SATURDAY'S SCORES
@Morehead State 27, Butler 15
@North Carolina A&T 10-4,
Eastern Illinois 3-3
@Lindenwood 5, Bradley 0
@Southeast Missouri 12-13, Toledo 0-3
Western Illinois 5-0, @Eastern Kentucky 3-4
Notre Dame 15,
@Tennessee Tech 11
South Dakota State 8-5,
@SIUE 1-4
Little Rock 5, @Belmont 3 (14)
@Southern Indiana 8, St. Thomas 6
Middle Tennessee 17,
@UT Martin 8
MOREHEAD STATE 27, BUTLER 15
MOREHEAD, Ky. - There was no shortage of offense at Sonny Allen Field Saturday, as the Morehead State baseball team put up 27 runs -- the most since 2017 (28 vs. SIUE, school record) in a series-clinching victory over the Butler Bulldogs.
As a team, Morehead State posted 16 hits, drew 16 walks, hit seven home runs (including two grand slams), and stole six bases.
Senior Ryley Preece led the way offensively for the Eagles, going 3-for-4 in the ballgame with two home runs, three walks and three RBI. Senior Colton Becker provided a noteworthy performance as well, going 3-for-4 with a double, a home run, two walks and five RBI. Carter Owens and Hamilton Anderson both hit grand slams, Isaias Guzman and Ryan Grabosch also homered.
The Eagles scored in six different innings on the way to victory.
NORTH CAROLINA A&T 10-4, EASTERN ILLINOIS 3-3
GREENSBORO, N.C. - Eastern Illinois (1-8, 0-0 OVC) dropped both of their double header contests against North Carolina A&T (8-2, 0-0 CAA) on Saturday. A strong offensive output in game one along with some impressive pitching performances carried the Aggies past the Panthers.
EIU dropped their opening game against North Carolina A&T by a score of 10-3. A strong showing from Aggies starting pitcher Coley Kilpatrick paved the way for the NCAT victory.
The Aggies got things going early with two RBI singles in the bottom of the first to take a 2-0 lead.
The Panthers threatened in the top of the third after a couple of errors allowed Grant Lashure to advance to third base and Quade Peters stole second following a walk, but Coley Kilpatrick worked back-to-back strikeouts to escape the inning and keep EIU off the board.
NCAT tacked on one run apiece in their next two at-bats before exploding with four runs in the bottom of the fifth to put Eastern in a 8-0 hole.
Meanwhile, the Panthers' hitters struggled to figure out Kilpatrick and had zero hits entering the sixth inning.
EIU's first knock first came by way of an Eli Hill lead-off single in the top of the sixth, but the Panthers were unable to build any momentum as the next three batters went down in order.
After the Aggies scored two more in the bottom of the sixth, the Panthers finally broke through to plate three runs in the seventh.
EIU's first run was scored when Kolten Poorman doubled to drive in Michael O'Conor from second. In the next at-bat, a fly ball off the bat of Chris Worcester allowed Danny Infante to tag and score from third.
Kolten Poorman took home off of a wild pitch for EIU's third run of the inning.
The Panthers would move runners into scoring position in both the eighth and ninth innings but were unable to capitalize as they fell 10-3.
Tyler Conklin (0-2) took the loss for EIU, while Coley Kilpatrick (1-0) picked up the win for NCAT. Kilpatrick allowed just one hit while striking out seven batters through six innings of work.
In a much more competitive game two, the Panthers fell 4-3. The game was originally scheduled for seven innings but took eight to be decided.
A&T got on the board first when Shemar Dalton scored on a wild pitch in the first. However, with the bases loaded, Jonothan Hanscom forced a fly out to get out of the inning and limit the damage.
The Panthers evened up the score in the third inning with a Cole Gober single that brought home Trenton Pallas from second.
Eastern then took their first lead of the series when Grant Lashure drove home Lucas Loos with a ground out to second. In the next at-bat, Dylan Drumke extended the lead with a solo home run, his first of the season.
After a scoreless fifth, the Aggies responded in the sixth inning with a two-run homer off the bat of TJ Ash that tied the game at three apiece heading into the final regulation frame.
Eastern loaded the bases with two outs in the top of the seventh, but NCAT reliever Angel Ortiz shut the door with a strikeout to keep things tied. The Panthers would hold the Aggies scoreless in the bottom half to force the game into extra innings.
