SUNDAY'S SCORES
Southeast Missouri 17, @Western Illinois 8
@Eastern Illinois 5, Morehead State 1
Lindenwood 3, @UT Martin 0
@Little Rock 5, Southern Indiana 4 (10)
@SIUE 4, Tennessee Tech 3
SOUTHEAST MISSOURI 17, WESTERN ILLINOIS 8
MACOMB, Ill. - Southeast Missouri Baseball (28-24, 15-9 OVC) won their second-straight Ohio Valley Conference series with a 17-8 win on Sunday afternoon versus Western Illinois (13-34, 8-16 OVC) in Macomb, Ill.
The Redhawks exploded for a series-high 17 runs on Sunday as three different Redhawks finished with multi-home run performances as short stop Ben Palmer, first baseman Bryce Cannon, and designated hitter Cole Warehime all finished with two round trippers.
For Palmer, who came into the contest as SEMO's home run leader, the home runs were number 14 & 15 on the season.
SEMO pounded out 17 runs on 15 hits as six different Redhawks finished with multiple hits led by Josh Cameron who was 3-for-4 at the plate with a home run, three RBIs, and three runs scored.
SEMO jumped out to an early 1-0 advantage after the Redhawks loaded the bases in the first frame. An RBI sacrifice fly by left fielder Ty Stauss brought in Brooks Kettering from third base to give SEMO the lead.
The first home run of the day for the Redhawks came two innings later as center fielder Michael Mugan blasted his 12th home run of the season, a two-run shot to make it 3-0 SEMO.
An RBI single in the home third inning plated the first Leatherneck of the game and after three, SEMO led 3-1.
Kettering responded with an RBI single of his own to score Shea McGahan and make it 4-1 before a three-run inning in the fourth by WIU tied it at four a piece after the fifth inning.
Palmer crushed his 14th home run of the season with no outs in the sixth inning with Kettering on base. The blast put SEMO in front 6-4, but WIU would respond with a solo home run with one out in the home half to make it 6-5 SEMO heading to the seventh.
The Redhawks would score nine unanswered runs after WIU's home run in the sixth as Cole Warehime got the scoring going with a two-out, two-run home run in the seventh to make it 8-5.
Leading off the eighth inning, Palmer hit number 15 on the season, a solo shot that put SEMO up 9-5.
A two-RBI single by Cameron plated runs 10 and 11 and a Bryce Cannon two-run home run, followed by Warehime's second home run of the day, made it 15-5 Redhawks after the eighth.
WIU would score three runs in the eighth, but a solo home run from Cameron and Cannon in the ninth inning halted any sort of ninth inning WIU rally as SEMO held on for the 17-8 victory.
EASTERN ILLINOIS 5, MOREHEAD STATE 1
CHARLESTON, Ill. - The Eastern Illinois baseball team (16-32, 10-14 OVC) celebrated Senior Day on Sunday with a big 5-1 win over Morehead State (30-21, 14-10 OVC). Against a high-powered Eagles batting order, Colton Coca and Jonathon Hanscom combined to allow just one run on three hits to lift the Panthers to victory.
While pitching proved to be the story, the EIU offense started hot to give Coca and Hanscom some solid run support. Cole Gober got the scoring started with an RBI single that drove home fellow senior Lucas Loos to put Eastern up 1-0 after one.
In the second, the Panthers put up the only multi-run inning of the ball game, with Trenton Pallas scoring on a wild pitch, before a Lucas Loos single plated Dylan Drumke and Tyler Castro to give EIU a 4-0 advantage.
The next three half innings were scoreless with all nine batters being retired in order, but Tyler Castro broke the silence in the fifth with a lead-off home run to right field. It was Castro's first home run of the season.
Morehead State finally found some offensive life in the top of the sixth, and after loading the bases with two outs, walked in their first run of the game. However, EIU starter Colton Coca remained unfazed and forced a fly out to escape the jam with minimal damage.
It was Coca's final out of the game, as he finished his day with five strikeouts while surrendering just one run on two hits through six complete innings.
Jonathon Hanscom entered the game in the seventh and recorded the final nine outs to pick up his fifth save of the season. He struck out four while allowing just one hit and no runs.
Morehead State's three total hits were tied for the fewest they had recorded in a single game this season.
Coca (2-3) was awarded the win while Ethan Davis (0-1) suffered the loss.
Offensively, Lucas Loos had yet another productive outing, going 2-3 with an RBI and extending his reached-base streak to 42 games.
Tyler Castro (2-3, R, RBI) and Trenton Pallas (2-4, R) also posted multi-hit performances, while Cole Gober went 1-2 with an RBI.
LINDENWOOD 3, UT MARTIN 0
MARTIN, Tenn. - The Lindenwood baseball team (16-35, 9-15 OVC) picked up a series win over UT Martin (20-31, 12-12 OVC), shutting the Skyhawks out 3-0 in the series finale on Sunday afternoon from Martin, Tenn.
