TUESDAY'S SCORES
@Lindenwood 6, Bradley 5
Arkansas State 12,
@Little Rock 5
Morehead State 16, @UNC Asheville 11
@Southeast Missouri 13, Missouri State 6
@SIUE 16, Southern Illinois 6
@#19 Tennessee 20,
Tennessee Tech 2
@UT Martin 6, Union University 3
@Missouri 14,
Southern Indiana 6
@Illinois 21,
Western Illinois 8
LINDENWOOD 6, BRADLEY 5
ST. CHARLES, Mo. - The Lindenwood baseball team (7-9, 0-0 OVC) started off their lengthy homestand with a 6-5 win over Bradley (4-11, 0-0 MVC) at the Lou Brock Sports Complex on Tuesday afternoon. The Lions fell behind 3-0 early before scoring six unanswered runs and holding on late for the victory.
Tyler Ellis led the Lindenwood offense with three RBIs on a pair of knocks while Filip Sarota went 3-3 with two runs scored.
Braden Branigin had a strong outing on the mound, allowing zero runs on just one hit with three strikeouts through 3.2 inning of relief work. Dillon Haftorson picked up his first win over the season after following Branigin with a pair of shutout innings.
Sam Driscoll earned his first career save after entering the game and recording the final out with the bases loaded.
After three hit batters loaded the bases for Bradley in the top of the first, the Braves grabbed an early lead with a Michael Quick two-RBI single to right field. Bradley would leave two stranded in the opening frame but would extend their lead to 3-0 in the third inning with a Colin McCormick RBI single.
Lindenwood got two back in the fourth, loading the bases with no outs before Jake Radosevich came home to score on an Ethan Cantareira ground ball fielder's choice and Will Geary tagged and beat a throw to the plate on high Tyler Ellis pop up down the right field line.
Ellis would drive in another run in the sixth with an RBI single that plated Filip Sarota to tie the game. Lindenwood would grab the lead shortly thereafter when a botched pick-off attempt by the Bradley pitcher allowed Tanner Simpson to score from third. Charlie Isom-McCall made three runs in the frame with a base hit to score Ellis, bringing the tally to 5-3 in favor of the Lions.
LU added another run in the bottom of the seventh as Tyler Ellis continued to deliver with runners in scoring position, recording his third RBI of the game with a single through the left side that plated Filip Sarota, who had initially reached base with is third hit in an many at-bats.
Bradley loaded the bases with two outs in the top of the eighth but were unable to score any runs as Peter Underwood got the third out with a fly ball to center field to escape the inning.
The Braves loaded the bags again in the ninth and were able to scratch a pair of runs across on an RBI fielder's choice and bases loaded hit by pitch but were unable to bring home the tying run.
ARKANSAS STATE 12, LITTLE ROCK 5
LITTLE ROCK, Ark. - Little Rock (8-8) fell to Arkansas State (13-5) by a final score of 12-5 on Tuesday at Gary Hogan Field. Arkansas State used a six-run surge in the ninth inning to pull away and secure the victory.
Arkansas State took an early lead in the first inning on a solo home run. Little Rock responded in the second inning when Angel Cano and Ty Rhoades each singled, setting up Nico Baumbach's two-run double. Jake McClure followed with an RBI double, pushing Little Rock ahead 3-1 through two innings.
Arkansas State closed the gap in the fourth, scoring an unearned run after a Little Rock error to make it 3-2. The Red Wolves then took control in the fifth inning with a four-run outburst, giving the visitors a 6-3 lead.
Little Rock attempted a comeback in the sixth inning. Easton Roe tripled and later scored on a groundout by Cano, trimming the deficit to 6-4. In the seventh, Jerdy Lopez singled and advanced on a sacrifice by Austin Coyle before scoring on Cade Martin's groundout, cutting the score to 6-5.
However, Arkansas State pulled away in the ninth inning, capitalizing on a throwing error and a series of hits to score six runs and extend its lead to 12-5.
Nic Bronzini started for Little Rock, pitching 3.1 innings while striking out four and allowing four hits and one earned run.
Offensively, Baumbach finished with two RBIs and a double. Roe added a triple and scored a run, while Rhoades recorded two hits. Cano also collected two hits, driving in one run and scoring once.
MOREHEAD STATE 16, UNC ASHEVILLE 11
ASHEVILLE, N.C. - Morehead State pounded out 16 hits, including four home runs, five doubles and a triple as the Eagles out-slugged UNC Asheville 16-11 Tuesday at the Greenwood Baseball Field in Asheville, North Carolina.
Morehead State (9-8) was again carried by big innings. The MSU half of the second inning set the tone. Morehead State spotted the Bulldogs four runs in the bottom of the first inning on three hits and one MSU error. The Eagles immediately got them back and more. Designated hitter Aubrey Kearns led off the inning with a walk, catcher Caden Sheridan reached on an error and second baseman Nick Griffith was hit by a pitch to load the bases.