After EIU's batters were put out in order the top of the eighth, TJ Ash singled with the bases loaded to walk things off for the Aggies.
Zane Robbins (1-1) suffered the loss for EIU while Angel Ortiz (1-0) was credited with the win.
LINDENWOOD 5, BRADLEY 0
ST. CHARLES, Mo. - The Lindenwood Lions faced the Bradley Braves on Saturday evening, winning 5-0. Eli Brown took the win for LU on the mound, pitching 6.2 innings and only giving up three hits.
The Lions scored once in the bottom of the first and second innings and three in the bottom of the eighth. A sacrifice fly from Bryson Arnette scored Kam Edwards in the first. In the second, Tyson Ludwig grounded out to the third baseman allowing Mitch Cummins to score.
In the eighth, a double by Dawson Hokuf and James Jett speeding from second added one run for Lindenwood. Logan Stevens' double pushed Hokuf in for another LU run and finally Ethan Abercrombie singled down the right field line to score Stevens.
SOUTHEAST MISSOURI 12-13, TOLEDO 0-3
CAPE GIRARDEAU, Mo. - Southeast Missouri Baseball (6-6) scored 25 combined runs over Saturday's doubleheader, downing Toledo (3-7) by a final score of 12-0 in game one and 13-3 in game two from Capaha Field.
SEMO's offense was on fire in both games, combining for 18 hits on the afternoon and four home runs. The Redhawks also drew 14 walks, including six hit-by-pitches combined over the 14-inning day.
Both games ended in the seventh inning as an agreed upon run-rule was in affect prior to the start of each game.
The Redhawks, who had hit a grand slam earlier in the week at Missouri, had a grand slam in each game this afternoon. Catcher Nolan Ackerman hit the first slam of the day in the fourth inning of game one and designated hitter Ty Stauss hit the second one in game two in the first inning.
LHP Haden Dow (2-0) had a fabulous start in his first Saturday start of the season in game one pitching 6.0 innings of run-free baseball. The Canadian lefty allowed just three hits and struck out a season-high nine batters.
RHP Brian Strange (1-1) picked up his first win of the 2024 season in game two of the afternoon. Strange struck out seven Rockets and allowed just three runs on five hits over 6.0 innings of work.
First baseman Bryce Cannon continued his hot week with a three-run home run in the bottom of the first inning off Toledo's Grant Umberger (1-2). Ben Palmer started the game with a walk, two batters later Michael Mugan singled to put two runners on for Cannon.
In the second inning, another leadoff walk came around to score. Stauss drew a walk off Umberger and two batters later, short stop Ben Palmer drove a ball over the left-center field wall for the second home run of the game for SEMO. After the second inning, the Redhawks led 5-0.
Stauss hit fourth in the third inning and after Cannon reached on an error, and Josh Cameron walked, Stauss lined an RBI single into left field that scored Cannon from second base and the Redhawks led 6-0 over the Rockets.
A six-run fourth inning was the final nail in the coffin in game one as the Redhawks' Chance Resetich doubled down the left field line that scored Mugan and Brooks Kettering after they walked and singled, respectively.
With Resetich on second base, Cameron and Stauss both reached base to load the bases for Ackerman. Ackerman crushed a ball over the left field wall for his first home run of the season and the second grand slam of the week as the Redhawks wrapped up game one in seven innings, 12-0.
SEMO did not slow down to start the second game as the Redhawks hit around in the order to the tune of seven first inning runs off of Toledo's Logan Danzeisen (0-2) led by Ty Stauss' grand slam.
The first seven Redhawks in the batting order reached safely off Danzeisen beginning with Ben Palmer who on the first pitch of game two, reached on an error by short stop Kaleb Herbert.
Second baseman Brooks Kettering lined a ball back up the middle that hit off Danzeisen, who would remain in the game, for the first hit of the contest. Outfielder Michael Mugan was hit-by-a-pitch to load the bases for the cleanup hitter, Chance Resetich.
Resetich lined a single to left field to plate Kettering and Palmer for the first two runs of the contest.
A pass ball during Bryce Cannon's first at-bat advanced Mugan and Resetich 90-feet before the first baseman roped a double that bounced off the left-center field wall to score Mugan.
