SUNDAY'S SCORES
@South Alabama 5,
Southern Indiana 3 (Mobile, Ala.)
@Florida A&M 4-8,
Eastern Illinois 0-9
@Dayton 6-5,
Lindenwood 3-6
@Little Rock 5, Wichita State 4
@Dallas Baptist 6,
Southeast Missouri 5 (11 innings)
@Tennessee Tech 8, Bellarmine 1
Morehead State 6, @Davidson 3
@Troy 11,
SIUE 0
@Austin Peay 18-7,
Western Illinois 9-6
@UT Martin 13-2, Northern Kentucky 8-10
SOUTH ALABAMA 5, SOUTHERN INDIANA 3
MOBILE, Ala. - University of Southern Indiana Baseball allowed five unanswered runs to University of South Alabama and lost Sunday afternoon, 5-3, in Mobile, Alabama. USI is 0-3 to start the season, while South Alabama is 3-0 during the first weekend of the season.
USI grabbed an early for the third-straight game with a three-run third inning. Junior centerfielder Terrick Thompson-Allen (Sioux City, Iowa) opened the rally by scoring when senior rightfielder Ren Tachioka (Japan) reached on an error for the 1-0 lead.
Tachioka crossed the plate for a 2-0 advantage on a double by sophomore shortstop Caleb Niehaus (Newburgh, Indiana). Niehaus would score with two outs on an error after stealing third base for a 3-0 lead after two-and-a-half frames
The Jaguars would rally to close the gap to 3-2 with a tally in the bottom of the third and sixth innings. South Alabama would post it three-run frame in the seventh to take over the lead, 5-3, and the eventual final score.
On the mound, freshman right-hander Grant Parson (Owensboro, Kentucky) got a no decision after going the first four innings. Parson allowed one run on three hits and four walks, while striking out one.
Junior right-hander Gavin Seebold (Jeffersonville, Indiana) took the loss for the Eagles. Seebold (0-1) allowed three runs on two hits and a hit batter.
FLORIDA A&M 4-8, EASTERN ILLINOIS 0-9
TALLAHASSEE, Fla. - The Eastern Illinois baseball team (1-2, 0-0 OVC) picked up their first win of the 2024 season on Sunday, as they won game two of their double header against Florida A&M (2-1, 0-0 SWAC). After struggling to get things going in game one, the EIU line up came to life in the series finale to push the Panthers to victory in extra innings.
Offense was hard to come by for the Panthers in Sunday's opener, as they fell to the Rattlers by a score of 4-0 in seven innings, which brought their overall record to 0-2.
After a scoreless first inning, FAMU got on the board in the bottom of the second when a Jakoby Stanley double with the bases loaded drove in two runs. The Rattlers would plate one more run in the inning to go up 3-0.
The next two innings were a stalemate, as the two teams combined for just one hit and no runs. The Rattlers would strike again in the bottom of the fifth with a Sebastian Greico RBI single. However, relief pitcher Eli Cartwright would work his way out of a bases loaded jam to limit the damage.
The Panthers were unable to seize any momentum in the last two innings, as Florida A&M salted the game away with more strong pitching.
Casey Perrenoud (0-1) suffered the loss for EIU. In his Panthers debut, the junior college transfer struck out five batters through 4.0 innings pitched.
Eli Cartwright, another newcomer, struck out four and allowed zero runs through 2.0 innings of relief work.
Cole Gober reached base three times for the Eastern offense with a single, walk, and hit by pitch. He also stole two bases.
In game two, the Panthers offense flipped the script in game two, as the Eastern line up combined for three home runs and scored in five different innings to earn their first win of the season.
After FAMU scored a pair runs in the bottom of the first, EIU responded with two runs of their own in the next at-bat. The first score came when Robby Taul singled to drive Kolten Poorman in from third, which was immediately followed by a Dylan Drumke sacrifice that plated Danny Infante to tie the ball game.
Eastern followed that up with an offensive explosion in the third, as the wrecking crew of Michael O'Conor, Lucas Loos, and Cole Gober smashed three consecutive homers. The long balls were EIU's first of the season and gave them an early 5-2 lead.