Shortstop Jaden Correa emptied the bases with a grand-slam home run over the fence in left field. After two outs, MSU cranked up the offense again; left fielder Kyle Krupp singled to right and scored on Davis Germann's triple to center. First baseman Alex Kean drove him home with a double to left and scored on Kearns single to left to push the Eagles ahead 7-4.
The Eagles found themselves in a tight one heading into the eighth inning, leading 9-8. Morehead State pounded out four doubles in the inning and broke the game open. Center fielder Jaden Hart ripped a one out double down the left field line and scored on a double into left center to Krupp. Kean made it three in a row with an RBI two-bagger into the gap in left center.
A big moment in the game came in the bottom of the sixth. After the Bulldogs got two unearned runs in the bottom of the fifth to trim the Eagle lead to 9-7, Asheville rallied after a quick two outs to start in the sixth inning. A double and a single cut the MSU to 9-8. Another single put runners at the corners.
After a Kearns walk, Sheridan ripped a two-run double into the gap in right center. Griffith plated Sheridan with the fifth run of the inning with an RBI single and the Eagles led 14-8.
Morehead State tacked on two more runs in the top of the ninth on Griffin Olson's fourth home run of the season, this one a two-run home run over the fence in right center.
Asheville started the runners on a double-steal attempt. Sheridan's throw to second was cut off by Griffith, who fired back to the plate. Initially the home plate umpire ruled the runner safe. Morehead State head coach Chris Rose challenged the call, and the umpires flipped the safe call to out after a lengthy replay review to preserve the one-run lead.
Ethan Davis (1-2) picked up the win for Morehead State. He threw 1.2 innings out of the bullpen allowing three runs on four hits. UNC Asheville Daylinh Nguyen-Brown (1-2) took the loss.
After giving up a run to the Bulldogs in the bottom of the third, Morehead State added run in the fourth and fifth innings via the long-ball. Germann smashed a solo shot to left center in the fourth for his third home run of the season and Sheridan led off the fifth for the Eagles with a home run over the fence in left, his fourth clout of the season.
SOUTHEAST MISSOURI 13, MISSOURI STATE 6
CAPE GIRARDEAU, Mo. - Southeast Missouri (11-7) secured a decisive 13-6 victory over Missouri State (10-6) at Capaha Field on Tuesday. The Redhawks' offense was highlighted by an eight-run third inning, contributing to their 18 hits in the game.
The action began in the second inning when Missouri State's Fyffe hit a solo home run. Southeast Missouri quickly responded in its half of the second. Dakota Joggerst singled, advancing on subsequent hits by Andrew Ramirez and Moises Rosario, culminating in Logan Yule singling to drive in the first run. Caleb Klein reached on an error, allowing two more runs to score. Joe Hall capped the inning with a two-run homer, pushing the Redhawks ahead 5-1 after two innings.
In the third inning, Joggerst doubled to lead things off and later scored on Klein's RBI single. A wild pitch allowed Ramirez to score, followed by another three-run homer from Hall, extending the lead. Joggerst and Ramirez each contributed with RBIs to further add to the score. By the end of the third, Southeast Missouri led 13-1.
Missouri State attempted a comeback in the fourth inning with a two-run homer from Gollert, narrowing the gap to 13-3. Although Missouri State scored again in the seventh with a two-run home run by Sutherland, the Redhawks maintained control of the game, leading 13-5 after seven innings.
Missouri State added another run in the eighth with Bergman's solo home run, but Southeast Missouri's defense held firm in the ninth, securing the 13-6 victory.
SIUE 16, SOUTHERN ILLINOIS 6
EDWARDSVILLE, Ill. - SIUE clubbed six home runs on its way to a 16-6 win over SIU Carbondale in eight innings Tuesday at Roy E. Lee Field.
The Cougars snapped a four-game losing streak and improved to 6-11. The Salukis dropped to 6-9.
Mack Mitchell went deep twice for the Cougars and finished 2-5 with three RBIs. Daniel Gierer homered and also had three RBIs. Ryan Niedzwiedz hit hits team-leading seventh home run of the year and finished with two RBIs. Chase Bloomer finished with two hits and two RBIs. Terrick Thompson-Allen and Joshua Heyder both homered.
The Salukis got out in front in the first with a pair of home runs.
Mitchell answered for SIUE with his first home run in the bottom of the inning.
SIUC added two runs in the second, before SIUE answered with three runs in its half including a solo home run from Gierer.
A run in the third put the Salukis up 6-4 before a Niedwiedz home run pulled the Cougars back within one in the bottom of the inning. An RBI-groundout by Gierer in the fourth tied the game and a solo home run from Thompson-Allen in the fifth put the Cougars up for good.
Mitchell hit his second home run and Heyder followed as part of a four-run sixth inning. The Cougars scored three times in the seventh and twice more in the eighth to push the advantage to 10 runs.
Porter Conn (1-0) picked up his first SIUE win with 2.1 innings of scoreless relief. He gave up two hits and struck out one.
