FRIDAY'S SCORES
@Northern Kentucky 3,
Eastern Illinois 1 (10 innings)
@Lindenwood 13, Northern Illinois 3
@ULM 12,
Western Illinois 5
@Missouri State 8,
Little Rock 5
@Southeast Missouri 14, Miami (Ohio) 10
@SIUE 12, Eastern Michigan 7
Southern Indiana 20, @North Alabama 1
@UT Martin 17, Bradley 2
UIC 8,
@Tennessee Tech 0
@Southern 5,
Morehead State 3
NORTHERN KENTUCKY 3, EASTERN ILLINOIS 1 (10)
HIGHLAND HEIGHTS, Ky. - Eastern Illinois lost a pitching duel in extra innings against Northern Kentucky. The Panthers drop to 4-4 on the season, while NKU improves to 5-4.
The Panthers' offense was clicking early, opening the game with their only run of the game. Brett Stanley opened the weekend with the first of just four hits for the Panthers, with a triple to right center. James Love brought Stanley home on a groundout to second.
However, the early offense carried over to the bottom half of the first inning. With two runners on base, Williams singled to right, tying the game 1-1. Fortunately, for the Panthers' starter, Tyler Conklin found his rhythm, ending the inning with no trouble.
The bats cooled off between the two teams, setting up a pitcher's duel the rest of the way. Conklin threw 107 pitches in 6.0 innings of work, striking out five batters, and allowed only three hits. For NKU, the Norse used five different pitchers, allowing four hits. Logan Wilson was given the starting nod and threw 4.2 innings, striking out four while giving up the lone Panthers runs. Carson French and Gabe Stout pitched roughly two innings apiece, allowing just one hit.
In the final stages of the game, the Panthers threatened in the 9th inning. With only three hits as a team, Peyton Wilson found an offensive burst, doubling to left field. Ethan Rossi's flyout sent Wilson 90 feet away from breaking the tie, but shortly after EIU stranded the runner in scoring position.
Heading into extra innings, Kyree Alexander was placed on second base; however, Eastern Illinois was unable to capitalize. NKU took advantage as both teams watched Pierce Bauerle hit a walk-off home run.
LINDENWOOD 13, NORTHERN ILLINOIS 3
ST. CHARLES, Mo. - The Lindenwood baseball team (5-4, 0-0 OVC) opened their series against Northern Illinois (4-4, 0-0 MAC) with a resounding 13-3 victory in seven innings on Friday afternoon. The Lions scored 10 runs in their final two at-bats – including eight in the sixth inning alone – to put the run rule in effect.
LU totaled 12 hits in the game, with six Lions posting multi-hit performances. Jake Radosevich led Lindenwood with three RBIs on two hits, including his first home run of the season.
Charlie Isom-McCall, Tyler Ellis, and Filip Sarota also drove in multiple runs with two RBIs apiece.
On the mound, Josh Newell picked up his second consecutive win after allowing three runs on eight hits with four strikeouts through six innings of work.
After NIU stranded a runner in the top of the first, William Zareh reached base with two outs after the Northern infield misplayed a towering pop up between the mound and home plate. Jake Radosevich immediately made the Huskies pay with a home run to left field to give the Lions an early 2-0 lead.
NIU responded in the top of the second, loading the bases with two outs before a Parcell double down the right field line cleared the pads to put the Huskies ahead.
Following a quiet third inning, a pair of doubles down the left field line by Charlie Isom-McCall and Tyler Ellis in the bottom of the fourth tied the game at 3-3. Ellis would deliver again in the bottom of the sixth, singling to center field to drive in Isom-McCall for the second time to put LU back in front.
Ellis' RBI proved to be just the beginning of what would become a massive eight-run sixth inning for the Lions. Lindenwood plated six runs before NIU could record the inning's first out, with Will Geary, Jake Radosevich, and Filip Sarota all being hit by pitch with the bases juiced to bring in runs.
In addition, Kam Edwards, Ethan Cantareira, William Zareh, and Isom-McCall all batted in runs in the inning.
After Aaron Jungers held the Huskies scoreless in the top of the seventh, Lindenwood loaded the bases again before back-to-back walks scored two more runs to put the Lions ahead by 10 to end the game early.
ULM 12, WESTERN ILLINOIS 5
MONROE, La. - Recap coming soon.
MISSOURI STATE 8, LITTLE ROCK 5
SPRINGFIELD, Mo. - One inning made all the difference in Friday's series opener between Little Rock and Missouri State. The host Bears hung a six on the scoreboard during a crucial seventh inning and held off the Trojans for an 8-5 win at Hammons Field.
The series concludes tomorrow as the teams will play a doubleheader beginning at 1:00 pm. Both games will be available on ESPN+.
Westmoreland threw 108 pitches in 5.2 innings, finishing with nine strikeouts while allowing just two runs and six hits. Both runs came early in the game as Missouri State (5-4) took a 2-0 lead in the second.