The Rattlers got two of those runs back in the top of the third, but Danny Infante and Kolten Poorman dove in a run each in the fifth to put the Panthers back up by three.
However, FAMU refused to go down quietly and fought their way back to force extra innings.
Robby Taul led off the extra frame by reaching base on a Rattlers error. Two batters later, Trenton Pallas singled, leading to a FAMU throwing error that allowed Taul to score the go ahead run from second.
To seal the victory, EIU called upon the services of senior reliever Colton Coca. In his first action of 2024, Coca put the FAMU line up down in order, including two strikeouts, to secure Eastern's first victory of the season.
Coca gets credit for the win to move to 1-0 on the season.
The Eastern offense was led by Lucas Loos with three hits, including a home run and a double, and three runs scored.
In total, six different Panthers scored runs and seven recorded at least one RBI.
DAYTON 6-5, LINDENWOOD 3-6
DAYTON, Ohio - In their opening weekend, the Lindenwood baseball team went 1-2, splitting today's doubleheader. In game one, Dayton was able to escape with a 6-3 win, however, Lindenwood won the final contest 6-5.
In game one, the Lions jumped to a 3-0 lead in the top of the second. A triple to right center by Tyson Ludwig pushed Jett Jackson across home plate. Colin Shea's single to right center earned an RBI as Ludwig scored. A sacrifice fly by Mitch Cummins to right center scored Chase Honeycutt.
Dayton was able to score once in the third, three in the fourth and two in the fifth. LU finished the contest with three runs on four hits and no errors. Preston Salazar took the loss for the Lions on the mound.
Game two started with Dayton going up 2-0 in the bottom of the first. Lindenwood returned the favor by scoring two runs of their own in the top of the second. Dayton scored another run in the bottom of the inning to retake the lead, 3-2. The Lions scored once in the top of the third to knot the score at 3-3, while holding their opponents scoreless in the bottom of the inning.
In the bottom of the fourth and seventh, Dayton scored one run, going up 5-3. After a scoreless eighth, the Lions roared with three runs in the top of the ninth and held Dayton scoreless in the bottom of the inning to secure a 6-5 victory. Lindenwood completed the game with six runs on 11 hits and four errors.
A breakdown of the scoring in game two: Dawson Hokuf homered to left field in the second and a single by Jack Meyer scored Jett Jackson. In the third, Bryson Arnette tripled to left center to score Kam Edwards. In the ninth Edwards singled to the right side to advance Ambrose Russo to third and score Colin Shea. A single by Arnette to the right side scored Russo. Easton Rakers took the win for the Lions on the mound.
Coach Finigan also said, "Really proud of our guys and how they battled all day in tough conditions.
LITTLE ROCK 5, WICHITA STATE 4
LITTLE Rock, Ark. - The Little Rock baseball team takes the series finale game against Wichita State. This win marks the Trojans' first victory over the Shockers in program history as well as the first win of the 2024 season.
The Shockers would get out to an early lead as freshman pitcher Zach Busick began his Trojan debut with loaded bases after walking his first two batters and conceding a single. Despite the loaded bases, Busick and the Trojans were able to escape the first inning giving up a single run after Seguine and Brewer connect for all three outs completing a double play and a routine 6-3 ground out.
Senior Luke Pectol got the Trojans going early as he sent a 380 foot bomb to right field for his first home run of the year. This would give the Trojans the first tied score of the series.
In the second inning, Busick threw his first and second career strikeouts before conceding a 2 RBI double to put the Shockers up 3-1. After this, Erik McKnight would enter the game and end the inning with a quick 3 strike strikeout. The Trojans would respond with a 2-run inning of their own. It all started when Skyler Trevino led off the inning with a single through the right side. He would then advance to third after a Ty Rhoades walk and Ben Harmon gets hit by a pitch. Jake Wright would also get hit by a pitch, bringing Trevino home to score. The Trojans would tie it up after a sacrifice flyout to centerfield by Alex Seguine.
The third inning saw the Shockers regain the lead scoring on a wild pitch just minutes after a costly error put them in scoring position. After gaining the lead and shutting the Trojans out in the third, the Shockers would not cross home plate again.