#19 TENNESSEE 20, TENNESSEE TECH 2
KNOXVILLE, Tenn. - Tennessee Tech picked up a pair of runs and several solid individual efforts Tuesday night, but No. 19 Tennessee pulled away for a 20-2 victory in seven innings at Lindsey Nelson Stadium.
The Golden Eagles (7-9) collected five hits in the contest, highlighted by Cade Fuller's first home run of his DI career in the third inning. Fuller drove a pitch to left field for his first homer of the season, putting Tech on the board.
Tennessee Tech added another run in the seventh inning. Landon Smelser worked a walk and later scored when Owen Lee lined an RBI single through the right side, trimming the deficit late in the contest.
Smelser finished the evening 1-for-3 with a run scored and a walk, while Lee recorded an RBI on his hit in the final frame. Manny Garza and Nash Crowell also contributed base hits for the Golden Eagles, helping Tech tally five hits overall.
On the mound, Ty Barnett provided a bright spot for the Tech pitching staff, tossing 1.1 scoreless innings in relief.
UT MARTIN 6, UNION UNIVERSITY 3
MARTIN, Tenn. - The University of Tennessee at Martin baseball team recorded four extra-base hits and seven shutout innings in its 6-3 win over Union in the midweek contest at Skyhawk Field.
TJ Dunsford led UT Martin (8-8) in hits with three and Colten Payton (two runs scored) notched his second home run and triple of the season. Cameron Greene led the team in RBIs (two) while TJ Grines (run scored, stolen base), JT Popick (double, run scored) and Bo Strikland landed hits for the Skyhawks.
Drake Bayles started the contest going two innings without allowing a run or a walk. Out of the bullpen, seven UT Martin pitchers worked including Will Turner (2-0, two innings, two strikeouts, no runs, no walks), Gabe Bryant (one inning, no walks, one strikeout), Zach Wager (one inning, no hits, no runs), Trevor Busyn (one inning, one strikeout, no walks), Gehrig Wright (one inning, no runs, no hits, no walks, two strikeouts) and Mason Little (save, one inning, no runs, no walks, two strikeouts).
With two runners on and two outs in the opening frame, Anderson helped close the inning on an assist from centerfield to nab a runner trying to score from second. Bayles worked well in the following inning to get back-to-back zeros on the board with a flyout, runner caught stealing by Box and a groundout to third.
Turner left two runners stranded in the third to keep the score tied at zero, heading into the home half where the Skyhawk offense grabbed the initial lead. Grines stole second which caused a throwing error that allowed Strickland to score, and on the next play Grines was able to touch home plate after a wild pitch.
With a 2-0 lead in the fourth, Turner made quick work of the Bulldogs (10-12) in 1-2-3 fashion. Greene drove in Popick and Dunsford on the third straight hit to start the home half and gave UT Martin a 4-0 edge. The Skyhawks answered runs from Union in the top of the fifth off a tape measure shot from Payton to get the lead back to three.
Wager started his season with a scoreless inning in the sixth when he induced a 5-4-3 double play ball and a foul out to Payton. Wright came in for the eighth and pounded the strike zone for two punchouts and a foul out.
Payton led off the eighth with a triple and came home courtesy of Dunsford’s third single of the game. Little earned his team-best third save of the season from two strikeouts and a lineout that made it a 6-3 win for UT Martin.
MISSOURI 14, SOUTHERN INDIANA 6
COLUMBIA, Mo. - University of Southern Indiana Baseball opened its five-game road swing with a 14-6 loss to the University of Missouri Tuesday afternoon at Taylor Stadium in Columbia, Missouri. USI is 12-5 this season, while Missouri goes to 15-2.
Opened the first inning with a bang when graduate centerfielder Khi Holiday blasted a ground-rule double to left center. A wild pitch and two batters later, Holiday scored the first run of the game on a sacrifice fly by senior shortstop Clayton Slack.
The 1-0 lead lasted until the bottom of the first when the Tigers scored three times to take a 3-1 advantage. Missouri would build the lead to eight runs, 9-1, with a tally in the third and five more in the fourth.
USI battled back into the contest and cut the deficit to 9-5 with a four-run fifth inning. Senior first baseman Patrick McLellan kicked off the rally with a three-run blast to left to make the score 9-4. The home run was McLellan's team-best third of the season.
The Screaming Eagles sliced the margin to 9-5 when Slack scored on a RBI single by senior designated hitter/catcher Micajah Wall. The four-run deficit would be as close as USI would come the rest of the way.
Missouri would re-extend the lead to six, 11-5, with a pair of runs in the bottom of the fifth. USI got a tally back in the sixth when Martin scored from first on a hit by Slack and an error by the Tigers to make it 11-6.
The Tigers would go on to seal the 14-6 result with a three-run seventh to finish the scoring in the contest.
At the plate, Martin and McLellan led the way with three hits and three RBIs, respectively.
On the bump, USI junior right-hander Levin East started and took the loss. East (2-2), the first of 10 USI hurlers, allowed three runs on four hits, while striking out one in two innings of work.
ILLINOIS 21, WESTERN ILLINOIS 8
CHAMPAIGN, Ill. - Recap coming soon.