THURSDAY'S SCORES
@Morehead State 14-19, SIUE 3-1
Eastern Illinois 6, @Lindenwood 5 (11)
Little Rock 15, @Tennessee Tech 6
@Southeast Missouri 3, UT Martin 2
@Southern Indiana 8, Western Illinois 1
MOREHEAD STATE 14-19, SIUE 3-1
MOREHEAD, Ky. - Morehead State swept a doubleheader from SIUE on Thursday.
In game one, senior Colton Becker collected three extra base hits to help propel the Morehead State Eagles over the SIU-Edwardsville Cougars 14-3 on Thursday.
Luke Helton (8-2) started on the mound and picked up the win for Morehead State (31-22, 15-10). The right-hander went eight innings, giving up two runs, both of them earned, on five hits, allowing no walks and striking out seven.
Becker's three extra base hits were the highlight of a 3-for-6 day, and included two doubles, a home run and three RBI. Nick Gooden compiled a standout effort as well, going 2-for-3 with a home run, a walk and three RBI. Senior Logan Castleman also contributed for the Eagles, putting together two hits in three trips to the plate while adding a home run, two walks and an RBI.
The Eagles put runs on the scoreboard first, starting the scoring in the fourth inning.
The Eagles then held the Cougars scoreless before getting back on the board the very next inning. Morehead State hit two home runs in the inning on the way to pushing five runs aross. which brought the score to 8-0 in favor of the Eagles.
SIUE narrowed Morehead State's lead to 8-1 before the Eagles stretched the advantage to 9-1 in the sixth inning.
The Cougars fought back, closing the gap to 9-2 until Morehead State added some insurance in the seventh. The Eagles scored twice on back-to-back home runs from Becker and senior Roman Kuntz, bringing the Morehead State advantage to 11-2.
The Eagles kept SIUE scoreless before expanding their lead to 14-2 the following inning. Morehead State scored three runs in the frame, buoyed by a two-run homer from Gooden. SIU-Edwardsville put one run on the scoreboard before the game was over, but the Eagles still coasted to the 14-3 win.
In game two, Roman Kuntz and senior Colton Becker each hit two home runs to help power MSU to a 19-1 win.
Sophomore Carter Owens (3-3) started on the mound and picked up the win for Morehead State (32-22, 16-10). The right-hander went five shutout innings while giving up two hits, allowing three walks and striking out two. Sophomore Hunter Porter also made an impact on the mound for the Eagles, throwing one shutout inning while allowing no hits, with no walks and two strikeouts.
Kuntz's seven RBI put him to 91 RBI on the season, with his grand slam shattering the OVC single season RBI record. Kuntz now has 31 HR and 91 RBI, both OVC single season records.
Becker added a double and three RBI to his two homer day and Kuntz supplemented his own two big flies with a walk and seven RBI for the Eagles. Senior Logan Castleman also contributed for Morehead State, putting together three hits in four trips to the plate while adding a double, a home run, a walk and two RBI.
EASTERN ILLINOIS 6, LINDENWOOD 5 (11)
ST. CHARLES, Mo. - The Eastern Illinois baseball team (18-32, 11-14 OVC) took an important step toward the postseason with a 6-5 victory over Lindenwood (16-36, 9-16 OVC) on Friday. After relinquishing a late 5-0 lead, the Panthers stayed the course and won the game in extra innings.
The Panthers offense exploded out of the gates with a Trenton Pallas three-run homer to take an early lead. It was Pallas' fourth long ball of the month.
Eastern tacked on another run in the fourth with a Cade Zalewski sacrifice fly before a Lucas Loos lead-off home run in the sixth extended the lead to 5-0.
After six and two-thirds scoreless innings, the Lions found their way into the scoring column with a James Jett solo home run in the bottom of the seventh. It was only the third hit Casey Perrenoud had surrendered all game.
