TUESDAY'S SCORES
@Eastern Illinois 20, Lindenwood 9
Oral Roberts 7,
@Little Rock 6
Southeast Missouri 8, @Austin Peay 7
@Western Kentucky 5,
Southern Indiana 3
Morehead State 14, @Eastern Kentucky 7
@Illinois State 14,
SIUE 3
@UT Martin 14, Alabama A&M 3
North Alabama 8,
@Tennessee Tech 4
EASTERN ILLINOIS 20, LINDENWOOD 9
CHARLESTON, Ill. - The Eastern Illinois baseball team (5-13, 0-0 OVC) rolled over Lindenwood (5-15, 0-0 OVC) on Tuesday afternoon in a 20-9 drubbing. The Panthers got out to a 19-0 lead as freshman starting pitcher Slater Wilcox threw five scoreless innings in his EIU debut.
After a scoreless first inning, the Panthers got the bats going with three runs in the bottom of the second. Trenton Pallas opened up the scoring with an RBI single that plated Michael O'Conor. Dylan Drumke and Cole Gober also collected RBIs in the inning.
Eastern really blew the game open in their next at-bat when Dylan Drumke blasted a three-run homer to put the Panthers up 7-0.
EIU put up another crooked number in the fourth when they pushed seven runs across the plate. Kolten Poorman got the big inning started with a solo homer with one out. The next four batters were walked, resulting in a run before a Tyler Castro single brought in two more.
Dylan Drumke picked up another pair of RBIs in the inning with a single, while Lucas Loos rounded out the scoring with another RBI single for the Panthers.
While the Eastern offense was piling up the runs, Slater Wilcox was doing his part by keeping Lindenwood off the board. In his first appearance as a Panther, the freshman allowed just three hits through 5.0 innings of work while collecting six strikeouts.
EIU had another big inning at the plate in the sixth with five runs scored, including two off a Michael O'Conor triple, which put the Panthers up 19 entering the seventh inning.
The Lions would eventually get some offense going late in the game, but it was far too little too late, as Eastern Illinois cruised to a 20-9 victory.
Slater Wilcox (1-0) picked up his first career win while Lindenwood's Michael Walsh suffered the loss.
All but one of EIU's starters recorded at least one hit, led by Michael O'Conor with three. O'Conor had a pair of doubles and his first three-bagger of the season.
Meanwhile, Dylan Drumke racked up six RBIs to bring his season total to 16.
ORAL ROBERTS 7, LITTLE ROCK 6
LITTLE ROCK, Ark. - Little Rock rallies late to cut the deficit to 1, but ultimately falls to Oral Roberts by a score of 7-6. Trojans move to just one game above .500 ahead of conference play.
The Golden Eagles struck first in the top of the first inning after a walk and a hit put them in scoring position. After a fielder's choice advanced a runner to third, a sacrifice fly to right field put Oral Roberts on the board. The Golden Eagles would then go on to post a 2-run inning in the top of the second to go up three.
The Trojans responded with a 2-out rally in the bottom of the second as Alex Seguine knocked a 2RBI double to centerfield and Ty Rhoades knocked an RBI single to bring Alex Seguine home. Little Rock tied it heading into the third inning.
Oral Roberts answered the call with two consecutive 2-run innings in the third and fourth pushing the lead to four. In the bottom of the fourth, the Trojans were able to plate one more after Alex Seguine found himself in scoring position. Nico Baumbach notched an RBI as Alex Seguine was brought home.
It was radio silence for the fifth, sixth, and seventh inning until the eighth inning saw a lead off triple from Tyler Williams. Trey Hill brought Williams home with a stand up double down the left field line. Hill was then brought home by an RBI single from Christian Bernabe.
Hunter Royal sat three batters down in the top of the ninth for three of his four strikeouts on the day.
SOUTHEAST MISSOURI 8, AUSTIN PEAY 7
CLARKSVILLE, Tenn. - Southeast Missouri Baseball (9-13) picked up a thrilling 8-7 victory on Tuesday night over Austin Peay (13-7) from Raymond C. Hand Park in Clarksville, Tenn.
The Redhawks took the lead in the top of the ninth inning and held on for the one run victory as RHP Collin Wilma picked up his third save of the season to put the game on ice.
