SATURDAY'S SCORES
Bowling Green 4,
Southern Indiana 1 (Carbondale, IL)
Quinnipiac 11,
@Morehead State 3
UT Martin 6, Old Dominion 0 (Murfreesboro, Tenn.)
@Tennessee Tech 6, UIC 4
Illinois State 8,
@Lindenwood 6
Murray State 21,
@Little Rock 2
Purdue Fort Wayne 9-5,
@Southeast MissourI 5-6
@Austin Peay 5,
Eastern Illinois 4
Western Illinois 11, @Alabama State 6
BOWLING GREEN 4, SOUTHERN INDIANA 1
CARBONDALE, Ill. - University of Southern Indiana Baseball loaded the bases in the ninth inning but fell short, 4-1, against Bowling Green State University Saturday afternoon at Itchy Jones Stadium in Carbondale, Illinois. USI ends the day 6-4 overall in 2025, while Bowling Green State University goes to 5-4.
The Falcons scored scored one in the first and two in the third to build a 3-0 lead. USI got on the scoreboard in the eighth when junior second baseman/rightfielder Patrick McLellan singled in the Eagles' lone run of the game to cut the deficit to 3-1.
After Bowling Green matched USI's run in the bottom of the eighth to lead, 4-1, the Eagles tried to rally in the ninth. USI loaded the bases with two outs, but could push the runners across the plate.
On the mound, junior right-hander Blake Kimball started and took the loss for USI. Kimball (2-1) allowed three runs, two earned, on four hits and one walk, while striking out four in six innings of work.
QUINNIPIAC 11, MOREHEAD STATE 3
MOREHEAD, Ky. - A day after piling up 22 runs on 15 hits, the Morehead State baseball team could manage just seven hits as the Eagles fell to Quinnipiac 11-3 Saturday afternoon at Allen Field.
Quinnipiac (4-5) got two runs in each of the first, fourth and fifth innings. The Bobcats were led offensively by first baseman Kyle Garbowski who collected four hits in five at-bats.
Morehead State (5-4) broke through in the bottom of the sixth inning. Shortstop Andy Cisneros led off with a walk and advanced to second on a one-out passed ball. First baseman Alex Kean singled to right center, the throw back into the infield was wild, and Cisneros scored while Kean advanced to second. Right fielder
JJ Dutton singled to left center, advancing Kean to third base and took second base on the throw into the infield. MSU center fielder Hayden Robbins then drove a two-RBI single up the middle to pull the Eagles to within four at 7-3.
A single run in the eighth and three more in the top of the ninth sealed the victory for QU.
Andrew Rubayo (1-0) got the win for Quinnipiac. Kamden Hawks (0-1) took the loss for MSU.
UT MARTIN 6, OLD DOMINION 0
MURFREESBORO, Tenn. - The University of Tennessee at Martin baseball bounced back in Day 2 of the MTSU Round-Robin tournament with its second shutout of the season, this time coming against Old Dominion, 6-0.
Jalen Fithian continued to a have a big weekend, going 4-for-5 with two runs scored and a stolen base. Jonah Katsaboulas (2-4, two RBI, run scored) and Frank Micallef (2-3, walk, RBI) joined Fithian in the multi-hit category for the Skyhawks, who improved to 4-5 on the season. Garner Anderson (run scored, walk, stolen base), JT Popick (RBI), Brody Capps (walk) and TJ Grines (RBI, stolen base) also helped UT Martin pull away late.
Drake Bayles (2-0) enjoyed his second combined shutout behind seven innings of four-hit ball and five strikeouts. Mason Shropshire kept things clean the rest of the way, going two innings while allowing no hits, no walks and striking out one.
A Hazlehurst, Miss. native, Bayles tallied three strikeouts in a row in the first two frames. He only allowed one Monarch baserunner to second base in the second through fourth innings, helping his own cause by picking off that runner as he coasted through the lineup.
Bayles did not allow a hit in the fifth and successfully pitched around a pair of baserunners in the sixth and seventh to keep the game scoreless.