Lindenwood jumped out to a 1-0 lead with a run in the first. Filip Sarota drove in Kam Edwards with a sac fly, putting the Lions up by one after a half inning. The black and gold doubled their lead in the second. Dawson Hokuf opened the inning with a double and he was eventually brought home on an RBI single from Anthony Stellato, making the score 2-0.
In the sixth, Josh Newell worked his way out of a jam to keep the Lions in front 2-0. Newell finished off the seventh and ended his day going seven scoreless innings, giving up six hits and striking out six. Lindenwood added on in the eighth with a two-out rally that started with a Bryson Arnette single. He eventually scored on an error caused by an infield hit from Evan Funkhouser, pushing the lead to 3-0.
Aaron Jungers finished off the 3-0 win with two scoreless innings out of the pen, earning the save as Lindenwood picked up the series victory in the process. It was the Lions first shutout win since March 2nd. On the mound, Newell recorded his fifth win of the year.
LITTLE ROCK 5, SOUTHERN INDIANA 4 (10)
LITTLE ROCK, Ark. - The Little Rock Baseball team completes the first conference sweep of the season behind 3 big late plays. Trojans hold onto sole possession of first place with a 1 game lead heading into the final weekend of conference play.
It was a battle of the pitchers through the first 3 innings as no runs were scored. Jack Cline threw 5 strikeouts through the first 4 frames. The Trojans were able to strike first with a solo shot from Nico Baumbach in the bottom of the fourth to grab a 1-run lead.
It would be radio silence until USI took the lead in the top of the sixth inning with a 2-run inning. The Screaming Eagles plated an insurance run in the top of the eighth to push the score to 1-3. Jake Wright answered in the home half of the eighth with a solo home run to cut the lead in half.
Heading into the ninth inning, the Trojans trailed 2-3. In the top half of the inning, Jacob Weatherley sat two straight batters down swinging. USI was able to get one player on base and in scoring position after a base hit and a stolen base. It seemed like the Screaming Eagles were going to plate a run, but Luke Pectol threw him out at home plate after a great hustle play from Jake Wright.
In the bottom half of the inning, Nico Baumbach got it started with a leadoff double. Tyler Williams then moved him over to third with a single to centerfield. Ben Harmon tied it up by bringing Nico Baumbach home with an RBI single to centerfield forcing the game extra innings.
The tenth inning got off to a rocky start as USI was able to load the bases. The screaming Eagles worked an RBI walk with bases loaded to take a 4-3 lead. With bases loaded again, Jacob Weatherley threw his fourth strikeout to sit down the side. It seemed like all the momentum was on the side of USI after a leadoff strikeout in the bottom half of the inning. After his heroic walk off 2 RBI double yesterday, Luke Pectol stepped to the plate calm, cool, and collected and smoked a 370 foot home run over the right field wall to tie the game. USI was able to grab the second out of the inning before Tyler Williams stepped to the plate and earned a walk then stole second. All eyes were on the red hot Christian Bernabe as he stepped to the plate. Bernabe put the ball in play with a checked swing right to the pitcher who lobbed it over the first baseman's glove allowing Tyler Williams to go from second to home for the win.
SIUE 4, TENNESSEE TECH 3
EDWARDSVILLE, Ill. - Lucas Spence made it a memorable finish to the 2024 home season for SIUE baseball. It was his one-out single that capped a three-run ninth inning giving the Cougars their third walk-off win of the season. SIUE defeated Tennessee Tech 4-3 to win the Ohio Valley Conference baseball series at Roy E. Lee Field.
SIUE improved to 12-12 in OVC play and 20-30-1 overall. Tennessee Tech is 13-11 in the league and 29-22 overall.
The win also clinched an OVC Tournament berth for the Cougars for the third consecutive year, marking the first time that SIUE has qualified in three straight seasons.
With the Cougars trailing 3-1 going into the ninth, Ethan Willoughby reached on an error and Chase Bloomer was walked by Tennessee Tech starter Jaxson Pease, who exited after the walk. John Stallcup followed with a double to the gap in right center off Golden Eagles' reliever Jack Erdman, plating both runners to tie the score. Daniel Gierer reached on an infield single and then with one out, Gage Franck walked to load the bases. Spence singled past a drawn-in Tennessee Tech infielder, bringing Stallcup home with the winning run.
Spence (1-4) clinched the win for himself after he had come on in the eighth inning and recorded the final four outs on the mound. He retired all four hitters he faced.
The win spoiled what was an excellent start for Pease. He worked eight innings, allowing three runs on five hits. He struck out two.
SIUE took a 1-0 lead in the third inning when Drew Mize singled to drive in Spence. Tennessee Tech scored three times in the fifth, capped off by a two-run home run by Hayden Gilliland.
SIUE starter Kyle Athmer allowed all three runs over five innings. He struck out five. Ian Benner and Joseph Martin both added 1.1 scoreless innings in relief.
Spence finished 2-4 at the plate as SIUE outhit Tennessee Tech 8-4.