The fourth and fifth inning saw the Trojans score once a piece. Alex Seguine hits an RBI double to center field bringing Jake Wright home in the fourth. Nico Baumbach hits for a single up the middle and is then put in scoring position after an error in left field. Ty Rhoades would then hit a sacrifice groundout bringing Nico Baumbach home to grab the lead 5-4.
Neither team could score for the remainder of the game giving reliever Austin Stubber his first win and Jacob Weatherley his first save of the 2024 season.
DALLAS BAPTIST 6, SOUTHEAST MISSOURI 5 (11)
DALLAS - Southeast Missouri Baseball (0-3) fell in extra innings in the series finale with Dallas Baptist (3-0) by a final score of 6-5 from Horner Ballpark Sunday afternoon.
Trailing 5-4 in the top of the ninth, shortstop Ben Palmer led off the inning with his first home run of the season and sent the game to extra innings. Palmer finished the day 1-for-4 with a home run and two RBIs.
LHP Haden Dow made his first start on the mound in 2024 finishing 4.1 innings allowing four runs on four hits. The lefty struck out one batter.
First baseman Bryce Cannon registered his first home run in a SEMO uniform. The junior finished 2-for-5 at the plate with a blast and a RBI.
Michael Mugan continued his hot start to the season on Sunday, including two, two-out RBI singles in the contest. Mugan finished 3-for-5 at the plate with a double and two RBIs.
The Redhawks utilized their speed in Sunday's contest stealing four bases against DBU. Peyton Leeper, Brooks Kettering, Josh Cameron, and Cannon all recorded a steal in the contest.
The Patriots started the scoring in Sunday's contest for the first time in the entire series. A double by Ethan Mann was followed by a two-run home run from catcher Grant Jay. Miguel Santos followed with a solo shot and DBU led 3-0 after one.
A scoreless second inning from both teams, the Redhawks would find the scoreboard in the third.
With one out, Peyton Leeper recorded the first hit of the day for SEMO with a nice line drive to left field. Leeper stole second base to get into scoring position. Outfielder Michael Mugan drove in Leeper with two outs for SEMO's first run.
Jay would record his second home run of the afternoon in the home half to restore DBU's three-run lead. After the third inning, DBU led 4-1.
SEMO wasted no time getting that run back in the fourth inning. Making his first start, third baseman Caleb Corbin recorded his first hit as a Redhawk with a single to the shortstop. Corbin stole second and advanced to third on a swinging bunt by catcher Nolan Ackerman.
Shortstop Ben Palmer perfectly executed the squeeze bunt to score Corbin from third for SEMO's second run. The Redhawks trailed 4-2 after the fourth inning.
Dow, Esteban Hernandez, and Ethan Osborne combined to throw a scoreless fifth and sixth inning. Dow recorded the first out in the fifth inning before giving way to Hernandez. Hernandez pitched a flawless final two outs in the fifth. Osborne kept the score where it was with a scoreless sixth.
Trailing 4-2 in the seventh, the Redhawks would make some noise. For the second time in the ballgame, Mugan drove home a two-out RBI to score pinch-runner Shea McGahan to get SEMO to within a run.
DBU would answer in their seventh with a Ty Pendergast solo shot off reliever Eddie White to regain a two-run Patriots lead. DBU led 5-3 heading to the eighth.
First baseman Bryce Cannon recorded his first home run in a SEMO uniform with one out in the eighth inning. Cannon blasted a solo shot over the right field fence off od DBU reliver Luke Pettitte. SEMO trailed 5-4 heading to the ninth inning.
Leading off the ninth inning, Ben Palmer took Pettitte deep for two-straight innings with a homerun. Palmer crushed the ball over DBU's bullpen to tie it at five apiece.
Playing all the way to the home 11th, the Patriots led off the inning with a walk. A Luke Heefner sacrifice bunt moved pinch-runner Keaton Grady to second base. DBU's Chayton Krauss hit a walk-off RBI single to steal the series finale.
RHP Kyle Miller (0-1) was given the loss on Sunday.