The UT Martin offense repaid their starting arm with a five-run eighth inning as the first five Skyhawk hitters reached base safely. With the bases juiced, Capps drew a walk to drive in the game’s first run and give the Skyhawks a lead they wouldn’t relinquish. Katsaboulas ripped a two-run single up the middle before Popick and Micallef produced back-to-back RBI’s to make the score 5-0 after the top of the eighth.
Shropshire entered for the eighth and after a runner reached first on an error, he kept Old Dominion off the scoreboard with a strikeout and a 6-4-3 double play. The Skyhawks added an insurance run in the top of the ninth after Fithian led off with a single, stole second, advanced to third on an Anderson flyout and crossed the plate on an RBI groundout off the bat of Grines.
Shropshire shut down Old Dominion in the ninth, retiring the Monarchs in order to put UT Martin in the win column.
TENNESSEE TECH 6, UIC 4
COOKEVILLE, Tenn. - Timely hitting and strong showings out of the bullpen lifted the Tennessee Tech baseball team over visiting UIC on Saturday afternoon, as the Golden Eagles claimed their second series win of the season with a 6-4 victory at Quillen Field and Bush Stadium at the Averitt Express Baseball Complex.
The Flames (2-9) came out ready to attack, taking advantage of a pair of Golden Eagle errors in the second and third frames to build an early lead. The purple and gold (8-3) fell into a 3-0 hole heading into the bottom of the third, but the team's patience paid off in the end.
Center fielder Jackson Green was plunked by the first offering of the inning and left field Landon Smelser followed with a walk. A bunt single of the bat of infielder Jackson Rooker loaded the bags, providing the first big scoring opportunity of the day for Tech.
Shortstop Owen Lee delivered in the big spot, ripping a two-run single down the right-field line to put a dent in the deficit. Catcher Mack Whitcomb drew a four-pitch free pass to load the bases back up with still nobody out.
Right fielder Jorsixt Jimenez sent a sacrifice fly to right field to square the contest at 3-3. Designated hitter Riley Black followed suit, drilling a sac fly to center field to put the purple and gold on top for good.
The Tech bats continued to apply pressure in the fourth, picking up a pair of quick base runners with one out. Rooker provided a big insurance run after working a full count on eight pitches, slinging an RBI knock through the right side for a 5-3 Tech lead.
Owen Lee followed with an RBI ground out to first base, providing a three-run advantage for the Tech bullpen to work with. The trio of relievers made good on the help, securing the win with just one more run allowed.
Lucas Vega took over in the third inning and knocked out two full frames of work to lock down his second win of the season. The right-hander struck out one while holding the Flames scoreless into the fifth.
After UIC applied some pressure in the fifth, veteran Reece McDuffie took his turn on the mound and escaped the inning without any trouble. He tossed up a zero in the sixth before the Flames got one back in the seventh behind a solo shot to right-center field.
Sophomore Juan Vargas took the pill for the final two frames, continuing his strong start to the season with a dominant performance. Facing the minimum six batters, the righty earned his second save of the year with a three-pitch strikeout to end the day.
Rooker and Lee each finished the contest with two hits apiece, with Lee pacing the Tech squad with three ribbies. Green and Smelser each scored twice in the contest.
ILLINOIS STATE 8, LINDENWOOD 6
ST. CHARLES, Mo. - The Lindenwood baseball team (5-6) had its comeback effort fall short, dropping game two to Illinois State by a score of 8-6 on Saturday afternoon from Lou Brock Sports Complex
It was a pitchers duel through the first four innings as each team combined for just three hits. Illinois State plated a run in the fifth after a walk and a double to grab a 1-0 lead. The Redbirds hit a pair of home runs in the sixth to go up 3-0.
An error, a walk, and a single by Filip Sarota loaded the bases for Lindenwood in the bottom of the sixth. Bryson Arnette brought home Charlie Isom-McCall with a sac fly and Jake Radosevich kept his strong weekend going with an RBI single, cutting the deficit to 3-2 after six.