Right fielder Josh Cameron drew a walk which brought in Stauss. Stauss clobbered the baseball into the right field party deck to make it 7-0 Redhawks after the first inning.
Toledo did not record an out until the eighth spot in the SEMO order.
Catcher Shea McGahan added two more runs in the second inning with a bases loaded, two RBI double down the left field line after three walks loaded the bases for SEMO.
Stauss' fifth RBI of the ball game came in the fourth inning with a sacrifice fly to left field that would give SEMO its 10th run of the ball game.
Three more runs in the fifth inning would give SEMO a 13-3 lead as they held on for the 10-run victory.
WESTERN ILLINOIS 5-0, EASTERN KENTUCKY 3-4
RICHMOND, Ky. - The Western Illinois baseball team split their doubleheader against Eastern Kentucky on Saturday. The Leathernecks won game one 5-3 before falling 4-0 in game two. WIU moves to 2-6 overall on the season.
Western Illinois offense started slow as they found themselves down 3-0 heading into the fourth inning. Liam Bushey reached first base via a fielder's choice with one out to start the inning after a strikeout. Kyree Alexander tripled to center field, bringing around Bushey to give WIU their first run after sitting down; EKU, in the bottom of the fourth Western Illinois offense, heated back up. Back-to-back singles by Grant Palmer and Trevor Leon started the inning. Chris Hege would bring Palmer to the score with a sac bunt as WIU cut the deficit in half to 3-2. Maxton Polad kept the hit train moving as he doubled to right center, bringing in Leon and tying the game at 3-3.
Jason Buhl took it the rest of the way. He pitched a one-two-three inning in the 5th and a leadoff base runner in the 6th to keep the game all squared. The Leathernecks offense picked up their pitcher in the 7th. Poland started the one-out rally with a single throw to the left side, moving Hege to second base. Juran followed with a single to center field, bringing in Hege, giving WIU the 4-3 lead.
WIU bullpen shut down the Eastern Kentucky offense as Billy Humphrey pitched a scoreless 7th inning, and Caden Kratz did the rest, picking up the save with a scoreless 8th and 9th inning. WIU added an insurance run in the 9th inning as Maxton Polad hit a solo shot, giving WIU the 5-3 win.
Game 2 was not so friendly to WIU offense, and the Leathernecks only had one base runner through the first four innings and found themselves down 4-0 heading into the fourth. J.R. Heavilin broke up the no-hitter bid with a single to left field in the 5th inning. The Leathernecks developed their best chance to score runs in the 6th inning. Hege singled with one out and then advanced to second on a wild pitch. Juran and Bushey drew walks to load the bases, but WIU would not push any runs across. Juran would have the final hit for WIU in the ninth inning with a leadoff triple, but the Leathernecks could not push across a run as they fell 4-0.
Maxton Polad led the Leathernecks in the hit department with three hits in the doubleheader. Polad also led with two RBIs. Adam Juran had two hits in game one and a hit in game two to go along with his one RBI. Western Illinois collected eight hits as a team in game one and three in game two. The Leathernecks bullpen was lights out today, allowing just one run in a 9.1 inning, striking out nine Eastern Kentucky batters.
NOTRE DAME 15, TENNESSEE TECH 11
COOKEVILLE, Tenn. - A massive, offensive outburst to kick off the day wasn't enough for the Tennessee Tech baseball team to even its weekend series with Notre Dame Saturday afternoon, as the Fighting Irish rallied to defeat the Golden Eagles 15-11 at Quillen Field and Bush Stadium at the Averitt Express Baseball Complex.
After struggling to get the bats going in Friday's series-opening loss, the purple and gold left no doubt early in game two, plating a whopping nine runners over the first two innings of action at the Quill. Starter Peyton Calitri set the tone, setting down the Fighting Irish side in order in the first.
Tech (6-4) went to work with the sticks from there, with left fielder Austin Turner wasting no time by cranking a base hit through the left side on the first pitch of the bottom half. Notre Dame (7-2) secured a pair of outs to move closer to the second, but the Cookeville crew had other plans.
Center fielder Nicho Jordan turned on an 0-2 offering for a no-doubt, two-run bomb down the right-field line, providing an instant 2-0 lead for the Golden Eagles. Shortstop Preston Steele kept things rolling with a base hit down the left-field line before right fielder Theo Bryant IV plated him with a double that one-hopped the wall in center field.
