SUNDAY'S SCORES
@Morehead State 7, Southeast Missouri 6
@Southern Indiana 15, Eastern Illinois 8
@Tennessee Tech 11, UT Martin 0
@Little Rock 13, SIUE 11
@Omaha 11,
Lindenwood 1
MOREHEAD STATE 7, SOUTHEAST MISSOURI 6
MOREHEAD, Ky. - The Morehead State baseball team picked up a huge win on Sunday, taking the rubber match over SEMO with a 7-6 win at Allen Field to move into first place in the current OVC standings.
Luke Helton (4-2) threw seven innings, giving up four runs, three earned, on six hits and walking two for Morehead State (24-14, 9-3). The right hander struck out eight batters on the day, and notched a double play to keep the game tied heading into the bottom of the seventh inning.
Roman Kuntz led the way offensively for the Eagles, going 2-for-2 in the ballgame with two home runs -- his second multi-homer game of the series -- a walk and two RBI. Junior Jackson Feltner furnished a noteworthy day at the dish as well, going 2-for-4 with a home run and two RBI. Junior Logan Castleman also chipped in, going 1-for-3 for Morehead State with a home run and two RBI.
Trailing 1-0, the Eagles first put runs on the board in the first inning. Ryley Preece came across to score the lone run of the inning for Morehead State on a sacrifice fly from Nick Gooden to even the game at 1-1.
The game remained tied until the fourth inning, when the Eagles got going again on offense. Morehead State scored twice on Logan Castleman's first homer of the year -- a two-run blast which brought the Eagles lead to 3-1.
Morehead State kept Southeast Missouri State without a run before building their lead to 4-1 in the sixth inning. The Eagles notched a run on Kuntz's leadoff home run.
The Redhawks then tied up the ballgame at four before Morehead State fought back to reclaim their advantage in the seventh inning. The Eagles scored twice on Jackson Feltner's two-run homer, bringing the Morehead State advantage to 6-4.
The Eagles held Southeast Missouri State without a run before expanding their lead to 7-4 the following inning. Morehead State picked up a run on Kuntz's leadoff home run off of senior H. Ralls. Southeast Missouri State put two runs on the scoreboard before the game was over, but the Eagles still held on for the 7-6 win, as Joe Rotkis settled back in and notched his second save of the season.
SOUTHERN INDIANA 15, EASTERN ILLINOIS 8
EVANSVILLE, Ind. - University of Southern Indiana Baseball scored eight times in the fifth to run away from Eastern Illinois University, 15-8, Sunday afternoon at the USI Baseball Field. USI, which posted its first Ohio Valley Conference series win, watched its record go to 13-26 overall, 5-10 OVC, while EIU goes to 22-15, 4-8 OVC.
Following a first inning home run by EIU, USI took its first lead of the contest, 2-1, in the second inning when junior designated hitter Parker Stroh (Grand Forks, North Dakota) hit a two-run blast to right field. The home run was Stroh's third of the season and his second of the series.
The USI lead was short lived as EIU bounced back to grab a 3-2 advantage in the top of the third. The Screaming Eagles responded with a four-run bottom of the third that was highlighted by a three-run explosion off the bat of junior leftfielder Jack Ellis (Jeffersonville, Indiana) to make the score 6-3. The round tripper was Ellis' third of the season.
The Eagles increased the lead to 7-3 in the fourth when junior second baseman Nolan Cook (Evansville, Indiana) scored on a ground out by sophomore shortstop Ricardo Van Grieken (Venezuela). EIU came back to cut the USI advantage to 7-4 with a tally in the top of the fifth before the Eagles erupted for another eight runs in the bottom half of the frame, boosting the lead to 15-4.
USI sent 11 batters to the plate in the eight-run fifth that was capped off by a three-run explosion of the bat of senior catcher Lucas McNew (Floyds Knobs, Indiana). The three-run blast put McNew in sole possession of fifth all-time at USI for home runs (23) and RBIs (156).
The Panthers added a tally in the sixth and seventh to cut the gap to 15-6 and prolong the game. EIU added another two runs in the eighth before USI closed out the 15-8 victory.
On the mound, junior right-hander Matthew Moore (Newburgh, Indiana) picked up the victory in relief. Moore (1-0) allowed two runs on two walks and three hits in two-plus innings of work.
USI junior left-hander Blake Ciuffetelli (Newburgh, Indiana) started and picked up the no-decision. Ciuffetelli went four-plus, allowing four runs on five hits and three walks, while striking out five.
