FRIDAY'S SCORES
Lamar 4,
Southern Indiana 2
@Florida A&M 6,
Eastern Illinois 5
@Dayton 4,
Lindenwood 2
Wichita State 18,
@Little Rock 5
@Dallas Baptist 9,
Southeast Missouri 5
Bellarmine 11,
@Tennessee Tech 3
Morehead State 7, @Davidson 4
@Troy 9,
SIUE 8
Western Illinois 6, @Austin Peay 5
Northern Kentucky 15,
@UT Martin 4
LAMAR 4, SOUTHERN INDIANA 2
MOBILE, Ala. - University of Southern Indiana Baseball grabbed an early lead but went scoreless in the final six innings falling to Lamar University on opening day, 4-2, Friday evening in Mobile, Alabama.
Friday's season opener came with a wrinkle as the game was delayed four hours due to inclement weather. Nevertheless, USI came out of the gates swinging, posting a tally in the first off a double from sophomore Caleb Niehaus (Newburgh, Indiana) and a RBI single from senior Tucker Ebest (Austin, Texas). The duo of Niehaus and Ebest struck again in the third with back-to-back doubles to give the Eagles the early two run lead.
Junior Gavin Morris (Brazil, Indiana) overwhelmed the Lamar offense in the first four frames striking out seven batters on just two hits. However, the Cardinals got on the board in the fifth off a two-run homer. Morris handed the ball off to senior Trent Robinson (Louisville, Kentucky) who surrendered two more runs to give the Cardinals a 4-2 lead going into the top of the sixth.
Despite the offensive drought, USI continued to play exceptional defense including a diving play from junior first basemen Thomas Emerich (Ava, Missouri) and a smooth play from junior third basemen Ricardo Van Grieken (Merida, Venezuela).
In the ninth, Van Grieken got on base to put the tying run up to the plate for three chances. The next three batters went down in order to end the game. The Lamar pitching staff contained the Eagles allowing only three hits in the final six innings.
Morris finished the day tossing four and a third, two earned runs, and eight strikeouts in the no-decision. Freshman Clayton Weisheit (Ferdinand, Indiana) was electric in relief, holding the Cardinals hitless in two innings of shutout work.
Ebest led the Eagles offensively going three for four with both RBIs. Niehaus added a two for four day with a pair of doubles.
FLORIDA A&M 6, EASTERN ILLINOIS 5
TALLAHASSEE, Fla. - The Eastern Illinois baseball team dropped their 2024 opener against Florida A&M on Friday by a score of 6-5. A strong start from the FAMU pitching staff made things difficult for the Panthers, who came up just short after a ninth inning rally.
Neither team managed to reach base through the first two innings, but in the bottom of the third the Rattlers broke through with a two-out double by Jalen Niles. FAMU then took advantage of a pair of EIU miscues, including a fielding error and wild pitch, to advance around the base path and push three runs across the plate.
The Panthers reached base for the first time this season in the fifth inning behind singles from Lucas Loos and Cole Gober. After a Cade Zalewski walk, Eastern had the bases loaded, but a 5-4-3 double play with one out put an end to the scoring threat.
FAMU padded their lead in the fifth and sixth before a Quade Peters ground ball in the eighth inning brought Grant Lashure home to score, getting EIU on the board.
The Eastern bats would really get to work in the ninth, with Michael O'Conor getting things started with a lead off double. A Lucas Loos single in the next at bat would bring O'Conor home to make the score 6-2.
With their work still cut out for them, the Panthers loaded the bases with consecutive singles from Cole Gober and Chris Worcester, which brought the tying run to the plate with nobody out. Then, a Cade Zalewski sacrifice fly brought Loos home before a Grant Lashure single drove another run in to cut the lead to two.
Next up was Tyler Castro, who brought Worcester home with another single to pull the Panthers within a single run.
Unfortunately, that is where the Panthers rally came to an end, as FAMU pitcher Grant Harrison recorded back-to-back strikeouts to secure the win for the Rattlers.
Starting pitcher Tyler Conklin (0-1) took the loss for EIU. He was relieved by Bryce Riggs in the seventh inning.
In his collegiate debut, Riggs allowed zero runs and just one hit while striking out four batters in 2.0 innings of work.
The EIU offense was led by Cole Gober with three hits, while five different Panthers recorded one RBI.
DAYTON 4, LINDENWOOD 2
DAYTON, Ohio - The Lindenwood baseball team fell 4-2 to the University of Dayton, in their season opener.