Still not done, third baseman Eddie Garza ripped an RBI single up the middle to make it a four-run first frame for the purple and gold. Notre Dame picked up three, unearned runs in the top of the second, but the Tech bats were just warming up.
In the bottom of the second, the entire lineup came to the plate for the second time, with second baseman Troy Baunsgard and Jordan sandwiching a walk to catcher Hayden Gilliland with a pair of infield knocks to load the bags. Steele came through in the big spot, ripping a single to the deep hole at shortstop for an RBI single.
The Fighting Irish attempted to throw out the runner at second despite a difficult play, but the late attempt sailed into right field, allowing another run to score and Jordan to advance to third. Bryant then provided an exclamation point on the frame, crushing a three-run jack down the right-field line for his first round-tripper of the season and a 9-3 Tech lead.
In the fourth, Notre Dame fought back again, using a pair of two-run home runs to trim the Tech lead to 9-7. The Golden Eagles had one last run of offense in their bag of tricks, answering in the bottom of the inning.
Jordan drew a seven-pitch walk to lead off the frame and set the table. Steele followed, clobbering a 2-2 pitch well over the wall in right field for a two-run oppo taco, the slugger's third blast of the season.
Ever relentless, the Fighting Irish lived up to their moniker, plating five more runs in the fifth to take their first lead of the day at 12-11. They added three more in the seventh for a little cushion as the pitching staff took control and limited the Golden Eagles to just three hits over the final five innings of the contest.
Eight members of the Tech lineup recorded hits on the day, led by a 4-for-4 showing by Steele. He also scored three times and drove in a trio of runs. Bryant finished 3-for-5 with four RBI and pair of runs while Jordan delivered a 2-for-4 performance with three runs and two RBI.
On the mound, rookie hurler Drew Mattox offered up a pair of scoreless frames in the eighth and ninth, turning the first half of a double play in both innings. The freshman righty allowed just one hit and one walk.
SOUTH DAKOTA STATE 8-5, SIUE 1-4
EDWARDSVILLE, Ill. - SIUE baseball dropped a doubleheader to South Dakota State Saturday falling 8-1 in the opener and 5-4 in the seven-inning nightcap.
The Cougars have dropped eight in a row and fell to 1-10. South Dakota State improved to 6-5.
South Dakota State scored five times in the first two innings in the early game including a four-run five hit first inning.
It was 6-0 SDSU when Ethan Willoughby singled in a run in the bottom of the fourth inning.
South Dakota State added single runs in the sixth and ninth innings.
Garrett Helsel (0-2) allowed six runs over a four-inning start. He struck out five and walked two.
The Cougars finished with five hits from five different players.
SDSU starter Jake Goble (1-1) allowed a run over eight innings. He struck out eight.
SIUE took a 2-1 lead in the second inning of game two. Drew Mize brought in a run with a groundout and Lucas Spence doubled through the ride side to plate a run.
Spence hit his first home run of the year to break a 2-2 tie in the fifth. Gage Franck scored on a balk in the sixth inning for a 4-2 SIUE lead.
After back-to-back singles to open the top of the seventh inning, South Dakota State right fielder Cael Frost connected on a three-run home run to center to put the Jackrabbits in front for good.
Jacob Kampf made his first career start, throwing four innings allowing a run on three hits. He struck out five.
Spence (0-2) tossed 2.2 innings allowing four runs. He struck out four and walked one.
LITTLE ROCK 5, BELMONT 3 (14)
NASHVILLE - Little Rock wins second consecutive extra inning game over Belmont. The game between the Trojans and the Bruins is the second most innings played in D1 baseball this season.
Hoss Brewer got off to a hot start on the mound getting his first 6 batters faced out in the first 2 innings. In the third inning, the Bruins took a lead after plating a run.
The Trojans would respond in the fifth inning after a 2-run home run from Noah Brewer. Brewer hit his first home run of the year and second in his career. Brewer's 2-run bomb gave the Trojans the lead. After Brewer, Alex Seguine extended the Trojans' lead with an RBI double bringing Ben Harmon home. The Trojans took a 3-1 lead after the fifth inning.
