WEDNESDAY'S SCORES
@Murray State 18,
UT Martin 8
Western Illinois 11, @Illinois State 1
MURRAY STATE 18, UT MARTIN 8
MURRAY, Ky. - The University of Tennessee at Martin baseball team got off to a hot start this afternoon but fell 18-8 to Murray State to wrap up a two-game midweek series.
Mac Danford extended his career-high home run total by taking his 12th and 13th round trips of the season, driving in three runs to pace the Skyhawk offense. It marked the third multi-home run effort in the two-year UT Martin career of the senior third baseman from Grand Ridge, Fla.
Jalen Fithian went 3-for-4 with an RBI while Alec Beaman reached base safely three times (2-for-2 with a walk). Additionally, Zac Rice (home run) and Blaze Bell (two RBI’s) contributed to the Skyhawks offensively.
It was a staff day for UT Martin on the mound as freshman Silas Jones made his second career start. Campbell Cleveland needed just 16 pitches to breeze through 1.2 no-hit frames out of the bullpen as nine different Skyhawks saw action on the hill.
UT Martin (18-27) took the early advantage with five runs on five straight hits to lead off the game. After Fithian doubled and Andrew Fernandez reached on a single, Will Smith laced an RBI single through the right side. Bell added on with a two-run double to right center field before Danford rocked an 0-1 pitch over the wall in center field to make it 5-0 in favor of the Skyhawks in the blink of an eye.
The Racers (28-17) scored four runs in the bottom of the first before Rice slugged his seventh homer of the season to lead off the top of the second, making the score 6-4.
Eli Martin (0-1) was the first UT Martin reliever summoned from the bullpen as he did not allow a hit but Murray State scored four runs in the bottom of the second.
The Racers added a run in the third before Shawn Perez made his third appearance of the season, tossing a scoreless bottom of the fourth to keep the Skyhawks within striking distance at 9-6.
Cleveland recorded the final two outs in the fifth after Murray State scored four runs in the inning. A leadoff triple by Beaman in the sixth led to a Fithian RBI single to give UT Martin its seventh run of the day.
Cleveland kept his slate clean by collecting a punchout and a 6-4-3 double play in the sixth. Danford connected for his second bomb of the day in the top of the seventh, this time pulverizing a 2-2 offering over the left field wall.
However, Murray State was able to end the contest with five runs in the bottom of the seventh.
WESTERN ILLINOIS 11, ILLINOIS STATE 1
NORMAL, Ill. - Less than 24 hours after the Western Illinois offense only scratched across one run, they put together an 11-run showing against the Illinois State as WIU took the Wednesday night game 11-1 in seven innings. Western Illinois's run-rule victory moves them to 11-30 on the season.
After a quiet offensive night on Tuesday, Western Illinois was wide awake in Normal, Illinois, on Wednesday. Adam Juran led off the game with his first three doubles as he jump-started the Leathernecks offense. After back-to-back walks loaded the bases, J.R. Heavilin broke the game open with a two-run single to right center field. A fielder's choice by Kyree Alexander and then a hit-by-a-pitch by Brock Lummus reloaded the bases for WIU, and they capitalized. The Leathernecks scored a pair of runs on a wild pitch, and a sacrifice fly as they held a 4-0 lead after the first half inning.
After a quick bottom of the first for Cole Dale, the Western Illinois offense was ready to attack again. A leadoff walk by Max Slavens flipped the lineup over where Adam Juran drove his second double to the left-center fence. Slavens moved to third base as WIU had a pair of runners in scoring position with no outs. Cesar Franco kept the train moving, singling to left field, bringing home Slavens and Juran as WIU extended their lead to 6-0.
Illinois State fought for a run back in the bottom half of the second, but a double play and flyout by the Leathernecks defense limited the damage to just a run. WIU found themselves with three base runners over the next two innings but struck again in the fifth. Alexander drew a walk well, and Lummus followed by getting hit by a pitch. Trevor Leon advanced both baserunners with a sacrifice bunt as WIU had multiple runners in scoring position for the third time on the night. Batting in the nine-hole, Slavens singled to left field, scoring both Alexander and Lummus as WIU increased their lead to 8-1.
Two walks started, and the three ran seventh in the inning for WIU. With runners on first and second, Slavens snuck a ball inside the right field line, scoring Lummus as WIU's lead jumped to 9-1. Juran put the finishing touches on his monster performance night with a double to right center, scoring Leon and Slavens as WIU went up by ten, 11-1.
Three quick outs in the top of the seventh capped off a dominant pitching performance from Western Illinois as they took an 11-1 win in seven innings.
Cole Dale picked up his first win as a starter, going two solid innings and allowing only one run. Colton Kachinsky was lights out coming out of the bullpen as he went four scoreless innings, striking out four. Mason Telford finished the final three outs as he moved another appearance closer to the school's single-season appearance record.
Adam Juran went 4-5 with three doubles and two RBI's, also scoring twice out of the leadoff spot. Max Slavens drove in three runs, going 2-3 with a double and a walk. Cesar Franco had two RBI and two walks as he reached base three times.