SEMO pounded out nine hits offensively led by Ben Palmer who finished 2-for-6 at the plate with his seventh home run of the season and three RBIs. First baseman Cole Warehime and catcher Nolan Ackerman had multi-hit days. Warehime was 2-for-3 while Ackerman was 2-for-2 with two RBIs.
The Redhawks jumped out to an early 1-0 lead over the Governors after Ben Palmer reached base on an error by APSU's short stop. Center fielder Michael Mugan hit a double off the center field wall to put runners on second and third with just one out.
Right fielder Josh Cameron bounced out to second base but scored Palmer from third base to give SEMO the advantage.
APSU responded in the home half with a three-run inning. Two RBI doubles and an RBI triple plated the runs as the Governors had a 3-1 lead after the first frame.
SEMO responded with a three-run inning of their own in the top of the second. Chance Resetich led off the inning with a opposite-field single.
Making the start at first base in the contest, Cole Warehime recorded his first hit of the season with a single into left field to put runners on first and second with no outs. A perfectly executed sacrifice bunt by catcher Nolan Ackerman moved the runners up 90-feet.
SEMO took advantage of another APSU defensive miscue as Brooks Kettering put the ball in play with two outs. Kettering reached on the play to allow Resetich to score.
A two-RBI double by Palmer plated both Warehime and Kettering and the Redhawks led 4-3 after the second at-bat.
RHP Tommy Windt, who made the start in the contest, tossed a scoreless home second and the Redhawks would add another run in the top of the 3rd inning.
A leadoff double by designated hitter Ty Stauss put the Redhawks in scoring position early in the third inning. With two outs, Ackerman delivered an RBI single to score Stauss.
Windt matched his second inning effort with another scoreless third inning and after the third inning, SEMO led 5-3.
RHP Tommy Windt finished his final three innings with a scoreless performance. Outside of the three-run first inning, APSU failed to get anything across against Windt. His final stat line finished at 4.0 innings, allowed just the three runs on seven hits.
A leadoff double by Jon Jon Gazdar ended Windt's day as the righty gave way to LHP Logan Katen out of the Redhawks bullpen in the fifth inning. Katen struck out the next three hitters to keep the score where it was. Heading to the sixth inning, SEMO led 5-3.
Austin Peay would take the lead in the sixth inning with a three-run inning. Lyle Miller-Green hit a two-run home run to center field to tie it at five. Gazdar hit an RBI double to center field to take the lead in the sixth inning.
SEMO would not go away. In the seventh inning, back-to-back walks to Ty Stauss and Chance Resetich put runners on first and second with nobody out. A great sacrifice bunt by Cole Warehime advanced the runners 90-feet to put both runners in scoring position.
Nolan Ackerman perfectly executed the squeeze bunt to score Stauss from third to plate the go-ahead run in the inning. After the seventh inning, the score was tied at six.
Short stop Ben Palmer hit his team-high seventh home run in the eighth inning, a solo blast to center field with one out in the inning to regain the lead for the Redhawks.
In the bottom half, APSU would tie it once again as Miller-Green hit his second home run of the game, a solo shot to center field and the game would head to the ninth inning tied at seven.
After a ground ball out to start the ninth inning, three-straight walks loaded the bases for the Redhawks. With Michael Mugan at the plate, a passed ball allowed Kenoi Coloma (pinch hitter) to come across to score the winning run. SEMO led 8-7 going to the final half inning.
RHP Collin Wilma picked up his third save of the season with a perfect three up, three down ninth inning. He recorded a pair of strikeouts and a fly ball to end the game as the Redhawks picked up the one-run win.
WESTERN KENTUCKY 5, SOUTHERN INDIANA 3
BOWLING GREEN, Ky. - University of Southern Indiana Baseball finished its nine-game road swing with a 5-3 loss at Western Kentucky University Tuesday afternoon in Bowling Green, Kentucky. USI, who was 5-4 on the road swing, is 9-11 in the non-conference season, while WKU goes to 15-7.
The Screaming Eagles fell behind in the opening frame, 1-0, but rallied to take a 2-1 lead in the top of the second. USI sophomore shortstop Caleb Niehaus (Newburgh, Indiana) put the Eagles into the lead with a two-run single to left center.