TENNESSEE TECH 8, BELLARMINE 1
COOKEVILLE, Tenn. - Relentless, first-inning offense and another pair of stand-out performances on the mound led the Tennessee Tech baseball team to an 8-1 victory over Bellarmine Sunday afternoon, as the Golden Eagles claimed the first series of the season at Quillen Field and Bush Stadium at the Averitt Express Baseball Complex.
Making his collegiate debut, Tech (2-1) starter Jack Brafa looked like a seasoned veteran in his first game in the purple and gold. Picking up his first career win, the Medina, Tenn. native covered 5.1 innings on the hill for the Cookeville crew, scattering four hits, a walk, and one earned run while striking out three.
The freshman needed just 12 pitches to retire the Knights' (1-2) side in order, including his first career punch out. The Golden Eagle bats immediately rewarded Brafa for his clean inning, drumming up five runs in the opening frame.
Bellarmine looked well on its way to its own efficient half of the first, gathering strikeouts to the first two Tech batters. Senior catcher Hayden Gilliland kicked off a two-out rally, however, singling to right-center field to keep the inning alive.
Center fielder Nicho Jordan worked back from an 0-2 count to draw a clutch walk, setting up second baseman Troy Baunsgard for the first run of the game. The senior came through, poking a 1-2 pitch to right-center field for an RBI and 1-0 Tech lead.
Another Golden Eagle rookie showed off on the day, as designated hitter Mack Whitcomb stepped up to the dish with a chance to deliver a bigger advantage for his fellow freshman, Brafa. The Mokena, Ill. native delivered, crushing the first pitch he saw to right-center field, clearing the wall for a three-run home run.
Tech's first long ball of the year provided a 4-0 edge, and the offense still had more to provide. Shortstop Preston Steele got plunked by a pitch and third baseman Tanner Shiver drew a walk, bringing first baseman Preston Ford to the plate. The senior responded with an RBI base knock to center field, helping the purple and gold bat around in the first to the tune of a 5-0 lead.
The Knights claimed their lone run of the contest in the second, using a two-out triple that just squeaked inside the first-base line to set things up. A double drove in the run before Brafa induced a lazy ground ball to first to end the frame.
In the fifth, the Tech bats went back to work, loading the bases with two outs. Right fielder Jackson Green provided the first clutch moment of the inning, drawing a bases-loaded walk for an RBI. Gilliland followed with a single through the left side on an 0-2 count, plating two more Golden Eagles for the 8-1 decision.
Junior right-hander Jack Erdman took over the mound for Brafa in the sixth inning, showing poise in his first appearance as a member of the Cookeville crew. A native of Kirkland, Wash., he knocked out the final 3.2 innings for the Golden Eagles, limiting Bellarmine to just two base runners on a pair of base hits.
Securing the team's first save of the season, Erdman held the Knights scoreless the rest of the day, racking up four strikeouts without issuing a walk.
Baunsgard paced the offense with three of the team's 10 hits in the contest. Gilliland and Shiver each delivered a pair of hits as well while Whitcomb led the day with three RBI.
The purple and gold piled up four stolen bases in the contest as well, with left fielder Austin Turner leading the way with a pair. Jordan and Shiver each accounted for a swipe as well.
MOREHEAD STATE 6, DAVIDSON 3
DAVIDSON, N.C. - The Morehead State baseball team took a 2-0 lead in the first inning and never surrendered the advantage on the way to a 6-3 victory against the Davidson Wildcats on Sunday.
Freshman Callum McGill (1-0) started on the mound and picked up the win for Morehead State (2-1). The right-hander went six innings in his debut, giving up two runs, one earned, on two hits, allowing three walks and striking out six. Junior Will Grimmett also made an impact on the mound for the Eagles, throwing three innings, giving up one run on three hits, with no walks and two strikeouts, closing out the victory.
Senior Roman Kuntz led the way offensively for the Eagles, going 1-for-5 in the ballgame with a home run and two RBI. Senior Colton Becker provided a noteworthy performance at the dish as well, going 1-for-3 with two walks and two RBI. Freshman Hayden Robbins also chipped in, going 2-for-3 for Morehead State with a double and an RBI.
