TUESDAY'S SCORES
@Morehead State 20, Ohio 10
@USC Upstate 7,
Tennessee Tech 5
@Eastern Illinois 9, Bellarmine 4
@Little Rock 12, Arkansas State 2
Southern Indiana 12, @Middle Tennessee 9
Western Illinois 12, @Cincinnati 11
Southern Illinois 2,
@Lindenwood 1
MOREHEAD STATE 20, OHIO 10
MOREHEAD, Ky. - Freshman Hayden Robbins put together an outstanding outing at the plate Tuesday, hitting two home runs to help propel the Morehead State Eagles past the Ohio Bobcats 20-10.
Junior Trevor Callahan (1-0) got the win out of the bullpen for Morehead State (8-8). The right-hander went two shutout innings, giving up two hits, no walks and striking out one. Sophomore Zach Taylor also pitched well, going one shutout inning without allowing a hit.
Robbins went 3-for-4 at the plate, supplementing his two home runs with four RBIs. Isaias Guzman added to Robbins' awesome power-hitting performance by going 2-for-4 with a double, a home run and four RBI along with one walk. Junior Hunter Thomas also helped out for the Eagles, going 3-for-4 with a home run and four RBI.
Ryley Preece (1-4, HR) blasted his 49th career HR, tying the all-time program record with his ninth of the season.
Trailing 1-0, the Eagles first put runs on the board in the second inning. Morehead State's offense produced a three-run output that included home runs from both Thomas and Robbins.
The Eagles lost the lead they built in the second, but got back on the board in the fourth trailing 4-3. Morehead State picked up two runs, scoring one on a solo home run from Robbins, which brought the score to 5-4 in favor of the Eagles.
Morehead State held Ohio scoreless before building their lead to 9-4 the following inning. The Eagles bats heated up in the inning, scoring four runs, including a two-run single off the bat of Thomas.
The Bobcats gained ground, closing the gap to 9-5 until Morehead State added some insurance in the sixth. Senior Ryan Grabosch crossed home plate with the lone run of the inning for the Eagles, bringing the Morehead State advantage to 10-5.
Ohio got within 10-7 until the Eagles scored again in the seventh inning to stretch its lead to 20-7. Morehead State hit four home runs in the inning on the way to pushing 10 runs across. Ohio put three runs on the scoreboard before the game was over, but the Eagles still coasted to the 20-10 win.
USC UPSTATE 7, TENNESSEE TECH 5
SPARTANBURG, S.C. - After delivering back-to-back, walk-off victories to end its series with Queens University of Charlotte over the weekend, the Tennessee Tech baseball team found itself on the other end of the stick Tuesday afternoon, falling at USC Upstate, 7-5, via a ninth-inning home run.
Deadlocked at 5-5 headed into the ninth inning, the Golden Eagles (10-6) put together a little two-out rally attempt, loading the bags with a chance to take the lead and put the pressure on the home team. The Spartans (10-7) picked up a huge strikeout to end the threat and put the game in the hands of their bats.
Tech gathered two quick outs in the bottom half before issuing a free pass to bring USC Upstate first baseman Grant Sherrod to the plate. The redshirt senior delivered the big blow, smashing a 1-1 offering to left field for a two-run, walk-off dinger.
Freshman hurler Eli Huddleston produced a solid 5.0 innings of work on the mound for the purple and gold, surrendering just one earned and three total runs on four hits and three walks. He racked up five strikeouts in the affair as well.
The Spartans loaded the bases right out of the gate in the first with a base hit, a fielding error, and a hit-by-pitch. A free pass drove in the first run of the game before the Golden Eagles traded a second, unearned run for a 4-6-3 double play.
The Golden Eagles answered right back in the top of the second, with a throwing error by USC Upstate allowing reigning Ohio Valley Conference Player of the Week Tanner Shiver to reach safely with one out. Shortstop Preston Steele followed by promptly crushing a two-run blast to left field to tie the game, his team-leading seventh long ball of the year.
The Cookeville crew backed up its first display of offense with some more in the third, starting with a one-out walk to left fielder Austin Turner. The senior stole second base, his team-best 10th of the season, to become the first Golden Eagle since 2021 to hit the double-digit mark.
A groundout sent him to third before catcher Hayden Gilliland provided some more fireworks for purple and gold. The senior backstop unloaded on a 2-1 pitch for another two-run jack, this one down the right-field line for a 4-2 lead. It marked Gilliland's second of the year and 19th of his career, putting him just one away from cracking Tech's top-25 list.
