FRIDAY'S SCORES
@Western Illinois 17, Illinois State 8
@Western Carolina 5-9,
Eastern Illinois 3-2
SIUE 11, @Missouri State 4
@Mercer 9,
Tennessee Tech 1
@Western Kentucky 12-7,
UT Martin 5-1
Morehead State 18, @Southern Illinois 12 (Marion, IL)
@Memphis 13,
Lindenwood 5
@UT Arlington 8,
Little Rock 2
@Jacksonville State 11-1,
Southeast Missouri 1-3
Murray State 5,
@Southern Indiana 4
WESTERN ILLINOIS 17, ILLINOIS STATE 8
MACOMB, Ill. - Western Illinois turned Alfred D. Boyer Stadium into a hitter's park on Friday, racking up 19 hits and exploding for 17 runs in a dominant 17-8 victory over Illinois State on Friday afternoon. The Leathernecks' lineup delivered in clutch situations, scoring 13 of their runs in the seventh and eighth innings to break the game wide open.
WIU wasted no time jumping on Illinois State pitching, putting up three runs in the first inning. After leadoff hitter Paul Osting started off the game with a lead off single through the right side, Liam Bushey and Tyler Large followed with back-to-back singles putting the Leathernecks on the board right away. Kenneth Perez would then rip a two-run single to left field giving WIU an early 3-2 advantage.
In the third inning, Large crushed his first home run of the game, a solo shot to left, to extend the lead to 4-2. After Illinois State had pulled within 4-3 in the seventh, the Leathernecks unleashed a five-run rally to seize control. Kyree Alexander got things started with a double down the right field line, followed by Brock Lummus reaching on an error by the Redbird right fielder. Wandel Campana would get an RBI SAC fly to score Alexander. Paul Osting would follow that with a walk to bring up Liam Bushey with runners on first and second with one out. Bushey would get ahold of one and hit a three-run shot to center field to extend the WIU lead to 8-3. Illinois State would make a pitching change after that and the first batter that the redbird pitcher saw was Tyler Large. Large would hit his second home run of the game with another homer to left to put the Leathernecks in control with a 6-run lead headed into the eighth inning.
Illinois State would respond in the top of the eighth with five runs of their own to cut the WIU lead to one at 9-8. The Leathernecks delivered the knockout punch with an incredible eight-run eighth inning, sending 12 batters to the plate and piling up six hits in the frame. Kyree Alexander would again start off the inning with a lead off double finishing with three doubles on the afternoon. Brock Lummus would have two doubles in the bottom of the eighth recording three RBI in the eighth inning alone.
WIU made the most of their opportunities, driving in eight two-out runs and finishing the game with five doubles, one triple, and three home runs as part of their 19-hit barrage.
WESTERN CAROLINA 5-9, EASTERN ILLINOIS 3-2
CULLOWHEE, N.C. - The Eastern Illinois baseball team (5-10, 0-0 OVC) suffered a pair of setbacks in their doubleheader at Western Carolina (9-10, 0-0 SoCon) on Friday.
The Panthers fell in game one despite possessing the lead for six innings, as four unearned runs in the eighth allowed the Catamounts to come from behind and steal the series opener.
Tyler Conklin recorded another strong performance on the mound as he allowed just one run on six hits with three strikeouts through the game's first six innings.
Eastern struggled to get the bats going, scoring three runs on just five hits and one error.
Two of those runs came in the second inning on a Jake Ferguson double that plated Pierce Bauerle and Tyler Castro, who had both reached on walks.
After scoreless third and fourth innings, Western scored their one and only earned run with a Brayden Corn lead-off homer in the fifth.
EIU punched right back in the sixth with a Tyler Castro RBI base hit that scored Brett Stanley, who had singled and stolen second to put himself in scoring position.
The Panthers protected the lead through the seventh inning, but with two on and two out in the bottom of the eighth, a throwing error extended the inning while also allowing a run to score.
With runners now on second and third, a Cole Jones single pushed the Catamounts in front, and after a walk put Jones in scoring position, an Elijah Smith base hit put WCU up 5-3.
Jake Ferguson reached base on a walk to bring the tying run to the plate with one out in the ninth, but the final two EIU batters went down on strikes to finish the game.
In game two, the offense came early and often for the Catamounts in game two while the Panthers struggled to find consistent production at the plate.
Eastern scored a pair of runs on seven hits and two errors. Chris Worcester led Eastern with three hits including a double, while Ethan Rossi went 2-4 with a home run.
With one out and the bases loaded in the bottom of the first, the game's opening run was walked home before a double play got EIU out the inning.