Illinois State used the home run ball once again to get those two runs back in the seventh going up 5-2. The Redbirds added to their lead with three in the eighth to go up 8-2. Filip Sarota homered in the bottom of the eight, cutting the deficit to 8-3. Lindenwood kept battling in the ninth as Kam Edwards tripled home Mitch Cummins and Arnette brought home Sarota. Radosevich kept the line moving with another hit, getting within two at 8-6.
Lindenwood brough the tying run to the plate in the for of Sam Grunberg, but Illinois State prevailed by an 8-6 margin.
MURRAY STATE 21, LITTLE ROCK 2
LITTLE ROCK, Ark. - Murray State scored six runs in the first inning and 10 more in the ninth on the way to a 21-2 win over Little Rock on Saturday at Gary Hogan Field. The Racers (6-0) clinched the series win but the Trojans (5-5) will have a chance to end on a winning note in tomorrow's finale, with first pitch at 1:05 pm. The contest is available for streaming on ESPN+.
The Trojans scored both of their runs in the second inning after Murray State has jumped out to an 8-0 start. Sammy Harris singled to bring home Angel Cano for the first Little Rock tally, and Reed Willbanks singled to push Jayce Blalock across the plate. Willbanks finished with a pair of hits.
Brody Bunting (1-2) took the loss on the mound as the Trojans used 11 different pitchers who combined to allow 19 hits and 10 walks with 10 strikeouts. Murray State starter Isaac Silva (2-0) went seven innings, scattering six hits and surrendering just one earned run while fanning seven. He threw 103 pitches.
Kade Goeke singled in a pinch-hit appearance, Ty Rhoades doubled and Harris reached safely twice on his single and a walk.
PURDUE FORT WAYNE 9-5, SOUTHEAST MISSOURI 5-6
CAPE GIRARDEAU, Mo. - Southeast Missouri Baseball (5-5) split Saturday's doubleheader with Purdue Ft. Wayne (1-9) on Saturday afternoon by dropping the first game, 9-5, before picking up the victory in game two by a final score of 6-5.
The Redhawks got a fantastic start from RHP Nathan Mertens in game two of the day as he made his first career start on the mound pitching 6.2 innings in the outing. Mertens allowed just one run on six hits and punched out a career-high nine hitters in the start.
Right fielder Cole Warehime blasted his second home run of the season to get SEMO on the board in the second inning of game two. Warehime hit the ball over the left field fence off PFW's starting pitcher, Zane Danielson, to give the Redhawks an early 1-0 lead.
The Mastodons would score their only run off Mertens in the top of the third inning with an RBI single to center field with two outs in the inning.
SEMO would score again in the fifth inning with a sacrifice fly to left field by left fielder Ty Stauss. Stauss' fly ball would be enough to score Brooks Kettering from third base to give SEMO a 2-1 lead heading into the sixth inning. A seventh inning sacrifice fly from Michael Mugan would give the Redhawks a two-run lead heading into the final two innings.
An RBI double to left field and a Mastodon two-run home run to right field would regain the lead for the visitors in the top of the eighth inning as they lead 4-3 going to the bottom half.
LHP Alex Hayes (1-0) came into stop the bleeding recording a pair of strikeouts to get SEMO out of the inning.
A leadoff single by Mikey Rocha got a big inning going for the Redhawks in the bottom half of the eighth. A walk and a throwing error allowed two more Redhawks to reach base, loading the bases for designated hitter Carson Schrack.
An RBI ground out from Schrack got a run back and then a wild pitch got antoher run back to regain a 5-4 advantage for the Redhawks. Short stop Andrew Ramirez recorded an RBI single to make it 6-4 Redhawks heading into the ninth inning.
A solo home run for PFW In the top of the ninth inning off Hayes and a one-out single off Eddie White (making his first appearance of 2025) brought on LHP Cade Perkins. Perkins got the next two hitters out and picked up his first save of the year as the Redhawks held on for the 6-5 victory.