In the fifth, the Spartans took one run back with a solo shot to left-center field. The home squad then took the lead in the sixth, using a wild pitch to plate the tying marker and a sacrifice fly to left-center for the go-ahead run.
With two outs in the top of the eighth, the Golden Eagles turned in a two-out rally to even the contest one last time, with Shiver lacing a base knock to left-center field. A pitching change didn't work so well for USC Upstate, as a wild pitch allowed Shiver to take second base. Steele then poked a single to right field, plating Shiver from second for his third RBI of the day.
EASTERN ILLINOIS 9, BELLARMINE 4
CHARLESTON, Ill. - The Eastern Illinois baseball team (3-11, 0-0 OVC) took care of business in their home opener with a 9-4 win over Bellarmine (1-15, 0-0 ASUN) on Tuesday afternoon. A group effort on the mound with a strong offensive showing carried the Panthers over the Knights.
EIU got things started on the right foot as starter Mitch Alba retired the side on just four pitches in the top of the first. In the Panthers' first at bat, Michael O'Conor singled through the left side to drive home Lucas Loos and Cade Zalewski to gain an early 2-0 advantage.
Bellarmine got a run back in the top of the third, but Eastern responded in the bottom half with another two-run inning that included another Michael O'Conor RBI, this time on a sacrifice fly.
After the teams swapped one run apiece, the Panthers held a 5-2 lead entering the seventh. However, the Knights scored two runs in the top of the inning to cut EIU's lead to one.
Still clinging to a one run lead in the bottom of the eighth, the Panthers offense got to work. Danny Infante got the ball rolling with a lead off single before advancing to second on a passed ball. Dylan Drumke did the rest of the work with a single up the middle to drive in Infante and give Eastern a much-needed insurance run.
They were not done yet, however. Cole Gober singled in the next at-bat to put runners at first and second with no outs and Lucas Loos coming to the plate. Loos preceded to crush a ball to left center that carried over the outfield wall for a three-run homer that gave EIU a 9-4 lead.
With a comfortable advantage heading into the ninth, EIU called on the services of closer Zane Robbins to secure the victory. Robbins did just that, as he retired the side in order and finished off Eastern's third win of the season.
Mitch Alba (1-0) was credited with the win for EIU, while Bellarmine's Carson Brower (0-1) suffered the loss. Alba allowed just one hit through three innings of work.
In total, six Eastern Illinois pitchers saw action in Tuesday's win. They combined to allow just five hits.
All but one of EIU's starters reached base as they racked up 14 hits on the day, including three doubles and a home run.
Michael O'Conor and Lucas Loos led the team with three RBIs apiece as Loos extended his on-base streak to 10 games.
LITTLE ROCK 12, ARKANSAS STATE 2
LITTLE ROCK, Ark. - Little Rock carries the offensive hot streak from the weekend to take the midweek game against Arkansas State. Trojans score a season-high 12 runs with only one scoreless inning.
It all started in the first inning with a sacrifice fly out to centerfield from Nico Baumbach which brought the soaring Luke Pectol home to give the Trojans the lead. Skyler Trevino then notched an RBI single through the right side to bring Tyler Williams to score. The Trojans finished the inning with 2 runs on 2 hits and no errors.
The top of the second inning was a quick 1,2,3 with 2 flyouts and the first strikeout of the game from starter Jack Cline. The home half saw another run plated for the Trojans as Ben Harmon earned another RBI single up the middle to plate Ty Rhoades.
The third inning saw signs of life from Arkansas State as a home run to centerfield put the Red Wolves on the board with 2 runs. After 2.2 innings, Erik McKnight would come in to relieve Cline. Cline ended the day with 2 runs on 3 hits with a strikeout. Little Rock matched the Red Wolves in the bottom of the inning as Nico Baumbach hit an RBI double to bring Tyler Williams home. Baumbach would then score after an RBI single to center field from Noah Brewer.
The bottom of the fifth saw the biggest scoring burst from the Trojans as 4 runs crossed home plate. It all started with a solo home run to centerfield from Tyler Williams. Williams notched his 23rd career home run making him now just 4 shy of the record. Skyler Trevino then brought Nico Baumbach home with an RBI single to right center. Ty Rhoades then doubled to left field for a 2RBI double. Then Trojans ended the inning with a 9-2 lead.