After WKU tied the game with a run in the bottom of the third, the Hilltoppers surged into the lead with a tally in the sixth to lead 3-2. WKU would seal the game with a pair of tallies in the eighth to lead 5-2 heading into the final frame.
USI would attempt to rally in the ninth, closing the gap to 5-3 on a two-out RBI-double by freshman leftfielder Cameron Boyd (Villa Hills, Kentucky). WKU would close out the 5-3 decision with the tying run at the plate for USI.
On the mound, freshman left-hander Trevor Geddes (Louisville, Kentucky) took the loss in relief. Geddes (0-1) allowed a run on one hit, while striking out two in 1.1 innings of work.
Senior right-hander Trent Robinson (Louisville, Kentucky) started and got a no-decision for the Eagles. Robinson permitted two runs on four hits and two walks, while striking out one in four innings of work.
MOREHEAD STATE 14, EASTERN KENTUCKY 7
RICHMOND, Ky. - Ryley Preece's 9th inning, three-run home run marked the 50th of his historic career, setting the new program record as the Morehead State baseball team powered its way past EKU 14-7 on Tuesday.
Sophomore Carter Owens (2-0) got the win out of the bullpen for Morehead State (12-9). The right-hander went 3.1 innings, giving up one run on three hits, allowing no walks and striking out five. Sophomore Josh Furtado also pitched well, going one shutout inning without allowing a hit, walking none and striking out two.
Preece's two extra base hits were the highlight of a 3-for-5 day, and included a double, a home run and six RBI. Ryan Grabosch made his contribution with a double, a home run and three RBI, part of a 2-for-5 performance at the plate. Isaias Guzman also contributed for the Eagles, putting together two hits in five trips to the plate while adding a home run and two RBI.
Trailing 1-0, the Eagles first put runs on the board in the second inning. Morehead State's offense started clicking and put up seven runs, including a two-run double off the bat of senior Gabriel Sepulveda and a two-run home run from Guzman.
The Colonels then gained ground, narrowing the lead to 7-4 until the Eagles expanded their advantage in the fourth. Morehead State scored twice on Grabosch's two-run homer, which brought the score to 9-4 in favor of the Eagles.
Eastern Kentucky narrowed Morehead State's lead to 9-5 before the Eagles stretched the advantage to 10-5 in the fifth inning. The Eagles recorded a run on Preece's two-out RBI double.
The Colonels gained ground, closing the gap to 10-6 until Morehead State added some insurance in the seventh. Guzman crossed home plate with the lone run of the inning for the Eagles, bringing the Morehead State advantage to 11-6.
The Eagles held Eastern Kentucky off the board before expanding their lead to 14-6 in the ninth inning. Morehead State scored three runs, all of them coming on a three-run homer off the bat of Preece, scoring freshman Davis Germann and freshman Hayden Robbins. Eastern Kentucky put one run on the scoreboard before the game was over, but the Eagles still coasted to the 14-7 win.
ILLINOIS STATE 14, SIUE 3
NORMAL, Ill. - Illinois State scored early and often Tuesday night, going on to defeat SIUE baseball 14-3 in seven innings at Duffy Bass Field.
The Cougars have dropped three straight and are now 5-16. Illinois State improved to 9-9.
The Redbirds scored nine times over the first three innings, before SIUE got on the board in the top of the fourth. John Stallcup got the Cougars on the board with an infield single to plate Ethan Willoughby, who had walked to start the inning.
Illinois State pushed the lead to 13-1 with a four-run bottom of the inning.
It was 14-1 ISU when SIUE pulled two runs back in the seventh inning. Nicholas Ibrahim drove in a run with a double and Ryan Niedzwiedz followed with an RBI-triple.
Zeus Ponder (2-1) allowed four runs in two innings. He struck out three and didn't walk a batter. Garrett Helsel allowed five runs in an inning and Ian Benner allowed four runs in an inning. Gist gave up a run in two innings.
Thomas Harer (2-0) worked seven innings in the start for the Redbirds. He allowed a run on seven hits and struck out four.
Niedzwiedz and Stallcup each had three hits and an RBI to lead SIUE at the plate.
Luke Lawrence was 3-4 with a home run and five RBIs to pace Illinois State.
ISU outhit SIUE 14-10 in the game.