TENNESSEE TECH 11, UT MARTIN 0
MARTIN, Tenn. - – An all-around dominant display on the diamond led the Tennessee Tech baseball team to a big, 11-0 victory over in-state rival UT Martin (13-28, 7-8) Sunday afternoon, as the Golden Eagles (13-25, 4-8) clinched their first Ohio Valley Conference series of the year.
On a chilly, but otherwise beautiful day at Quillen Field and Bush Stadium at the Averitt Express Baseball Complex, the purple and gold bounced back in the best way after a tough, 16-2 loss to the Skyhawks on Saturday. Great pitching and defense were on display all game for the Golden Eagles, as was a healthy offense that pounded out 16 hits on the day.
Getting the starting nod for the Cookeville crew on Sunday, right-hander Peyton Calitri turned in a spectacular display, getting Tech through the first inning with relative ease. After hitting the second batter of the game, the junior caught the Skyhawk base runner halfway toward second base with a pick-off move.
The Golden Eagles provided instant offense to back up the veteran pitcher, with shortstop Troy Baunsgard leading off the bottom of the first with a double off the wall in left-center field. A base hit by left fielder Austin Turner moved him over before third baseman Peyton Mills' deep fly ball to center field drove him in for a sac fly and 1-0 lead.
Two pitches later, first baseman John Dyer provided the big blow in the inning, crushing a 1-0 delivery to left-center field for a two-run blast. The senior's 12th long ball of the year also marked the 36th of his career, moving him to within one of tying Ryan Flick for sixth on Tech's all-time career home run charts.
The Tech defense was on full display in the second inning, as the Skyhawks put runners on the corners with one out, looking to get on the board with a response. Calitri induced a ground ball on the next at-bat, allowing Mills to field it quickly and chuck it to second baseman Eddie Garza, who then tossed a dart to Dyer at first for a double play.
The purple and gold kept the pressure on in the bottom of the second, loading the bases before UT Martin escaped without damage. Calitri made sure to get the hot Tech bats back to the plate quickly, using just seven pitches to work a clean inning with three ground balls to his defense on the left side.
Catcher Hayden Gilliland took to the plate in the bottom half and promptly provided another run to the home effort. The junior smashed a solo bomb down the right-field line to lead off the frame, his fifth of the year.
Facing runners on the corners with two outs in the fourth, Calitri saw his defense shine yet again, as the hurler induced a high fly ball to shallow right-center field. With the ball traveling towards no man's land, right fielder Theo Bryant IV came out of nowhere to make a sliding catch to end the threat.
It was a clean fifth frame for Calitri, who struck out the lead-off man before creating two chances for Mills at the hot corner. The third baseman handled them both, picking a grounder for the second out and tracking down a fly ball in foul territory to end the inning.
After walking the first batter of the sixth, it seemed that Calitri's day might finally be done, much to the joy of the Skyhawk batters, but another stellar display of defense ended those dreams. The junior induced another ground ball, this time to Garza at second. The freshman fielded it cleanly, flipped the ball to Baunsgard for the first out at second, who then fired a dart to Dyer to complete the double play.
Calitri forced a flyout after surrendering a double, ending the sixth. The veteran completed six shutout innings with just four hits allowed on the day, punching out a pair to secure his third win of the season.
With the dazzling display done by the Tech hurler, the Golden Eagle offense provided a proper send-off, exploding for a massive inning in the bottom of the sixth to leave no doubt about the outcome of the contest. Garza kicked off the onslaught with a base knock through the right side before center fielder Nicho Jordan was plunked with a pitch to put a pair on.
Baunsgard moved the runners over with a perfectly placed sacrifice bunt, leaving Turner wide open for an RBI single to center field for a 5-0 lead. Mills followed with a base hit of his own up the middle, plating a second run in the inning before Dyer was plunked and prompted the Skyhawks to go to the bullpen for answers with the bases loaded.
Gilliland left them no answers, smashing a seed to left-center field for a pair of RBI and an 8-0 lead. Designated hitter Preston Ford kept things rolling for the Cookeville crew with a base hit of his own to left-center field, scoring one more on the board.
Bryant delivered the final blow of the seven-run inning, ripping a two-run double down the left-field line for an 11-0 Tech advantage. With the double-digit lead, all Tech needed to do to secure victory was finish the top of the seventh clean with the OVC's run rule in the final game of a weekend series.