Little Rock (6-3) cut that in half in the third with an RBI double by Kade Smith, one of three hits by Smith in the game. Later, in the fifth, Ty Rhoades drove in a pair with one of his two doubles, giving the Trojans a 3-2 advantage.
The Bears took advantage in the seventh, loading the bases for a grand slam that put them ahead by five. Easton Roe drove in two runs with a pinch-hit double in the eighth, but despite having runners on the corners in the ninth, the Trojans' potential rally ended on a double play.
SOUTHEAST MISSOURI 14, MIAMI (OHIO) 10
CAPE GIRARDEAU, Mo. - Southeast Missouri (4-6) secured a 14-10 victory over Miami University (7-2) on Friday at Capaha Field. The Redhawks' offense exploded with a six-run fifth inning, propelling it to a decisive win.
SEMO took an early lead against the RedHawks in the first inning. Cal Sullivan singled and advanced to third on a hit by Joe Hall. Ryan Lopetegui's fielder's choice brought Sullivan home, and Brooks Kettering's single set the stage for Lopetegui to score on a double play attempt, giving Southeast Missouri a 2-0 advantage.
In the third inning, Caleb Klein and Sullivan hit back-to-back home runs, extending the lead to 4-0.
Miami responded in the fourth inning with a seven-run rally, highlighted by a two-RBI double from Ignacio Gonzalez and a two-run homer by Evan Appelwick, putting the visitors ahead 7-4.
Southeast regained control in the fifth inning. Sullivan and Hall scored on a single by Lopetegui, and a series of RedHawks errors allowed Southeast to score four more runs, ending the inning with a 10-9 lead.
In the sixth, Hall's single was followed by an RBI from Andrew Ramirez. Carson Schrack then cleared the bases with a three-RBI double, expanding the lead to 14-9.
Miami managed one more run in the ninth inning, but Southeast Missouri secured a 14-10 victory.
SIUE, EASTERN MICHIGAN
EDWARDSVILLE, Ill. - – Ryan Niedzwiedz homered twice and SIUE baseball piled up 15 hits Friday on its way to a 12-7 win over Eastern Michigan in the opener of a four-game weekend series at Simmons Baseball Complex.
The Cougars have won two straight and improved to 4-5 for the season. EMU dropped to 2-7.
SIUE tied its season high in hits and nearly doubled its home run output as the Cougars went deep four times in the game.
Eastern Michigan got a solo home run in the first from Keegan Knupp before SIUE took the lead for good in the bottom of the inning.
Mack Mitchell dropped a triple into right field and Niedzwiedz hit his first home run to put the Cougars up 1-0. Joshua Heyder doubled and Ethan Willoughby singled to extend the lead to 3-0. Niedzwiedz singled to drive in two more runs in the second inning.
Brendan Fry hit a three-run home run in the third to make 8-1.
Terrick Thompson hit a solo home run in the fifth to put the Cougars up 9-1.
EMU chased SIUE starter Jase Phillips in the sixth inning with a walk, a triple and a three-run home run. The Eagles got a second three-run homer in the inning to trim the lead to 9-7.
Niedzwiedz hit his second two-run homer of the day in the sixth inning to push the lead back to four runs at 11-7.
Daniel Gierer drove home a run with a squeeze bunt in the seventh for the final tally.
Niedzwiedz finished 3-4 with the two home runs and six RBIs. Fry was 3-4 with the three RBIs and two runs scored. Mitchell, Heyder and Thompson-Allen all finished with two hits.
Phillips (1-1) pitched five innings allowing four runs for his first win. He struck out three. Noah Johnson allowed three runs in an inning of relief and Porter Conn worked the final three innings, striking out three for the save.
EMU starter John Carmichael allowed eight runs over 2.1 innings and fell to 1-1 with the loss.
SOUTHERN INDIANA 20, NORTH ALABAMA 1
FLORENCE, Ala. - University of Southern Indiana Baseball started a three-game series at North Alabama with a dominating 20-1 win Friday afternoon in Florence, Alabama. USI is 7-3 after the first two weeks of the season, while UNA goes to 6-4.
The Screaming Eagles scored their 20 runs on 19 hits, including five extra-base hits.
USI senior shortstop Clayton Slack put the Screaming Eagles in front 3-0 in the top of the first with a three-run blast to left field. The home run was Slack's second of the season. The first inning rally started with a walk by senior centerfielder Khi Holiday and a single by senior first baseman Patrick McLellan before the home run by Slack.
USI increased the lead to 4-0 in the third when Holiday tripled to lead off the frame and scored on a groundout by graduate designated hitter Noah Foster. The Lions would get on the scoreboard in the bottom half of the inning with a home run to make the score, 4-1.
The Screaming Eagles blew the game open in the top of the fourth, plating nine runs to take a 13-1 lead. The nine-run frame, which saw USI score nine runs on seven hits, was highlighted by a three-run blast by senior catcher Micajah Wall.
USI would go on to score four more times in the fifth, three more in the seventh, in cruising to a 20-1 victory after seven innings.
Overall at the plate, Foster and Wall concluded the game with four RBIs each, while junior third baseman Parker Martin and Slack had three RBIs each.