Through seven complete innings, Perrenoud gave up just one run on four hits with six strikeouts.
However, things quickly unraveled for the Panthers after Perrenoud exited the contest.
With two outs and the bases loaded in the eighth, Bryson Arnette flipped the game on its head with a grand slam to left field, which tied the score at 5-5 entering the final regulation frame.
After a scoreless ninth inning the game went into extras, and after loading the bases again in the bottom of the tenth with one out, the Lions looked primed for a walk-off.
However, Colton Coca was inserted into the game and got back-to-back pop outs to work EIU out of the jam and extend the game.
Now with a second breath, the EIU offense was able to load the bases themselves in the 11th, and with two outs Danny Infante was hit by a pitch to bring home the go-ahead run.
Coca took things from there, recording the final three outs in the bottom of the 11th to secure the 6-5 victory for EIU.
Coca was credited with the win (3-3) while Aaron Jungers (1-3) was designated the loss.
Trenton Pallas was the only Panther to record more than one hit with a 2-4 outing that included three RBI and a pair of runs scored.
LITTLE ROCK 15, TENNESSEE TECH 6
COOKEVILLE, Tenn. - Little Rock matches season high hit total at 18 to take the series lead over Tennesse Tech. Trojans complete second consecutive 30-win season for the first time in program history.
Both teams opened the game with a scoreless inning. The Trojans got 2 runners on, but a double play ended the top half. Tennessee Tech was able to work a walk and a single, but both were stranded.
Little Rock exploded in the top of the second with a 5-run inning. It all started with Christian Bernabe working a lead off walk. Ben Harmon then singled to center field. Alex Seguine advanced Bernabe and Harmon with a sacrifice bunt and ended up reaching on an error. Trey Hill put the Trojans on the board first with an RBI single to left field scoring Bernabe. Skyler Trevino then earned a walk with bases loaded to bring home Harmon. Luke Pectol doubled the Trojans score with a 2 RBI single. Finally, Nico Baumbach brought Trevino home with an RBI single. Tennessee Tech responded in the bottom frame with a 2-run inning.
Tennessee Tech would end up throwing three consecutive shutdown innings and tie the game scoring 2 runs in the fourth and 1 in the fifth. In the sixth inning, Little Rock found the offensive stride again putting up a 2-run inning behind an RBI from Nico Baumbach to score Jake Wright and an RBI double from Tyler Williams scoring Luke Pectol. The Golden Eagles responded with 1 run in the bottom half.
Little Rock plated another 5-run inning in the top of the seventh to run away with the lead. Alex Seguine worked a walk to lead off the inning. After the lead off walk, 2 Trojans went down and the 2-out rally started. Jake Wright hit an RBI single to right center which scored the hustling Alex Seguine from first. Luke Pectol then earned a walk to give Nico Baumbach 2 base runners to work with. Baumbach knocked a 2 RBI double to right center scoring Jake Wright and Luke Pectol. Then, the Little Rock home run king, Tyler Williams, stepped to the plate and smoked one over the left field wall for a 2-run home run.
In the top of the ninth, the Trojans would go on one last 2-out rally. After 2 Trojans struck out, Nico Baumbach reached on a throwing error and Tyler Williams earned a walk. This gave the red hot Christian Bernabe a chance to extend the lead with 2 runners on. Bernabe then hit his fourth home run of the year to plate 3 runs.
Little Rock matched the season high for hits at 18 with all 9 Trojan hitters recording at least 1 hit.
SOUTHEAST MISSOURI 3, UT MARTIN 2
CAPE GIRARDEAU, Mo. - Southeast Missouri Baseball (29-24, 16-9 OVC) picked up a big win in Thursday's series opener with UT Martin (20-32, 12-13 OVC) by a final score of 3-2 at Capaha Field.
In a 1-1 game in the eighth inning, short stop Ben Palmer blasted his 16th home run of the season with two outs. A two-run shot, Palmer put the Redhawks in front 3-1 heading into the final frame.