UT MARTIN 14, ALABAMA A&M 3
MARTIN, Tenn. - The University of Tennessee at Martin baseball team was clicking on all cylinders in its 14-3 run rule triumph over Alabama A&M. The win also marked the 100th career victory for head coach Ryan Jenkins.
Will Smith had a monster day with three hits and four RBI’s while Jalen Fithian (two runs scored), Mac Danford (three RBI’s) and Benny DeTrude (first career home run) all went deep to tie a season-high 14 runs. Jackson Cooke (2-for-4) and Blaze Bell (2-for-5, two RBI’s) would tally doubles and multi-hit games while Andrew Fernandez went 2-for-3 with two walks.
Choyce Diffey (2-2) earned the win after allowing just two runs on four hits over a career-best 5.2 innings pitched. Rett Edwards (one inning pitched) and Baylor Jones (0.1 innings) finished the game off for the Skyhawks, who improved to 7-14.
In an early bases loaded jam in the first inning, Diffey escaped with a groundout and only one run allowed. The senior righty found his groove quickly thereafter, using a double play and a strikeout to hold the Bulldogs scoreless in the second frame. Alabama A&M (2-17) added a run in the top of the third but Diffey was the beneficiary of another double play in the fourth. In the following frame, he needed just eight pitches to retire the side in order – giving UT Martin some momentum in the process.
The Skyhawk bats got to work in the bottom of the fifth, scoring five runs in the frame. Two were gone in the inning with bases loaded and Smith answered the call with a bases clearing triple to give UT Martin a lead it wouldn’t relinquish for the rest of the game. Six pitches later, Danford would follow Smith’s act by blasting a two-run jack to left center field which would result in a 5-2 Skyhawk advantage.
Edwards entered the contest with the bases loaded in the sixth but he sat down the final batter of the inning with a called strikeout to keep the score at 5-2.
UT Martin grabbed some insurance from Fithian’s second long ball of the year when he drilled a 1-2 pitch down the left field line in the bottom of the sixth, extending the Skyhawk lead to five runs.
The Bulldogs crossed the plate on a sacrifice fly in the top of the seventh but UT Martin’s offense once again went off for a crooked number in the bottom half to end the contest early. Cooke (RBI double), DeTrude (two-run jack), Will Smith (RBI while reaching on an error), Danford (run-scoring walk) and Bell (two-run double – his second base hit of the inning) helped end the four-game homestand with a thunderous win.
NORTH ALABAMA 8, TENNESSEE TECH 4
COOKEVILLE, Tenn. - An early hole proved too much for the Tennessee Tech baseball team to climb out of Tuesday evening, as the Golden Eagles fell to visiting North Alabama, 8-4, at Quillen Field and Bush Stadium at the Averitt Express Baseball Complex.
The Lions (8-12) didn't need long to make an impact on the scoreboard, using a pair of solo home runs and an RBI single to take a 3-0 lead in the first frame. It Tech (12-9) a minute, but the purple and gold responded with a single marker in the second.
Center fielder Nicho Jordan led things off with a double down the right-field line. Third baseman Tanner Shiver worked a full count before ripping a single through the right side to plate the first run of the game for the Cookeville crew.
North Alabama gathered another solo shot in the third to move the advantage back out to three, but the Golden Eagles still had something to say about it. Catcher Hayden Gilliland waited patiently at the plate before securing a seven-pitch free pass with two outs in the bottom of the third.
Jordan followed by clobbering a 2-0 offering to right field, clearing the wall for a two-run long ball. It marked the slugger's fourth dinger of the season and pulled Tech to within a single run.
That would represent the closest the purple and gold would come on the night, as the Lions took advantage of four Tech miscues on defense during the contest to score two more runs in the fifth and two in the seventh.
In the eighth, left fielder Austin Turner attempted to get the Golden Eagles right back in it, peppering an RBI single up the middle. That would be it for the Tech squad, however, as the Lions secured its victory.
Jordan led the Golden Eagles with three hits, two RBI, and two runs scored while both Turner and designated hitter Eddie Garza each tallied a pair of knocks. Brody Lanham completed 1.2 innings on the hill while allowing just one hit and one walk while Jack Erdman flung 1.2 innings with a pair of punch outs and no runs allowed.
Making his first career appearance on the mound, Lawson Stricklin tossed a hitless ninth frame, striking out the side along the way.