Little Rock stepped to the plate for the final time in the bottom of the 6th inning where Ty Rhoades was up to bat with bases loaded. Rhoades hit another double this time for a 3RBI plating Tyler Williams, Nico Baumbach, and Noah Brewer.
On the day, the Trojans 12 runs on 14 hits and only left 5 on base. Tyler Williams finished 4/4 with a solo home run. Nico Baumbach finished 2/2 with 3 runs, 2 hits, and a walk. Ty Rhoades went 2/2 with 1 run, 5 RBI, and 2 walks.
On the mound, Austin Stubber earned the win with 6 strikeouts on 2.0 innings pitched. Erik McKnight had 3 strikeouts and 2 walks on 2.1 innings pitched. Jack Cline started the game and pitched 2.2 innings throwing one strikeout and conceding 2 runs.
The Trojans beat the Red Wolves for the first time since 2019. Little Rock will tavel to Jonesboro later in the season to complete the home-and-away series against Arkansas State.
SOUTHERN INDIANA 12, MIDDLE TENNESSEE 9
MURFREESBORO, Tenn. - University of Southern Indiana Baseball rolled through Middle Tennessee State University with a 12-9 victory Tuesday afternoon in Murfreesboro, Tennessee. USI is 8-8 in the non-conference season, while MTSU goes to 8-8.
The victory was the fourth-straight for the Screaming Eagles, marking the longest winning streak since May 2022 when USI swept four on the road from the University of Indianapolis.
USI opened the scoring in the second inning when junior centerfielder Terrick Thompson-Allen (Sioux City, Iowa) scored on an error to put the Eagles up 1-0. The Raiders bounced back in the bottom half of the frame to knot the game up at 1-1.
Following a scoreless third inning, USI opened up offensively with a tally in the fourth and a five-spot in the top of the fifth. USI junior catcher Logan Mock (Livermore, California) put the Eagles in front with an RBI-single in the fourth, scoring Thompson-Allen for a second time.
Senior first baseman Tucker Ebest (Austin, Texas) started the USI rally in the fifth with a RBI-single for a 3-1 lead, before senior designated hitter Jack Ellis (Jeffersonville, Indiana) got the Eagles really rolling at the plate with a two-RBI single to make the score 5-1 with one out.
USI junior third baseman Lane Crowden (Jackson, Missouri) pushed another run across with a ground out to extend the lead to 6-1, while Mock struck again with a RBI-double down the left field line for a 7-1 margin.
The Raiders struck for three in the bottom of the sixth to cut the USI advantage to 7-4, but the Eagles got two of the runs back in the top of the seventh when senior leftfielder Trent Robinson (Louisville, Kentucky) dropped a two-run double into left center for a 9-4 lead.
MTSU matched the USI two-run rally in the bottom of the seventh to make the score, 9-6. The Eagles, once again, extended their lead to six, 12-6, with a three-spot in the eighth. Mock struck again with a run-scoring double, while senior rightfielder Ren Tachioka (Japan) pushed USI's final two runs across the plate with a single.
USI's six-run lead was cut in half for the second time in the game when MTSU matched the Eagles' rally with three more runs in the bottom of the eighth to make the score, 12-9.
After USI left a runner on in the ninth, MTSU got the tying run to the on-deck circle before the Eagles closed the door on a hard fought 12-9 win.
At the plate in the game, Mock led the Eagles by going four-for-four with a run scored and three RBI and two doubles. Ellis and Tachioka followed with three hits, three runs scored and two RBI each.
The win went to junior right-hander Carson Seeman (Auburn, California) in relief. Seeman (1-1) threw a pair of scoreless innings, allowing a walk, in getting the win.
USI junior right-hander Tyler Hutson (Villa Hills, Kentucky) posted his third save of the season, throwing a scoreless ninth inning. Hutson (3) walked two and struck out three versus the five batters faced.
WESTERN ILLINOIS 12, CINCINNATI 11
CINCINNATI - Western Illinois baseball comes out victorious as they defeat the University of Cincinnati in a slugfest 12-11 on Tuesday night. Western Illinois scored 11 of their 12 runs in the first five innings, but a Liam Bushey RBI single in the 9th was the difference maker as Western Illinois improved to 4-10 overall.