The win went to junior right-hander Abdriel Figueroa, who started and picked up his second win of the year. Figueroa (2-1) allowed the Lions one run on two hits and a walk, while striking out three in five innings.
Senior right-hander Andres Gonzalez and sophomore right-hander Colin Wolfe followed to scoreless frames in the sixth and seventh to complete the game.
UT MARTIN 17, BRADLEY 2
MARTIN, Tenn. - The University of Tennessee at Martin baseball team started its three-game set against Bradley with a season-high 17 runs in a 17-2 victory over the Braves on Friday evening.
The Skyhawk offense outhit Bradley (1-7) 11 to six while stealing four bases and collecting three extra-base hits. TJ Grines (triple, 4 RBIs, three runs scored) paced UT Martin (4-5) in hits with three and stole two bases. Colten Payton (four RBIs, two runs scored, one walk) and JT Popick (three RBIs, two walks, two runs scored, double) recorded multi-hit outings. Garner Anderson and Andrew Davis (two stolen bases) drew three walks while TJ Dunsford notched a double.
Jacob Sitton (1-0) earned his first win of the season by going seven strong innings, matching a career-best in strikeouts (eight) and allowing no runs. Silas Jones (one inning pitched, one strikeout) and Aidan Karns (one inning pitched, one strikeout) finished the game for the Skyhawks out of the bullpen.
Sitton stranded one runner in a scoreless first and his offense immediately got on the board in the home half off a Payton single that plated Grines (two stolen bases in the inning). In the second, Sitton stranded two Braves off a fielder's choice to keep UT Martin in front, 1-0.
The floodgates opened for the Skyhawk offense in the bottom of the second with nine runs (most in one inning this season). With the bases loaded, Cameron Greene was hit by a pitch that upped UT Martin's lead to 2-0. Grines stepped up to the dish and smacked a ball the other way down the first base line that cleared the bases for a three-run triple. Payton pitched in again for the Orange and Blue on a two-RBI single to center field, and Popick cleared the bases on double to left center for the Skyhawks to extend their advantage to 10-0.
The righty Sitton made quick work of Bradley in the third off a groundout, flyout and strikeout looking for his third consecutive scoreless frame. The Braves went 1-2-3 in the fourth after Sitton scored his third and fourth strikeouts of the outing and induced a groundout back to himself. Two more runs came in for UT Martin in the bottom part of the inning on a Anderson RBI single and Cullen Box sacrifice fly to center field.
Sitton cruised through the fifth then clutched up by escaping a bases loaded jam in the sixth. The Bradford, Tenn. native ended his longest outing of the season on a strikeout, a runner caught stealing by Box and a groundout to second base. Grines singled to third to bring in his fourth RBI of the game to kick off the scoring in the seventh. Bo Strickland came home on a wild pitch and Payton plated his fourth RBI on a groundout to make it 17-0.
Jones worked the eighth inning and Karns pitched a perfect frame in the ninth to close things out for a 17-2 triumph.
UIC 8, TENNESSEE TECH 0
COOKEVILLE, Tenn. - UIC scored four runs in the second inning and never looked back Friday, handing Tennessee Tech an 8-0 loss at Bush Stadium.
The Flames finished with eight runs on 11 hits and left 11 on base, while the Golden Eagles were limited to four hits and stranded six. Tech fell to 5-5 overall with the setback.
UIC broke the game open in the second. After a one-out single and a hit batter, Sean Cody delivered an RBI single to left. Lucas Smith followed with a two-run double down the left-field line, and Thomas Curry capped the inning with an RBI double to left center to make it 4-0.
The Flames added a run in the fifth when Will Smoot doubled to left center and later scored on Will Flanigan's RBI single to center. In the sixth, Cody doubled to center and came home on Curry's single up the middle, stretching the lead to 6-0 .
UIC tacked on two unearned runs in the seventh. Jake Busson reached on a throwing error, stole third, and scored on Cody's two-run double to push the advantage to 8-0.
Tech's best scoring opportunities came in the third and fifth innings. In the third, Eddie Garza singled to center, and Luke Bragga drew a walk to put two aboard, but a flyout ended the threat. In the fifth, Jackson Rooker walked, and Garza singled to left center, yet the Golden Eagles could not capitalize. Tech finished 0-for-4 with runners in scoring position.
Garza led the Golden Eagles at the plate, going 2-for-3. Landon Smelser and Jorsixt Jimenez added one hit apiece.
Cooper Casteel (1-2) took the loss after allowing four runs on four hits with three walks and two strikeouts in 1 1/3 innings. Drew Mattox tossed 4 1/3 innings, giving up two runs on five hits with five strikeouts. Lawson Stricklin surrendered two runs, both unearned, in 1 1/3 innings, and Alex Kuntz struck out four over the final two frames.
UIC starter Mason Lei (2-1) earned the win, scattering three hits over seven scoreless innings with seven strikeouts.
SOUTHERN 5, MOREHEAD STATE 3
BATON ROUGE, La. - Recap coming soon.