Game One
The Mastodons took advantage of errors from the Redhawks defense in the first game on Saturday scoring runs in the first six innings.
The Redhawks would have a big fifth inning, scoring four runs to make it 6-4 PFW heading into the sixth inning, but PFW would add another run in the sixth to make it 7-4. The Redhawks would score another run in the eighth, but two more Mastodon runs would be enough as they held on for the 9-5 victory.
Brooks Kettering and Ty Stauss would each finish with a pair of hits as the only Redhawks to record a multi-hit game in the first game. As an offense, SEMO totaled nine hits but were outhit by a 14-9 margin.
AUSTIN PEAY 5, EASTERN ILLINOIS 4
CLARKSVILLE, Tenn. - The Eastern Illinois baseball team (3-5, 0-0 OVC) came up just short against Austin Peay (7-4, 0-0 ASUN) on Saturday afternoon, falling 5-4 in Clarksville. The Panthers took a one-run lead into the bottom of the eighth before a pair of unearned runs made the difference for the Governors.
The EIU bats scored four runs on eight hits and two errors. Three Panthers posted multi-hit outings, including Peyton Wilson who went 2-5 with a double and a team-leading two RBIs.
Bryce Riggs (0-1) was designated the loss despite giving up zero earned runs on just one hit with a pair of strikeouts through two innings of relief work.
Tyler Conklin recorded another strong start for Eastern with a line of three earned runs on five hits with six strikeouts through six complete innings.
Austin Peay scored all three of their earned runs in the bottom of the first, with Gus Freeman bringing two in with a double before later scoring on the throw as part of a Cole Johnson groundout.
However, Conklin was lights out for the remainder of his outing, blanking the Governors through the next five innings while allowing just two hits.
Eastern found their first runs in the fifth inning with Brett Stanley bringing in Ethan Rossi with a single and Zak Goodwin Scoring on a Peyton Wilson RBI fielder's choice.
The Panthers would make it three consecutive innings with a run scored, as a Goodwin RBI single tied the game in the sixth before Stanley scored on a Wilson groundout in the seventh to push the Panthers in front.
Riggs preserved the lead with a 1-2-3 inning in the seventh, but after Peay loaded the bases with two outs in the eighth, a fielding error allowed two runs to score for the Governors, putting the Panthers back behind by one.
Peyton Wilson doubled with one out in the ninth to give Eastern a runner in scoring position, but the next two EIU batters grounded out to finish the game.
WESTERN ILLINOIS 11, ALABAMA STATE 6
MONTGOMERY, Ala. - Western Illinois Baseball broke out the bats in a big way Saturday night, rolling to an 11-6 win over Alabama State at Wheeler-Watkins Stadium. The Leathernecks racked up 11 hits, with a five-run third inning setting the tone before a clutch bases-clearing double from Kyree Alexander in the fifth inning put the game out of reach.
The Leatherneck offense came alive in the third, stringing together key at-bats to push across five runs and take an early lead. Tyler Large had a key two-run single followed by a Matt Olive double the next at bat scoring Large to highlight the third inning for the offense. However, Alabama State answered back with a four-run fourth inning, briefly making it a one-run game.
But WIU would have an immediate response. In the top of the fifth, they loaded the bases for Alexander, who came through with a huge double down the left field line, clearing the bases and extending WIU's lead to 9-5. The Junior finished 2-for-5 with three RBIs on the night.
On the mound, Jason Buhl was lights out in relief, stopping the Hornets momentum and picking up the win. The senior lefty entered in the fourth inning and dominated, tossing 3.2 innings while allowing just one run on five hits. He struck out six and walked two, keeping Alabama State's bats in check. Buhl's steady presence allowed WIU to maintain control and cruise to victory.
The Leathernecks tacked on two more runs in the sixth, giving the bullpen plenty of breathing room. Eric Rawlings closed things out with two scoreless innings to seal the win.
With the victory, WIU improves to 2-5 on the season, showing off both their offensive firepower and pitching depth.