The Eagles got on the board immediately, starting their scoring with two runs in the top of the first inning. Morehead State plated two runs when Kuntz left the yard with Becker aboard.
The Wildcats then gained ground, narrowing the lead to 2-1 until the Eagles expanded their advantage in the second. Morehead State plated two runs off of Davidson pitching, punctuated by a run-scoring double off the bat of Robbins, which brought the Eagles lead to 4-1.
Davidson narrowed Morehead State's lead to 4-2 before the Eagles stretched the advantage to 6-2 in the eighth inning. The Eagles scored two runs when a single from Becker scored sophomore Carter Owens and Robbins. Davidson put one run on the scoreboard before the game was over, but Morehead State still held on for the 6-3 win.
TROY 11, SIUE 0
TROY, Ala. - SIUE baseball dropped the final game of its season-opening series 11-0 to Troy in seven innings.
The Cougars finished the weekend 1-3.
Troy broke through with one out in the third. Two walks and a hit batter by SIUE starter Spencer Stearns set up Will butcher, who blasted a first-pitch grand slam to left center to put the Trojans up 4-0.
Kole Myers picked up a two-run double and Butcher added an RBI-double in the bottom of the fourth to extend Troy's lead to 7-0.
Troy's Kyle Mock and Aidan Gilroy both hit two-run home runs off SIUE reliever Liam McKillop in the bottom of the fifth for an 11-0 advantage.
Stearns (0-1) suffered the loss, allowing seven runs, four earned, on four hits. He struck out three.
Danile Gierer's single in the third inning and Johsua Heyder's double in the seventh were the only hits for the Cougars.
Troy righthander Clete Hartzog (1-0) tossed five shutout innings, allowing one hit and striking out seven, for the win.
AUSTIN PEAY 18-7, WESTERN ILLINOIS 9-6
CLARKSVILLE, Tenn. - Home runs were no strangers to the ballpark as Western Illinois and Austin Peay combined for 11 of them during Sunday's doubleheader. The Leathernecks fell in game one 18-9 and in game two 7-6 as they move to 1-2 on the season.
The offense came out early in game one of the double headers as Maxton Polad and Cesar Franco drew one-out walks, giving Adam Juran an opportunity with a running in scoring position. Just like he did on Friday, Juran sent a ball over the left field fence, giving WIU an early 3-0 lead. Austin Peay responded with five runs in the first and a run in the second, pushing their lead out to 6-3.
The home run ball came back into play for Western Illinois in the top of the third inning as Cesar Franco homered down the right-field line, cutting the deficit to two at 6-4. Austin Peay had a response as they broke open the game to 14-4 over the next two innings.
Western Illinois would get back on the scoreboard in the 5th inning off the bat of Liam Bushey with a solo shot. The Leathernecks offense was held relatively quiet until the 7th inning. J.R. Heavilin led off the inning with a double, and Kyree Alexander and Bushey drew walks to load the bases with one out. With Maxton Polad at the plate in a 2-0 count, the junior drove the ball over the left field fence for a grand slam as WIU cut the lead to 17-9.
Austin Peay added a run in the 8th as they took game one 18-9.
Western Illinois collected six hits on the day, all for extra bases. Juran and Polad led the offense for the second straight game as they combined to drive in for seven of the nine runs. WIU drew seven walks and only left three on base.
Austin Peay struck first in game two on Sunday, scoring a pair of runs in the bottom of the first inning. The Leatherneck's bats woke up in inning number two as Kyree Alexander hit a two-run home run, tying the game at two. Tyler Kapraun kept dealing, allowing just three runs throughout his 4.2 innings of work.
Down 3-2 in the top of the fifth, Cesar Franco stepped up to plate with two outs and Maxton Polad and Liam Bushey on base and drove a ball through the right side of the infield as WIU marched from behind for the second time to even the game at three. Austin Peay threatened in the bottom half of the fifth, but Chase Golden came in and shut the door.
Once again trailing by one (4-3) in the seventh, J.R. Heavilin led off the inning with a base hit. Alexander followed with his second hit of the day, putting WIU with the tying run in scoring position. After a Liam Bushey walk loaded the bases, Cesar Franco would drive in the tying run on a fielder's choice. Austin Peay would have an error on the play that allowed Alexander to score from second as WIU saw themselves in front for the first time at 5-4.
