FRIDAY'S SCORES
@Southern Indiana 10-14, Oakland 7-4
@Lindenwood 4-2, St. Thomas 2-8
@Winthrop 10,
Morehead State 0
Western Illinois 16, Akron 8 (Millington, TN)
Eastern Illinois 3, @Arkansas State 2
@Little Rock 6, West Georgia 5
@Tennessee Tech 8, Ohio 3
@Western Kentucky 12-4,
Southeast Missouri 4-2
SIUE 4, @Southeastern Louisiana 2
UT Martin 6, @Nicholls 3 (12)
SOUTHERN INDIANA 10-14, OAKLAND 7-4
EVANSVILLE, Ind. - University of Southern Indiana Baseball posted a doubleheader sweep of Oakland, 10-7 and 14-4, Friday in the Fairfield Inn Invitational at the USI Baseball Field. USI is 5-2 after the doubleheader, while Oakland goes to 1-5.
USI reached double digits for the fourth-straight game and posted a 10-7 victory in the opening game of the doubleheader. The Screaming Eagles scored 10 times on 12 hits to get the victory.
USI junior designated hitter Collin Senior led five Screaming Eagles with two hits each by posting a pair of RBIs. Graduated rightfielder Noah Foster, senior shortstop Clayton Slack, and junior catcher Drue Saenz followed with two hits and a RBI each.
On the mound for USI, junior right-hander Abdriel Figueroa started and posted his first win of the season. Figueroa (1-1) allowed six runs, five earned, on six hits and two walks, while striking out three in five innings of work.
Sophomore right-hander Ean DiPasquale posted the first save of the season for the Screaming Eagles. DiPasquale threw three strong frames, giving up one run on three hits. He also struck out four Oakland Grizzlies.
The Screaming Eagles pounded out 14 runs on 12 hits to run-rule Oakland, 14-4, in the nightcap of the doubleheader. The Grizzlies had an early 4-2 lead after two-and-a-half frames before the Screaming Eagles blew the game open with an eight-run third inning before scoring three in the fifth and one in the sixth to finish the game in the seventh.
USI graduate rightfielder Noah Foster led the Screaming Eagles in game two with three RBIs on two hits, including a double. Junior designated hitter Collin Senior and senior leftfielder Hunter Miller followed with two RBIs each in the win.
The win on the mound went to junior right-hander Ryan Skwarek in relief. Skwarek (1-0) gave up one hit and struck out four in blanking Oakland over three innings.
LINDENWOOD 4-2, ST. THOMAS 2-8
ST. CHARLES, Mo. - The Lindenwood baseball team (3-3, 0-0 OVC) split their doubleheader against St. Thomas (2-4, 0-0 Summit) at Lou Brock Sports Complex. The Lions took the home opener 4-2 before falling by a score of 8-2 in the rematch.
Strong pitching carried LU to a win in their first home contest of the 2026 season, with three Lindenwood arms combining to allow just a pair of runs on 10 hits with eight total strikeouts.
Aaron Jungers (1-0) picked up the win after tossing three shutout innings in relief, surrendering just three hits with a strikeout. Easton Rakers was awarded the save after giving up no runs on one hit with a pair of strikeouts in the ninth inning.
Josh Newell put in a solid five-inning start, giving up only two runs on six hits with five strikeouts to set the table for the bullpen.
Offensively, Kam Edwards and William Zareh both posted two-hit outings to lead the Lions, with Edwards batting in a run and Zareh scoring a run. The LU order combined for eight hits in the game.
The Tommies struck first, with a pair of two-out singles in the top of the second bringing around Zan Von Schlegell to score after the junior infielder had initially reached on a walk. However, Newell was able to strikeout his second batter of the inning to strand runners on the corners.
Lindenwood immediately responded in the bottom of the second, with William Zareh singling to center field and moving up 90 feet on a passed ball before scoring on an RBI base hit to left center field by Filip Sarota.
St. Thomas took the lead right back in the top of the third, as an Owen Bond single with two outs drove in Chris Knowles, who had doubled before moving up to third on a passed ball.
The score remained 2-1 in favor of UST until the bottom of the fifth, when a Sam Driscoll two-out single and stolen base allowed Kam Edwards to tie the game with an RBI base hit. The Lions took the lead in their next at-bat after a wild pitch with the bases loaded allowed Jake Radosevich - who had doubled earlier in the frame - to score the go ahead run.