After a scoreless first inning, Dayton was able to score one run in the bottom of the second. In the top of the fourth, a double to right center field by Anthony Stellato pushed K. Edwards across home plate. In the fifth, Tyson Ludwid was hit by pitch with the bases loaded, and scored James Jett.
Dayton scored three runs in the bottom of the sixth inning to wrap up scoring for the game. Lindenwood finished with two runs on four hits and one error.
Michael Walsh took the loss for the Lions on the mound.
WICHITA STATE 18, LITTLE ROCK 5
LITTLE Rock, Ark. - The Little Rock Baseball team falls to the visiting Wichita State Shockers in the season opener.
The Trojans got off to a cold start going scoreless in the first five innings. In the 6th inning, there was a new energy as Little Rock popped off for 4 runs. Nico Baumbach was the catalyst of this run as he sent a ball 426 feet out of left field for a 2-run home run. This was followed by a double hit by Noah Brewer down the left field line which would put him in scoring position. Ty Rhoades would then bring him home with an RBI single into right field. Jake Wright would add on with am RBI single through the left side bringing Rhoades home. This 6th inning rally would lead to a 4-run inning.
Nico Baumbach would return to the dish in the 7th inning to secure his second home run of the game this time going 428 over left field. Baumbach would end the game going 3/4 with 2 homeruns.
Noah Brewer went 2/3 with 1 run and 2 RBI. Ty Rhoades went 2-4 scoring 1 run and 1 RBI.
DALLAS BAPTIST 9, SOUTHEAST MISSOURI 5
DALLAS - Southeast Missouri Baseball (0-1) fell in game one of 2024 by a final score of 9-5 to Dallas Baptist (1-0) on Friday afternoon. Chance Resetich led the SEMO offense going 3-for-4 with a pair of doubles, a single and an RBI.
Four Redhawks made their starting lineup debut in a SEMO uniform. Brooks Kettering, Michael Mugan, Bryce Cannon, and Ian Riley all made their first start on Friday afternoon.
OVC Preseason Player Josh Cameron finished 1-for-4 at the plate, driving in a RBI in the contest.
A four-run eighth inning for the Patriots proved to be the difference in the season-opener. An RBI groundout by Luke Heefner broke the 5-5 tie with one out in the inning.
With two outs, back-to-back doubles plated the seventh and eighth runs. A third double in a row finished off the inning as the Patriots held on for the win.
The Redhawks offense started hot, scoring four runs in the first four innings. Chance Resetich started the day going 3-for-3 with a pair of doubles and single.
RHP Collin Wilma (record) started on the mound for the Redhawks… The senior finished four complete innings pitched, striking out two, and surrendering just one walk. He allowed three runs on four hits in the season opener.
The Redhawks threatened early. Back-to-back singles from Redhawks debutants Brooks Kettering and Michael Mugan, put Redhawks on first and third with just one out in the first frame.
Mugan was caught stealing but got in a rundown to allow Kettering to come in for the first run of the game.
SEMO continued scoring in the second inning. With one out, first baseman Bryce Cannon doubled down the left field line. The next batter, Chance Resetich, doubled himself and brought Cannon around to score. The Redhawks led 2-0 after 1.5 innings.
A leadoff single in the home second by DBU's Tom Poole eventually scored as a Luke Heefner double to right-center brought in Poole for the Patriots' first run of the ballgame.
An RBI groundout would tie the game at two and after two complete innings, the Redhawks and Patriots were deadlocked at two.
A walk to Peyton Leeper and a hit-by-pitch on Brooks Kettering started the third inning with runners on first and second with nobody out.
Two batters later, right fielder Josh Cameron crushed a double to right field to bring in Kettering to give SEMO a 3-2 lead.
The fourth inning started with a Resetich double to left field once again. Center fielder Ian Riley was hit-by-a-pitch and Ben Palmer singled to third base to load the bases for SEMO.
An RBI groundout by Peyton Leeper (6-3) scored Resetich from third, giving SEMO a 4-2 lead.
A sacrifice fly to right field by Kettering would bring in the Redhawks fifth run of the game and midway through the fourth, SEMO led 5-2.
Luke Heefner recorded his second RBI of the game for DBU with an RBI groundout in the bottom half of the fourth.
The Patriots scored the rest of the runs in Friday's contest in the sixth and eighth innings to take game one of the series.
LHP Sam Heyman made his SEMO debut in the contest, pitching 2.1 innings and allowed two earned runs over 10 batters faced. He recorded two strikeouts in the outing.
Sophomore Gavin Johnston (0-1) was given the loss in the contest, allowing four earned runs in the eighth inning.