Tech head coach Matt Bragga turned to Jacob Morin to secure the win after Calitri issued a tough walk to the lead-off batter in the seventh. After surrendering a base knock, Morin buckled down and responded with a fly ball out to center field.
Even with the Skyhawk runner advancing to third, the right-hander never wavered, forcing a shallow fly ball to left field for the second out. He needed just three pitches to end the day with a strikeout.
Turner and Gilliland led the Tech offense with three hits each on the day, but all nine Golden Eagles in the lineup gathered at least one knock. Seven different members of the purple and gold drove in at least one run as well, with Mills, Dyer, Gilliland, and Bryant each bringing in two.
LITTLE ROCK 13, SIUE 11
LITTLE ROCK, Ark. - What began as a game that appeared to be a blowout tightened up as the afternoon went on despite Little Rock leading the entire way and eventually coming out on top 13-11 on Sunday to complete the sweep of SIUE. The win improves the Trojans record to 23-14 on the season and 10-5 in Ohio Valley Conference play as Little Rock now looks ahead to a pair of midweek games against in-state opponents.
After an uneventful top of the first inning, the Little Rock offense got out to a hot start in its first at bats of the game. Alex Seguine started things off with a single through the left side before a walk to Ty Rhoades and a double by Nico Baumbach brought home the game's first run. A balk and throwing error scored two more before an RBI single from Christian Bernabe finished off the scoring as Little Rock led 4-0 after the first frame.
SIUE would cut the lead in half with a pair of runs in the top of the second prior to the Trojans having their biggest inning of the day in the bottom of the third. Rhoades started things off with a walk and then Baumbach and Skyler Trevino homered on back to back pitches to push the lead out to five runs. Two more Trojans found their way on base when Jake Wright stepped up to the plate and sent the third Little Rock homerun of the inning over the left field wall. This put the Trojans up by eight at 10-2, striking for six runs in the bottom of the third alone.
Little Rock kept the pressure up, loading the bases in the bottom of the fourth with no one out. A single by Bernabe plated a pair of runs, scoring Baumbach and Rhoades, before a bases loaded walk drawn by Wright scored Trevino from third. This would be the final Little Rock run of the game and the Trojans would now be tasked with denying a comeback by the Cougars.
SIUE struck for five runs in the top of the fifth inning, four of which came on a grand slam by Kye Ratliff before bringing home another two in the top of the six as the game became much closer than it had been just two innings prior, now standing at 13-9 in Little Rock's favor.
The Cougars scored another run in the top of the eighth on a two out RBI single to draw within striking distance. A single to center began the top of the ninth and SIUE would eventually score a run and bring the go ahead run to the plate with two outs. However, an innocent pop fly in foul territory ended the game as Little Rock successfully fended off a furious comeback attempt by the Cougars.
More than half of the Little Rock starting lineup collected multiple hits on the afternoon as five players had two or more hits.
Baumbach led the way in a 2-for-4 performance that saw him score three times and drive in three runs. The Euless, Texas native also hit his 10th homerun of the season, coming in the form of a two run blast in the bottom of the third, his other hit being a double down the left field line.
Wright went 2-for-3 in the game and drove in a team high four runs, three of which came on his homer, and scored once. He also stole his eighth bag on the year and threw out a would be base stealer.
Trevino hit his team leading 11th homerun in a 1-for-4 game and also scored twice.
Bernabe collected a career high three RBI and also scored once in a 2-for-4 performance where he also reached via base on balls once.
Luke Pectol led the team in hits on the afternoon with three in a 3-for-4 game and managed to make it all the way home to score once.
Austin Stubber served in the stopper role and helped to halt the SIUE comeback through the later innings, pitching three full and striking out three, allowing four hits and just one run.
Jacob Weatherley earned his third save of the year for closing things out in the ninth.
OMAHA 11, LINDENWOOD 1
OMAHA, Neb. - The Lindenwood baseball team (9-31) lost to the Omaha Mavericks (15-17) by final score of 11-1 on Sunday.
Offensively, the Lions were led by freshman Landon Willbrand, who went 1-for-3 on the day with a double and an RBI. Junior Anthony Stellato furnished a standout performance at the dish as well, going 1-for-2 with a double and a walk.
Trailing 2-0, the Lions first put runs on the board in the second inning. Lindenwood got on the board thanks to Willbrand's RBI double with two outs. The Lions were unable to get any closer, as Omaha added nine runs to their tally on the way to an 11-1 final.