In the bottom of the sixth, the Bruins chipped into the lead with an RBI double of their own. Hoss Brewer would exit the game after the sixth inning racking up 6 strikeouts, 3 hits, 2 runs, 3 walks, and 24 batters faced.
The score would remain the same until the bottom of the ninth when the Bruins tied it up with a home run to right field. This was Jacob Weatherley's first conceded run of the season.
In extras, the teams would go back-and-forth exchanging shut out innings until the top of the 14th. Jake Wright led the charge with an RBI single giving the Trojans a one run lead. Following Wright, Alex Seguine notched another RBI bringing Ben Harmon home to score.
Hunter Royal would close the game pitching 1.1 innings and getting the punch out to end it. Royal faced 4 batters and threw 2 strikeouts earning his first win of his career.
SOUTHERN INDIANA 8, ST. THOMAS 6
EVANSVILLE, Ind. - University of Southern Indiana Baseball held off the University of St. Thomas (Minn.), 8-6, Saturday afternoon at the USI Baseball Field. USI is 4-6 to start the season, while St. Thomas goes 4-6.
USI jumped out in the bottom of the second when the Screaming Eagles took advantage of three walks and a pair of singles to score twice with two outs. Junior catcher Joe Ricchio (Pleasant Prairie, Illinois) singled in junior first baseman Thomas Emerich (Ava, Missouri), who had walked and stole second, while senior leftfielder Trent Robinson (Louisville, Kentucky) singled in junior second baseman Lane Crowden (Jackson, Missouri), who walked and advanced to second on Ricchio's base hit.
After St. Thomas narrowed the gap to 2-1 with a tally in the top of the third, USI exploded for three more runs to boost the lead to 5-1. Freshman leftfielder Cameron Boyd (Villa Hills, Kentucky) scored on a wild pitch before Ricchio, who was two-for-three with three RBI, struck again with a two-run double to close out the scoring in the third.
The Tommies cut the Eagles margin to 5-3 after a un in the top sixth, USI rebound with a run in the bottom half of the frame to re-extend the margin to 6-3. Crowden scored his third run of the game on a sacrifice fly by junior centerfielder Terrick Thompson-Allen (Sioux City, Iowa).
USI sealed the victory in the bottom of the seven to lead 8-3. Emerich started the scoring with a RBI-single through the left side, while Crowden pushed the eighth run across with a single to center.
The Tommies would sliced the USI lead to 8-6 with a pair of runs in the eighth and one in the ninth before the Eagles closed the door on the 8-6 victory.
On the mound, junior right-hander Gavin Seebold (Jeffersonville, Indiana) went five innings in his first start of the year. Seebold (1-1) allowed two runs on seven hits, while striking out four in frames.
MIDDLE TENNESSEE 17, UT MARTIN 8
MARTIN, Tenn. - The University of Tennessee at Martin baseball team dropped a 17-8 decision at the hands of Middle Tennessee in Game 2 of the series today.
The Skyhawks (5-6) battled until the final out, scoring in every one of the final four innings. Andrew Fernandez (3-for-4), Mac Danford (2-for-4) and Blaze Bell (3-for-4) had multi-hit games and a double each while Jalen Fithian added two hits with a walk. Cameron Brady also contributed to the offensive attack with his first home run of the season.
Eric Steensma (1-1) started the game while Choyce Diffey, Dylan Lapic, Campbell Cleveland and Brock Arender did not allow an earned run in effective relief appearances today.
The UT Martin offense answered an early attack from the Blue Raiders with RBI doubles from Fernandez and Danford in the bottom of the third.
Diffey entered the game in the sixth and got the first two outs before Lapic ended the inning with a flyout to left center. Bell led off the sixth with a double and two batters later jogged home when Brady belted a two-run shot over the wall in left center field.
Eli Martin threw a scoreless inning in the top of the seventh and UT Martin responded with a run in the bottom half. Fernandez was hit by a pitch to lead off the frame and advanced to second after a walk to Brady. Danford brought Fernandez in with an RBI single to help the Skyhawks stay within striking distance with two innings remaining.
Rice and Fernandez each recorded RBI singles in the eighth. Fithian plated Alec Beaman in the ninth inning with an RBI single but the Skyhawks were unable to complete the comeback.