Following a scoreless seventh, LU added a little insurance with a hustle play by Mathew Graff, who scored all the way from first on fielding error in left field.
With a two-run lead, Easton Rakers took the mound and finished the job to pick up his second save of the season.
In game two, the Lions fell behind early and were never able to recover in game two, with the Tommies using a pair of big innings to pull away for the win.
The Lindenwood offense mustered eight hits but were only able to produce a couple of runs. William Zareh was the only Lion to register multiple hits, going 2-4 with a home run.
Ethan Smith was tagged with the loss after allowing four runs on four hits with four strikeouts through the game's first five innings.
UST hung their first crooked number in the top of the first, getting two runners on base with one out before back-to-back doubles drove in three runs. Ethan Smith settled into the game and held the Tommies to zero runs and zero hits through their next three at-bats before Lindenwood found their first run of the game with a William Zareh solo home run to deep left field in the bottom of the fourth.
However, UST immediately made up the difference in the top of the fifth with Adam Puder doubling and advancing to third on a sacrifice fly before scoring on a Tanner Recchio single up the middle.
The Tommies would break the game wide open in the seventh, scoring four runs behind a Puder two-run homer and Recchio RBI triple, along with a Joe Roder sacrifice fly to make the score 8-1.
Lindenwood scored one more in the ninth with Ethan Cantareira tripling to center field to score Owen Ralph from first base, but the Lions were unable to string together a rally.
WINTHROP 10, MOREHEAD STATE 0
ROCK HILL, S.C. - Morehead State's offense was stymied by a strong pitching performance and Winthrop scored in bunches as MSU fell 10-0 in the opening game of the series in Rock Hill, S.C.
Winthrop (3-2) scored four runs in the bottom of the first inning and chased Morehead State starter Landon Waugh (0-1) with two outs in the bottom of the fourth inning with three more.
Winthrop added two runs in the sixth inning and another in the seventh to round out the scoring. Starter Braydon Gilley (2-0) was dominant in his four innings pitched, scattering four hits while striking out 10 Morehead State batters.
Morehead State (3-2) managed seven hits. Left fielder Davis Germann had two hits, including a double. Sophomore Alex Kean also went two for four at the plate, also recording a double.
WESTERN ILLINOIS 16, AKRON 8
MILLINGTON, Tenn. - Western Illinois erupted for 16 runs on 19 hits to power past Akron, 16-8, Friday afternoon.
The Leathernecks set the tone early with a five-run second inning and added five more in the sixth, finishing with six extra-base hits and four home runs on the day. Liam Bushey led the charge with a 2-for-5 performance and a team-high six RBI, while Isaiah Monge went 3-for-5 with two doubles and two RBI. Krayton Morse and Tyler Large each homered and drove in two, and Joe Connolly added three hits at the top of the lineup.
Max Tripure earned the win, striking out three across five innings as WIU secured the eight-run victory.
EASTERN ILLINOIS 3, ARKANSAS STATE 2
JONESBORO, Ark. - The EIU Baseball team opened their weekend series at Arkansas State. With today's 3-2 win the Panthers move to 4-1, while the Red Wolves fall to 3-2. Bryce Riggs and Quade Peters lead the way for the Panthers in today's win.
The Panthers overcame a slow offensive start to the game to earn the opening series victory. EIU recorded three hits but stranded four runners in the first three innings. The Red Wolves took advantage quickly, scoring two early runs in the first two innings. However, Tyler Conklin recovered and closed the door on Arkansas State's offense. Conklin pitched five innings and gave up only four hits.
EIU overcame the 2-0 deficit in the 4th inning starting with a shallow center field single by Ethan Rossi. Zak Goodwin added a base hit before Peters drove in the first run off a bunt. With two runners in scoring positions, Tyler Castro and Kyree Alexander struck out swinging, stranding key runners.
The decisive moment in the game came at the halfway point in the game. James Love doubled to deep center field and scored off the bat of Peyton Wilson, who singled to shallow right to tie the game 2-2. EIU refused to slow down, earning the winning run in the 5th inning. Wilson was driven in by Dylan Drumke, who hit an RBI single.