RHP #7 Kyle Miller became the all-time appearances leader in SEMO Baseball history with his 81st career appearance on the mound, as he picked up his seventh save of the season.
An absolute pitching duel, LHP Haden Dow started the contest as he pitched 6.1 innings of one-run baseball. The Skyhawks could only register one run against the lefty as he struck out three hitters in the outing.
UTM's LHP Tristan Walton pitched 7.0 innings of just one run baseball as the Redhawks could only muster an RBI ground out by Michael Mugan for the only run he allowed. Walton recorded six strikeouts.
The Skyhawks got their first run of the game on a solo home run by right fielder Will Smith in the fifth inning.
Mugan's RBI groundout came in the sixth inning after a perfectly executed sacrifice bunt by Palmer to move Cole Warehime and Brooks Kettering up 90-feet. Mugan was able to put the ball in play to score Warehime to tie it at one after the sixth inning.
UTM would load the bases in the seventh inning as the Redhawks turned to the bullpen. LHP Logan Katen (2-1) would enter the ball game and on the second pitch he threw, he got UTM to ground into and inning-ending double play.
Katen's day finished with a solid outing of 1.2 innings of scoreless, hitless baseball as he struck out one Skyhawk in his outing.
Palmer's blast in the eighth inning would be the difference as he hit his home run off RHP Tucker Reed (4-1) for some big insurance runs to put SEMO in front.
UTM's Smith hit his second home run of the day in the ninth inning, but a flyout to center field ended the day as the Redhawks held on for the 3-2 victory.
SOUTHERN INDIANA 8, WESTERN ILLINOIS 1
EVANSVILLE, Ind. - University of Southern Indiana Baseball opened Alumni Weekend with an 8-1 victory over Western Illinois University Thursday afternoon at the USI Baseball Field. The Screaming Eagles are 23-30 overall and 12-13 OVC, while Leathernecks go to 13-35, 8-17 OVC.
With the win, USI rises into a tie for fifth in the OVC standings at press time. The Eagles, 12-13 in the league, are tied in the standings with the University of Tennessee at Martin and Southern Illinois University Edwardsville. The Cougars could rise or fall out of the tie pending the conclusion of the doubleheader nightcap versus Morehead State University that started at 5 p.m.
The OVC Championship, presented by SERVPRO, is scheduled for May 22-25 at Mtn Dew Park in Marion, Illinois.
The Eagles used a two-run second inning to take command of the game, 2-0, early. USI junior catcher Logan Mock (Livermore, California) started the scoring by driving in junior leftfielder Thomas Emerich (Ava, Missouri), who had doubled to start the frame.
Mock would come around to score one batter later when junior second baseman Lane Crowden (Jackson, Missouri) tripled down the right field line for the 2-0.
USI expanded the lead to 6-0 with a 4-run fourth inning. Mock struck again for the first run of the inning with a sacrifice fly, while Crowden made the score 4-0 with a RBI-single to left. Junior third baseman Ricardo Van Grieken (Venezuela), after a single by senior rightfielder Ren Tachioka (Japan), capped off the four-run frame with a two-run double to right field for the 6-0 lead.
Following an Emerich single to start the seventh, junior centerfielder Terrick Thompson-Allen (Sioux City, Iowa) smacked a RBI-triple to left center and scored on a wild pitch to give USI an 8-0 advantage. The Leathernecks closed the gap in the ninth with a tally before the Eagles closed out the 8-1 victory.
USI junior right-hander Peyton Brown (Clemmons, North Carolina) was dominating through six innings and picked up the victory. Brown (2-2), who posted his longest outing of the season, blanked the Leathernecks on two hits and two walks, while striking out four.
USI senior right-hander Trent Robinson (Louisville, Kentucky) picked up the save after throwing the final three innings. Robins allowed one run on one hit and two walks, while striking out two.