Austin Peay did not let Western Illinois celebrate as long as they would score two in the bottom of the seventh and one in the eighth, taking a 7-5 lead into the ninth inning. The Leathernecks would threaten in the ninth as they loaded the bases with zero outs. Unfortunately, WIU could only scrape across one run as they fell 7-6.
J.R. Heavilin, Cesar Franco, and Kyree Alexander led the way, each having two hits. Franco and Alexander both had two RBIs as well. Maxton Polad was the only other Leatherneck to collect a base hit. Western Illinois drew nine walks as a team.
UT MARTIN 13-2, NORTHERN KENTUCKY 8-10
MARTIN, Tenn. - The University of Tennessee at Martin baseball team was able to earn its first win of the 2024 campaign in a split of the doubleheader with Northern Kentucky this afternoon, winning Game 1 by a 13-8 margin before falling 7-1 in the nightcap.
Second baseman Andrew Fernandez had a great day at the plate, going 5-for-8 with multi-hit outings in both ends of the doubleheader. He crushed the Skyhawks’ first home run of the 2024 season in Game 1 and added a triple in Game 2. Will Smith also homered with three hits and three RBI’s in Game 1 as eight of the nine members of the starting lineup drove in at least one run. Mac Danford (three RBI’s, two runs scored), Hunter McLean (three hits, two runs scored), Cole Smith (three hits), Jalen Fithian (two hits) and Zac Rice (two runs scored) all did major damage in today’s first contest.
On the mound, UT Martin senior Eric Steensma (4.2 innings pitched, three hits, one earned run) came out of the bullpen to earn the victory in Game 1. Zach Wager (six innings, four hits, three earned runs, four strikeouts) delivered a quality start in Game 2. Tucker Reed stranded a pair of runners while recording the final out in today’s first contest while Campbell Cleveland (0.2 innings) and Davis Benton (one inning) each did not allow an earned run out of the bullpen in Game 2.
UT Martin trailed early before a Danford sacrifice fly got the Skyhawks on the scoreboard in the bottom of the first.
Seven runs were then unleashed in the bottom of the second as UT Martin received RBI’s from Fithian, Fernandez, Will Smith, Danford (two), Blaze Bell and McLean. Six of the seven runs in the inning came with two outs.
The Skyhawks weren’t done as a Cameron Brady RBI single in the fourth drove home McLean (who reached on a double).
Fernandez and Will Smith would go yard with back-to-back home runs to open the UT Martin half of the fifth while Cole Smith later smacked an RBI double to put yet another crooked number on the scoreboard.
A double from Rice in the sixth inning led to an RBI single off the bat of Will Smith to conclude the Skyhawks’ offensive production in the frontend.
That offense would be plenty for Steensma, who entered the game in relief of starter Jeb Bartle (four innings, three strikeouts). Steensma kept the Norse off the scoreboard until the top of the ninth, only conceding one hit and one batter to reach on a hit by pitch in his first four innings. Reed took over with baserunners on first and second and two away, inducing a groundout to seal up the first win of the season for the Skyhawks.
The rubber match would take the form of a lower scoring affair for the first seven innings as Northern Kentucky’s Ben Gerl and Wager dueled on the mound. The reigning Ohio Valley Conference Freshman of the Year, Wager retired the first four batters he faced and later sat down seven consecutive Norse hitters in the middle frames. The lefty wrapped up his day with a pair of strikeouts in a scoreless sixth inning – his third straight shutout frame of the afternoon.
Fernandez continued his hot start to the season with a 2-for-4 performance in the series finale. The senior laced a two-out triple in the top of the third and would later score on a wild pitch to get UT Martin on the scoreboard.
Garner Anderson would drive in his second run of the series with a pinch-hit single in the bottom of the ninth to cap off the scoring for the Skyhawks. He was the fourth UT Martin hitter to reach base in the inning – following Jonah Wichman (walk), Cullen Box (single) and Cole Smith (walk) – but the Skyhawks could not tack on any more runs.