A pitching duel kept both teams at bay the rest of the way. There were only two hits combined from both teams in the last four innings, both by the Red Wolves. Bryce Riggs relieved Conklin, pitching four scoreless innings with four strikeouts.
LITTLE ROCK 6, WEST GEORGIA 5
LITTLE ROCK, Ark. - Brannon Westmoreland delivered his second quality start in as many outings Friday, and Kade Smith and Cooper Chaplain provided the power at the plate as Little Rock held off a feisty West Georgia squad, 6-5, in the opener of a three-game weekend series at Gary Hogan Field.
Westmoreland tossed six innings, allowing just two hits and one run while striking out six. He exited with a 2-1 lead after Smith tripled into right-center field in the third inning to break a scoreless tie.
The visiting Wolves (1-5) tied the game in the seventh, but for the second straight game, Chaplain delivered a three-run homer to right field to put the Trojans (4-1) ahead for good.
West Georgia added two runs in the ninth to pull within one and had runners on the corners with two outs when Gastman entered for his first appearance in a Little Rock uniform. After opening with a ball, he fired three consecutive strikes to earn the save and preserve the Trojans' third straight victory.
Isaac Evaniew (1-0) earned the win with 1.2 innings of relief. Cade Martin went 3-for-3 at the plate, and Ty Rhoades added a run-scoring double in the eighth, moving into a tie for third in program history in career RBIs.
TENNESSEE TECH 8, OHIO 3
COOKEVILLE, Tenn. - Tennessee Tech baseball won its second straight game Thursday afternoon, using an early offensive surge and a dominant start on the mound to defeat Ohio 8-3 at Bush Stadium.
The Golden Eagles improved to 2-3 overall with their second straight win and the Bobcats fall to 1-3 with the loss. Tech bats got going early with four runs in the first two innings and never trailed.
In the opening inning, Landon Smelser set the tone at the top of the order, and Owen Lee delivered the big swing. Lee launched his second home run of the season in the first inning — a one-out shot to left that plated two runs and gave the Golden Eagles a 2-0 advantage.
Tech kept the pressure on in the second. The Golden Eagles loaded the bases with disciplined at-bats, drawing multiple walks, before pushing across two more runs to extend the lead to 4-0.
After Ohio trimmed the deficit to 4-1 in the fourth, Tech responded again. Nash Crowell and Jorsixt Jimenez helped manufacture a run in the bottom half of the inning to make it 5-1.
The decisive blow came in the sixth. With traffic on the bases, Connor Crowson ripped a bases-clearing double to bring home three runs and stretch the margin to 8-1, effectively putting the game out of reach.
On the mound, Cooper Casteel delivered his strongest outing of the young season. The right-hander earned the win after tossing a season-long 6.0 innings, allowing just one run on three hits. He struck out a season-high six batters while working around three walks and keeping Ohio off balance throughout his 94-pitch effort.
Carson Davis followed with two solid innings out of the bullpen, striking out four, and Micah Summar closed the door in the ninth to secure the victory.
Lee finished 2-for-3 with two RBIs and three runs scored, reaching base four times. Smelser added two hits and two runs from the leadoff spot as Tech outhit Ohio 10-7 and drew 10 walks in a patient offensive performance.
WESTERN KENTUCKY 12-4, SOUTHEAST MISSOURI 4-2
BOWLING GREEN, Ky. - SEMO Baseball (2-4) faced off against Western Kentucky (4-2) in a doubleheader on Friday at Nick Denes Field, suffering two defeats with scores of 12-4 and 4-2.
In the second game, the Redhawks briefly took the lead in the third inning, capitalizing on a single from Demitri Shakotko followed by an RBI double from Caleb Klein, bringing Shakotko home. Cal Sullivan then added to the tally with an RBI single that scored Klein. However, the Hilltoppers responded consistently, scoring across four innings, including a crucial RBI double from Howard in the bottom of the eighth that secured a two-run lead and ultimately sealed the game.
Despite Joe Hall's leadoff single in the ninth inning, Southeast Missouri struggled to narrow the gap due to a combination of a strikeout and a fielder's choice, leaving them with no opportunities to advance runners past second base in critical moments.