However, the Panthers were unable to escape the second inning with as little damage, as the Catamounts scored five runs in the frame.
The first run was scored on an RBI double off the bat Jaylen Jones before a throwing error on a bunt-single allowed two more to cross home plate.
WCU had a man on first with two outs following a fly ball, but three consecutive two-out singles plated a couple more runs to put EIU in a 6-0 hole before Christian Carew entered the game to get the final out of the inning.
Carew had a solid outing in relief, allowing just one run on three hits with a strikeout through 3.1 innings pitched.
After reaching on a two-out error and stealing second, Chris Worcester scored EIU's first run of the game on a Tyler Castro RBI single in the top of the third.
Ethan Rossi recorded his second home run of the season with a solo shot in the seventh, but the Panthers were unable to cut into the deficit with the Catamounts picking up a couple more insurance runs in the bottom half of the inning.
The Panthers had men on second and third in the ninth, but were unable to bring either runner home.
SIUE 11, MISSOURI STATE 4
SPRINGFIELD, Mo. - Kyle Ratliff's first career grand slam capped a six-run sixth inning as SIUE baseball defeated Missouri State 11-4 in the opener of a three-game weekend series at Hammons Field.
The Cougars have won four of their last five games and improved to 6-10. Missouri State fell to 5-11.
SIUE led 5-4 heading into the ninth inning, when three straight one-out singles brought home a run. Chase Bloomer picked up the RBI when he singled through the right side of the infield. Ryan Niedzwiedz walked to load the bases and Willoughby walked to force home a run. Ratliff followed with his third home run of the season.
SIUE got on the board in the first when Niedzwiedz stole home for the Cougars first run of the day. They added two more in the third when Ethan Willoughby singled to right to drive home Chase Bloomer and Daniel Gierer.
Mack Mitchell and Bloomer hit back-to-back home runs leading off the fifth to extend the Cougars' lead to 5-0.
The Bears plated two runs in the fifth inning and then scored single runs in the sixth and seventh innings to trim the SIUE lead to 5-4.
Bloomer finished 3-5 to boost his season batting average to .367. Mitchell and Niedzwiedz each had two hits.
Freshman Tim Teixeira (1-1) picked up his first career win working five innings in the start. He allowed two runs and struck out six. He now has 24 strikeouts in 21 innings this year.
Kyle Athmer gave up two runs in 1 2/3 of relief. Alex Rodriguez and Tyler Davis finished the game for the Cougars. Rodriguez threw 1 1/3 innings and Davis worked the ninth, striking out all three batters he faced.
Zack Stewart and Nick Rodriguez each had two hits and an RBI to lead the Bears.
MERCER 9, TENNESSEE TECH 1
MACON, Ga. - A quick start couldn't hold up for the Tennessee Tech baseball team on Friday, as the Golden Eagles dropped a 9-1 decision in their series-opening contest with Mercer at OrthoGeorgia Park in Macon, Ga.
The purple and gold (14-5) were quick to strike first in the match-up, with shortstop Owen Lee ripping a lead-off single to right field. Two batters later, catcher Mack Whitcomb followed with a base knock to left field. Working a nine-pitch at-bat, right fielder Jorsixt Jimenez delivered the big swing for the Golden Eagles, lacing a double down the left-field line to plate Lee for an early 1-0 lead.
Mercer (13-6) bounced back immediately in the bottom of the first, loading the bases with the first three batters before Tech starter Jaxson Pease picked up a huge strikeout. Seemingly just a ground-ball double play away from coming away with nothing, the Bears dug in and went to work
The home squad answered the punch-out with a two-run single, moving on top for good at 2-1. The Bears followed that effort with three straight RBI base knocks, one to each part of the outfield, to take a 5-1 lead and force an early Tech pitching change.
Expounding on its advantage, Mercer tallied one more run in the second before blowing the doors open in the third with a three-run homer to left field. The Tech bullpen shut the scoring down from there, but it was too little too late, as the Bears' pitching staff allowed just three hits and a walk over the final eight innings of the night.
Entering the contest in the third inning with just one out, freshman Logan Moller kept the Mercer bats relatively quiet through the sixth. The right-hander ended the day with 3.1 innings of work and a season-high four strikeouts, spreading four hits out across the way.
Making his Golden Eagle debut, Kevin Matos finished off the final out of the sixth with just one pitch before turning in a 1-2-3 seventh. He picked up his first strikeout in the purple and gold along the way. Finishing off the night with a scoreless eighth was Garrett Holpuch.