BELLARMINE 11, TENNESSEE TECH 3
COOKEVILLE, Tenn. - A fast start with the bats by visiting Bellarmine proved too much for the Tennessee Tech baseball team to overcome in the 2024 season opener at Quillen Field and Bush Stadium at the Averitt Express Baseball Complex, as the Knights downed the Golden Eagles 11-3 Friday afternoon.
Bellarmine (1-0) plated five runs over the opening three frames and scored in seven of nine innings on the day, riding the wave of 13 hits to defeat Tech (0-1) in the first contest of the three-game series. The Knights also received three no-hit frames from starter Cooper Hellman, who provided enough distance for his offense to provide the necessary lead.
Tech's patience at the plate seemed to pay dividends despite being held hitless over the first three frames, as the Golden Eagles drew five walks and drove up Hellman's pitch count enough to chase him from the game. The Cookeville crew saw an opening and pounced, doing damage in the fourth inning.
After the Knights plated a pair to take a 7-0 advantage, Tech answered right back with two runs of its own. With two outs, designated hitter Preston Ford spit a flare to left-center field to break up the visitors' no-hit bid, sparking the purple and gold.
Center fielder Nicho Jordan followed by drawing one of his four walks on the day out of the lead-off spot, providing a pair of runners for left fielder Austin Turner. The fifth-year senior delivered, smacking a single up the middle for an RBI.
Right fielder Theo Bryant IV worked a full count before continuing the two-out surge for Tech, ripping an RBI double down the left-field line. Both sides traded a single run in the sixth, with Bryant again earning the RBI thanks to a bases-loaded walk.
The Golden Eagles drew a whopping 10 walks on the day, but were held to just four hits. Bellarmine used the long ball to do its damage, tallying four home runs that accounted for seven of the team's runs.
Ford led the Tech bats with a pair of knocks and two runs scored in four at-bats. ETSU transfer Landon Smiddy took the loss for the Golden Eagles on the mound, surrendering six earned runs in 3.0 innings.
Rookie Drew Mattox made his collegiate debut on the hill, tossing 1.2 innings with one run allowed and a pair of strikeouts. Redshirt freshman Josh Beasley produced a scoreless ninth inning for Tech, picking up a strikeout.
MOREHEAD STATE 7, DAVIDSON 4
DAVIDSON, N.C. - Nick Gooden and Colton Becker racked up four hits to help power the Morehead State Baseball Eagles past the Davidson Wildcats 7-4 on Friday.
Luke Helton (1-0) got the win for Morehead State (1-0). The right-hander went 5.1 innings, giving up two runs, both of them earned, on five hits, allowing two walks and striking out seven. Sophomore Hunter Porter also pitched well, going 2.2 shutout innings without allowing a hit, walking four and striking out five.
In addition to his four hits, Gooden had an RBI to lead the Eagles. Becker put together a standout day at the plate as well, going 3-for-4 with a double, a home run and an RBI. Isaias Guzman also helped out for Morehead State, putting together two hits in five trips to the plate while adding a double and two RBI.
Trailing 2-0, the Eagles first put runs on the board in the third inning. Becker put Morehead State on the board with a two-out solo home run.
The Eagles kept the Wildcats off the board before taking the lead in the fourth. Morehead State brought home a pair, with one run driven in by senior Ryan Grabosch's single, which brought the Eagles lead to 3-2.
Morehead State kept Davidson scoreless before building their lead to 4-2 in the seventh inning. The Eagles scored once on an RBI single off the bat of .
Morehead State held the Wildcats scoreless before building on their lead in the ninth inning. Highlighted by a run-scoring double off the bat of Isaias Guzman, the Eagles put up a three spot, bringing the score to 7-2 in favor of Morehead State. Davidson put two runs on the scoreboard before the game was over, but the Eagles still held on for the 7-4 win.
TROY 9, SIUE 8
TROY, Ala. - Tremayne Cobb's line drive to center scored Shane Lewis in the 10th inning and Troy edged SIUE 9-8 on opening day.
Lucas Spence (0-1) suffered the loss for the Cougars. He worked a full inning and allowed a pair of runs. Lewis hit a popup which fell just inside the right field line for a triple to start the 10th.
SIUE built an 8-4 lead through six innings, scoring eight runs on 12 hits. The Cougars trailed 4-2 before scoring four runs in the fifth inning and two more in the sixth.
Kyle Ratliff hit a two-run home run in the inning-his second of the game. He finished with three RBIs.
Lucas Spence added two RBIs and Chase Bloomer and Ryan Niedzwiedz each drove home a run.