Western Illinois offense was held scoreless in the top of the first as the Bearcats opened up a 3-0 lead in the bottom half of the inning. Western Illinois responded in the second as Liam Bushey started his phenomenal day with a leadoff walk. Brock Lummus followed, reaching on a fielder's choice, which saw Bushey safe at second base on an error. J.R. Heavilin advanced everyone 90 feet with a single to right field. The Leatherneck got on the scoreboard as Jackson Horn drew a walk, bringing home Bushey. The Leathernecks kept their foot on the gas as Chris Hege went right back up in the middle, bringing in two runs, and WIU tied the game at 3-3. Maxton Polad gave WIU their first lead (4-3) of the afternoon, and he brought in Horn on a fielder's choice.
Cincinnati took back the lead with two runs in the bottom of the second, but WIU did not stop fighting. Down 5-4, Liam Bushey led off the inning for the second straight time. Unlike the second inning, Bushey made the trip around the bases on one swing of the bat as he smacked his first home run of the series over the right field fence, tying the game at 5-5. The Leathernecks were not done. Lummus reached on an error, and Heavilin singled, moving Lummus to second base. Horn laid down a sacrifice bunt as both runners moved up 90 feet. Chris Hege was again the clutch as his groundout brought Lummus home, putting WIU in front 6-5. After a pitch hit, Polad and Adam Juran walked to load the bases. Cesar Franco shot a ball past the first basemen down the right field line, plating Heavilin and Polad as the Leathernecks grew their lead to 8-5.
The Bearcats wouldn't go away, striking for three runs in the bottom half of the third as we were tied at 8 heading into the 4th inning. Western Illinois stayed patient at the plate as Bushey and Lummus drew back-to-back walks. Bushey and Lummus would be in action with one out in the inning as they swiped second and third base, putting themselves in scoring position. Bushey and Lummus stayed active on the base paths as Bushey scored on a passed ball two batters later, putting Western Illinois in front 9-8.
As they had down in the previous innings, Cincinnati battled back to take the lead as a two-run home run saw the Bearcats in front after four. WIU heads back to the batter's box, determined in the 5th inning. Polad started the inning with a double and advanced to third on a flyout by Juran. Franco did the rest as the game was back tied on the RBI single. Western Illinois kept the train moving as Kyree Alexander advanced Franco to second base and Bushey drove him in with his third hit of the afternoon as WIU held an 11-10 lead.
Cincinnati tried to claw back into the game in the 5th and 6th inning. The Bearcats put the tying run in scoring position in the 5th, but Jacob Greenan slammed the scoring opportunity door shut with a flyout and a ground out. In the 6th, it was more of the same for Greenan as he got an inning-ending 4-6-3 double play to wipe out the Bearcats offense.
The Leathernecks offense slowed down scoring-wise as they stranded a one-out double by Bushey at second base in the 7th inning. The Bearcats would come back to tie it in the bottom half, and both teams headed to the 8th inning tied at 11. After a scoreless 8th inning by both offenses, Western Illinois jumped back in front in the 9th. Grant Palmer walked and then advanced to third on a Kyree Alexander sacrifice bunt that saw a fielding error by the Bearcats. Bushey dug into the batter's box with two runners in scoring position, roping a line drive into right field, bringing home Palmer for the go-ahead run as the Leathernecks led 12-11. Cincinnati made it interesting in the 9th as they loaded the bases with no outs. Senior Caden Kratz did not get rattled as he got two pop-outs and a strike-out to strand the three Bearcat runners and give WIU the 12-11 win.
Liam Bushey was atop the Leatherneck's offense, going a perfect 4-4 with three RBIs, a double, a home run, two walks, and three runs. Cesar Franco went 2-3 with a double, three RBIs, a walk, and he scored a run. Chris Hege had three RBIs on two hits. J.R. Heavilin had three hits in six plate appearances. Western Illinois hitters drew nine walks and were hit by a pitch three times. The Leathernecks offense had their leadoff hitter on base in seven of the nine innings.
The Leathernecks bullpen was once again dominant. Jacob Greenan, Kyle Rosenfeld, and Kratz combined for the last five innings of one-run baseball striking out four and only allowing two hits. Rosenfeld picked up his first win of the season, and Kratz picked up the save.
SOUTHERN ILLINOIS 2, LINDENWOOD 1
ST. CHARLES, Mo. - The Lindenwood Lions fell short 2-1 in their home game against the Salukis of Southern Illinois University.
Lindenwood's Dawson Hokuf landed a single into left center field, earning the RBI when Colin Shea rounded the bases in the bottom of the ninth. LU finished with one run on four hits.
Michael Walsh pitched six innings for Lindenwood, recorded the loss after allowing one run on four hits. He also recorded three strikeouts.