WESTERN KENTUCKY 12-7, UT MARTIN 5-1
BOWLING GREEN, Ky. - The University of Tennessee at Martin baseball team fell in the doubleheader at Western Kentucky with Game 1 going to the Hilltoppers, 12-5 and Game 2 being a 7-1 decision at Nick Denes Field.
UT Martin (6-11) jumped out to a 4-0 lead that started in the second inning from a bases loaded walk by Jalen Fithian and then a two-RBI single into left field from Jordan Hudson. TJ Grines singled later in the fourth to make it four unanswered runs for the visiting team.
Jacob Sitton (0-2) held Western Kentucky (17-1) to one hit through his first three innings of work. The righty went 4.1 innings and struck out two in his fifth start of the year.
The Hilltoppers got on the board during the home half of the fourth and then expanded on their lead throughout the next two innings.
Brandon King came out of the bullpen to throw 3.2 innings and strike out two while only allowing one run to cross the plate. The Skyhawks got a run back in the bottom of the seventh off an Arderrius Townsend double but would wind up falling short in the first part of the doubleheader.
Fithian went a perfect 3-for-3 in the game with a double, two stolen bases, an RBI and two walks.
Drake Bayles (2-2) earned the start in the second game going six innings with four punchouts. In the second inning, UT Martin scored off a Tommy Koch single that brought in Townsend who doubled earlier in the frame.
Bayles danced around a lead-off single in the home half by recording three consecutive outs to keep the Skyhawks down one. Western Kentucky added runs in the third but came away scoreless in the fourth after Bayles sat the Hilltoppers down in order.
The same result for the Western Kentucky offense occurred in the following inning from a groundout, strikeout and flyout induced by Bayles.
The Hilltoppers scored a couple more runs in the sixth and seventh and that would prove to be enough for the win in Game 2.
MOREHEAD STATE 18, SOUTHERN ILLINOIS 12
MARION, Ill. - Morehead State hung five runs up in the first, fifth and eighth innings and outlasted Southern Illinois 18-12 in the opener of their three-game series Friday at Mtn. Dew Park in Marion, Ill.
Morehead State (7-9) pounded out 19 hits, led by left fielder Davis Germann and right fielder JJ Dutton with three hits apiece. In the game, eight Eagle batters finished with multiple hits.
Eagle reliever Josh Furtado (1-0) picked up the win with a strong effort out of the bullpen. The junior threw three innings, allowing two runs on one hit, while walking two Saluki batters and recording a career-high six strikeouts.
Eagle pitchers struck out 12 SIU batters, while walking 10 and allowing 14 hits, including three home runs.
MSU got off to a fast start, plating five runs all with two outs. The Eagles rapped six hits and took a walk to get out to the early 5-0 lead highlighted by JJ Dutton's two-RBI single up the middle to open the scoring.
After Southern Illinois (11-5) came back to tie the game with four runs in the second and one more in the third, Morehead State struck again in the fifth. Designated hitter Hunter Thomas led off with a single to right field, and advanced to second on a wild pitch. He scored on Germann's RBI-single to right. Germann advanced to third on a two-base error by the SIU right fielder John Lemm. Dutton rapped a single up the middle to score Germann. Catcher Caden Sheridan reached on an outfield error and freshman second baseman Aubrey Kearns cleared the bases with a triple to the right-center field gap. Kearns scored on shortstop Andy Cisneros' ground out and MSU led 10-5.
SIU answered with three in the bottom of the fifth and the teams both posted a run apiece in the sixth. Morehead State scored by third baseman Griffin Olson's leadoff ground-rule double, followed by him advancing to third on a ground ball, and scoring on a wild pitch.
Both teams posted two runs in the seventh inning, MSU's scoring coming from center field Hayden Robbins' two-out two RBI single up the middle to put the Eagles ahead 13-11 heading into the eighth.
The Eagles busted open the game with another offensive outburst in the eighth inning. Germann blasted a one-out home run over the fence in left, his fifth of the season. After three consecutive singles, Cisneros rapped a two-run single through the left side. Robbins followed with another two-run single up the middle for his third and fourth runs batted in of the game.
SIU's Dylan Petrey (2-1) was pinned with the loss. Southern Illinois was led offensively by center field Jordan Bach, who went 3-4, with three runs scored. Saluki pitching recorded 16 strikeouts.
MEMPHIS 12, LINDENWOOD 5
MEMPHIS, Tenn. - The Lindenwood baseball team (8-11) fell to Memphis (10-7) by a score of 12-5 on Friday in Memphis, Tenn.
Lindenwood wasted no time getting out in from as Kam Edwards and Mitch Cummins opened the game with back-to-back homers to put the Lions ahead 2-0. Later in the inning, Sam Grunberg hit one out to left center, extending the lead to 3-0. Memphis answered with three of its own, knotting the game at 3 after one.
