erik Mcknight made his first appearance of the year coming on in the ninth inning. The senior from Littleton, Colorado struck out the first batter then got a groundout and flyout to secure the win and series win for Little Rock.
Williams led the offense in game two with a 3-for-5 performance, scoring twice and bringing home two runs, he also stole three bases in the game.
Rhoades scored twice in the second game and was 2-for-4 at the dish with a double.
Wright was one of two Trojans with multiple RBI in the game. The senior from Rogers, Arkansas brought home two runners with a double in a 1-for-4 game.
Davis provided a spark for Little Rock on the mound. The sophomore righthander pitched five innings and allowed just four hits and zero runs with six strikeouts en route to earning the win.
Trevino and Anderson each a multi-hit performance as both went 2-for-4 scoring once and driving in one run.
DAVIDSON 12, TENNESSEE TECH 10
DAVIDSON, N.C. - A stunning comeback spoiled a big lead for the Tennessee Tech baseball team Saturday afternoon, as the Golden Eagles fell to Davidson in the second contest of a three-game series at Wilson Field by a final score of 12-10, courtesy of a walk-off grand slam by the Wildcats in the bottom of the ninth.
The purple and gold looked well on its way to evening the three-game slate with Davidson halfway through the contest, boasting a 9-0 lead heading into the bottom of the fifth. Tech got right after it offensively, courtesy of the piping-hot bat of third baseman Peyton Mills.
The slugger hammered a three-run blast to left field for an instant 3-0 lead before the Golden Eagles even recorded an out. Three batters later, first baseman John Dyer hammered a solo home run down the left-field line, his third of the year and 27th of his career.
Second baseman Troy Baunsgard made it a 5-0 Tech advantage in the second, ripping an RBI double down the left-field line. In the fourth, the purple and gold continued the offensive surge, with Mills leading things off with a double.
Baunsgard drove him home two batters later, smacking an RBI triple to left field. The junior would later score in the frame on a wild pitch, making it a 7-0 lead.
Catcher Hayden Gilliland drew a four-pitch walk as the second batter of the fifth, providing more support for Mills who kept his power show rolling. The Tech third baseman crushed a two-run jack to center field, his second of the day and ninth of the season.
Davidson finally got some offense off of Golden Eagle hurler Hunter Mann in the fifth, who finished the contest with five and two-thirds frames of work, seven strikeouts, and five runs allowed. The Wildcats plated a pair in the fifth and followed with four more in the sixth, including two unearned.
In the eighth, center fielder Nicho Jordan provided the purple and gold with some insurance, leading off the frame with his first long ball of the season to center field. Leading 10-6 heading to the bottom of the ninth, Tech seemed destined for victory.
The home squad had other plans, quickly turning in a two-run dinger two batters into the frame. After a quick out, the Wildcats put a pair on before a passed ball allowed the runners to move into scoring position. A walk loaded the bases and prompted a pitching change for the Golden Eagles.
The call to the bullpen didn't work out for the Tech crew unfortunately, as Davidson's Hunter Anderson smashed a 2-1 offering to right field for a walk-off grand slam and a 12-10 victory for the home team.
The Golden Eagle offense had a massive day at the plate, piling up a whopping 19 hits during the day. Mills led the charge with a 4-for-6 showing and five RBI, accounting for three extra-base hits. Preston Ford, Baunsgard, and Dyer racked up three hits apiece. Rookie Kayne Jinks also turned in a multi-hit performance.