In the first game, the Redhawks started strong, scoring three runs in the second inning after Joe Hall's single and subsequent hits from Tank Sims and Carson Schrack loaded the bases. Logan Yule's groundout brought in Hall, and Caleb Klein's RBI single scored Sims while Schrack crossed home on a caught stealing, leading to a 3-0 advantage. However, the Hilltoppers struck back with five runs in the same inning, including a two-RBI double by L. Arroyos.
SEMO managed to narrow the score to 5-4 with an RBI single from Hall in the third inning, but WKU escalated their lead significantly in the sixth with six runs, capped off by a two-RBI single from K. Hayes, extending the score to 11-4. WKU added one more run in the seventh on a wild pitch, finishing the game at 12-4.
SIUE 4, SOUTHEASTERN LOUISIANA 2
HAMMOND, La. - Ryan Niedzwiedz homered twice and drove home three to lift SIUE baseball to a series-opening 4-2 win at Southeastern Louisiana Friday night.
The Cougars improved to 2-3 overall. Southeastern Louisiana fell to 0-5.
Niedzwiedz got the scoring started in the first with a one-out solo home run, his first of the year off Southeastern starter Brady St. Pierre.
Mack Mitchell doubled SIUE's lead in the fourth when he singled to drive home Chase Bloomer, who had singled to start the inning.
Daniel Gierer walked to open the fifth inning before Niedzwiedz went deep a second time, driving the ball out to right for his second of the night.
Niedzwiedz and Bloomer each finished with two hits. Mitchell, Easton Harris and Gage Franck all had a hit apiece.
St. Pierre (0-2) allowed all four runs over four innings. He struck out eight and walked three.
The Lions' only runs came in the bottom of the inning when Brody Capps homered off SIUE reliever Joseph Martin.
Martin (2-0) allowed just the two runs in four innings of relief. He allowed two hits, walked one and struck out six for the second time in two appearances this season.
Jase Phillips started and worked two innings. Poter Conn worked two scoreless innings of relief and Harris earned his second save of the year with a scoreless ninth inning. He struck out one.
UT MARTIN 6, NICHOLLS 3 (12)
THIBODAUX, La. - .The University of Tennessee at Martin baseball team battled and came out on top in the 12th inning 6-3 against Nicholls in Game 1 of the weekend series.
In the second extra innings game of the season, the Skyhawks (3-1) were led in hits by TJ Grines (two, two RBIs, one walk), Cameron Greene (two hits, one home run) and Amari Conley (two hits, one run scored). TJ Dunsford (one walk, one RBI) and Bo Strickland (triple, walk, one RBI, one run scored) also helped drive in runs. Grines, Conley and Andrew Davis swiped bags for UT Martin.
Jacob Sitton made his second start of the season and threw 5.2 innings with five punchouts. Will Turner tossed three scoreless frames while allowing no walks and striking out three batters. Gehrig Wright, Gabe Bryant (1-0) and Mason Little (save) helped close out the final three innings for the Skyhawks.
Sitton pitched three scoreless frames before Nicholls (0-6) struck first in the fourth and then UT Martin took its first lead of the game after Greene took the round trip and Conley singled home a run. The Colonels used a home run of their own to grab the lead back in the fifth.
Sitton nabbed the first two outs of the sixth while Turner closed out the inning on a popout to shallow left field. With two outs in the top of the seventh and Conley on second, Grines plated his teammate with a single through the right side of the infield to tie the contest at three.
Turner tossed up three straight zeros on the board before Wright got the call from the pen to come in for the 10th inning. With two runners on and two outs, the righty induced a flyout to left field to get the game to the 11th. Bryant took to the mound to relive Wright during the bottom of the 11th and kept the game rolling on after a flyout and strikeout to end the inning.
Garner Anderson stepped up to the plate to pinch hit in the top of the 12th and rifled a double into the gap in left center that set the table for Strickland. In a 0-1 count, the freshman poked his first career triple into the corner in right field that scored the go-ahead run. Strickland scored on the next play off a Grines single to make it 5-3. Next, Davis walked, which led to a double steal by the shortstop and Grines to get two runners in scoring position. Dunsford grounded out to short that allowed Grines to score from third and it was a three-run lead for the Orange and Blue going into the home half of the 12th.
Little entered with three outs to grab and did it in 1-2-3 fashion to earn his first save of the season.