The Tigers added two more in the second to grab the lead for the first time, 5-3, and added one more in the third. Evan Funkhouser cut the deficit to 6-4 with a solo homer in the fourth. Cummins hit his second homer of the day, one inning later, pulling the Lions within one at 6-5.
After escaping a jam in the sixth, Memphis added three in the bottom half of the inning and two more in the seventh to grab an 11-5 lead. The Tigers added two in the eighth and picked up a 13-6 win in the series opener.
UT ARLINGTON 8, LITTLE ROCK 2
ARLINGTON, Texas - Little Rock cut into an early deficit at UT Arlington Friay night, but the Mavericks used a big seventh inning to take an 8-2 win.
UTA only led 3-2 heading into the bottom of the seventh but Trojans' starting pitcher Jackson Wells left the game and two other pitchers had a difficult time stopping the Mavericks, and they picked up five runs.
Wells (0-2) takes the loss, but after yielding a three-run home run in the third inning, only yielded one more earned run in the seventh inning that was credited to him. He gave up five hits, struck out 5 and walked 2.
The Trojans trailed 3-0 in the fourth inning when Sammy Harris when drove in a run with a base hit. In the fifth Ryan Geck's single to left field drove in a second run.
Little Rock couldn't carve any more into the lead, and the Mavs sealed the win in the seventh inning with the five runs.
JACKSONVILLE STATE 11-1, SOUTHEAST MISSOURI 1-3
JACKSONVILLE, Ala. - Southeast Missouri Baseball (11-8) split Friday's doubleheader with Jacksonville State (12-7) beginning with an 11-1 loss followed by a 3-1 victory in Friday's game two.
A scoreless ballgame through the first six innings, RHP Nathan Mertens (2-0) stifled the Gamecocks' offense as he pitched 7.0 innings total allowing just one run on six hits. He punched out nine opposing batters for the second time this season en route to his second victory of 2025.
SEMO opened the game up in the seventh inning after three-straight walks from JSU pitching loaded the bases. Designated hitter Gunnar Doyle drew a bases loaded walk to make it 1-0 SEMO with just one out in the inning.
The biggest hit of the game came two batters later when Carson Schrack got a pinch-hit opportunity off the bench. Schrack roped a single into center field to score both Bryce Cannon and Cole Warehime to make it 3-0 Redhawks heading to the bottom of the seventh.
After Mertens pitched another scoreless seventh, JSU would record his only earned run of the night with an RBI double down the left field line to make it 3-1 SEMO with no outs.
LHP Jackson Kranawetter came on in relief and pitched the final 2.0 innings picking up his third save of the season. Kranaweeter struck out one without allowing a run or a hit in his outing.
The Gamecocks took the series opener in seven innings with an 11-1 victory over the Redhawks. JSU scored 11 runs on seven hits as they hit .304 as a team compared to just .143 for SEMO.
The Redhawks jumped on the board first in the top of the first inning with an RBI base hit up the middle from Cole Warehime. Warehime roped a single off the pitcher's leg which rolled into right field to allow Caleb Corbin to come into score.
The rest of the way was all JSU as they jumped all over Redhawk pitching and two errors in the game from SEMO's defense led to the 11-1 defeat.
MURRAY STATE 5, SOUTHERN INDIANA 4
EVANSVILLE, Ind. - University of Southern Indiana Baseball came up short in the series opener with Murray State University, 5-4, Friday afternoon at the USI Baseball Field. USI is 7-10 overall in 2025, while Murray State goes 11-3 this year.
The Screaming Eagles spotted the Racers a 4-0 lead with single tallies in the third, fourth, seventh, and eighth frames. USI warmed up the bats in the bottom of the eighth, scoring three times in the bottom of the eighth to cut the deficit to 4-3.
USI got its first run on a two-out triple by junior designated hitter Cole Kitchens, who would later score the second run on an RBI single by junior first baseman Kannon Coakley. Junior Hunter Miller would pinch run for Coakley and came around for the third tally of the frame on a single by junior second/third baseman Parker Martin.
After Murray State got a run back in the top of the ninth, USI would close the gap one more time to pull to within one, 5-4. Sophomore rightfielder Cameron Boyd led off the ninth on a three-bag error by the centerfielder and scored on a sacrifice fly by junior utility player Patrick McLellan. The one-run deficit would be as close as the Eagles would get in falling 5-4.
On the mound, junior right-hander Andres Gonzalez took a tough loss. Gonzalez (0-2) allowed two runs, one earned, on four hits and a walk, while striking out four in six innings of work.