Blake Sutton hit a two-run home run in the seventh inning to bring Troy within two at 8-6. The Trojans scored a run in the eighth. Troy used two hits and benefited from two walks in the ninth to add a run and force extra innings.
Tyler DeLong started for the Cougars and allowed two runs in three innings. He struck out two but walked five.
Jacob Kampf worked 3.1 innings and allowed four runs and surrendered the home runs to Sutton in the seventh.
Duncan McLaughlin worked 1.2 innings and struck out four.
WESTERN ILLINOIS 6, AUSTIN PEAY 5
CLARKSVILLE, Tenn. - Head Coach Terry Davis's tenure as the man in charge could not have started any better as Western Illinois defeated Austin Peay 6-5 in Clarksville, TN, on Friday morning. The Leathernecks move to 1-0 for the first time since 2021 when they defeated #4 Louisville.
WIU's offense showed no rust from the offseason as Kyree Alexander reached base to start the ball game. Liam Bushey followed with a walk, giving Western Illinois a runner-in-scoring position, and WIU capitalized. Back-to-back doubles by Maxton Polad and Adam Juran brought in Alexander and Bushey, giving WIU an early 2-0 lead. Jason Buhl took the bump, making his Leatherneck debut. Buhl worked around some baserunners in the opening innings, picking up a big strikeout to keep the score at 2-0.
The Leathernecks offense backed up their starter in the top of the third inning. Bushey drew his second walk, and Polad advanced him to second with a single through the left side, giving Juran another RBI opportunity. With a 1-2 count, Juran took the pitch to deep left-center for a three-run home run, giving WIU a 5-0 lead.
Austin Peay rallied, scoring a run in the bottom of the third and four in the bottom of the fifth, tying the game at 5-5. Western Illinois would not panic as they put runners in scoring position in the 6th and 7th innings. In the 8th inning, Jackson Horn was hit by a pitch to give the Leathernecks a leadoff base runner. Max Slavens sac bunted Horn to second base with two outs in an 0-2 count. Freshman Trevor Leon delivered an RBI double down the right field line, putting the Leathernecks back in front 6-5.
After the four-run 5th inning for Austin Peay, WIU pitching took charge. Mason Telford worked around a one-out double to pitch a scoreless 6th. Cole Dale worked a one-two-three inning with a strikeout in the 7th. Caden Kratz did the rest as he pitched a scoreless 8th and 9th inning getting a double play to finish the ball game.
Adam Juran led the Leathernecks offense, going 2-5, with a home run, a double, and four RBI. Maxton Polad finished 3-5 with a double and RBI. Western Illinois' three and four hitters combined for 5-10 with three extra-base hits and five RBIs. Liam Bushey drew two out of the four Leatherneck walks, and Trevor Leon went 1-4 with a game-winning RBI double.
Jason Buhl went 4.1 innings, striking out three in his first outing. The Leatherneck bullpen went 4.2, striking out three as well and allowing zero runs. Cole Dale picks up his first win in a Western Illinois jersey as Caden Kratz picks up his first save of the season.
NORTHERN KENTUCKY 15, UT MARTIN 4
MARTIN, Tenn. - The University of Tennessee at Martin baseball team fought through rain and cold temperatures but came up short on Opening Day to Northern Kentucky, 15-4.
The Skyhawks (0-1) got RBI's from senior leadoff man Zac Rice, redshirt freshman Garner Anderson, senior Cameron Brady and junior Jalen Fithian. Andrew Fernandez and Brady recorded the first extra-base hits of the season for UT Martin, each hitting a double.
Six Skyhawk hurlers took the mound in Game 1 with Tristan Walton starting and throwing two innings before the lightning and rain caused serious delays. Choyce Diffey, Rett Edwards, Sam Smith, Dylan Lapic and Eli Martin came out of the bullpen. Lapic pitched 2.1 innings with three strikeouts and zero earned runs in his UT Martin debut. Martin closed out the game for the Skyhawks in the eighth and ninth innings, allowing no runs on two hits.
In the third inning UT Martin would cut its deficit to one with a Rice single to center field that brought home Fithian for the first run of the 2024 season. After four Norse runs in the fourth, Brady got the Skyhawks back in the run column with a double down the left field line to score Hunter McLean and advance Cole Smith to third. Fithian would get his first RBI in a UT Martin uniform by driving in Smith from third later in the inning.
After Northern Kentucky added to its lead in the fourth and fifth frames, the Skyhawks pushed one more run across the plate in the bottom of the ninth when Anderson drove in Fithian for his first career RBI in his collegiate debut.