SUNDAY'S SCORES
Southeast Missouri 3, @Wright State 2
@Lindenwood 4, Murray State 0
@Western Carolina 8,
Morehead State 7
Valparaiso 13,
@SIUE 9
The Citadel 8,
@UT Martin 4
@Tennessee Tech 16, Mercer 10
Little Rock 12, @Samford 2
Eastern Illinois 25, @Memphis 14
SOUTHEAST MISSOURI 3, WRIGHT STATE 2
DAYTON, Ohio - Southeast Missouri Baseball (14-7) secured a narrow 3-2 victory over Wright State (5-12) on Sunday at Nischwitz Stadium. A decisive two-run ninth inning was key to the Redhawks' win as SEMO won its ninth game in a row and swept the weekend series in Ohio.
Mikey Rocha's RBI single up the middle in the second inning put the Redhawks on the board first, bringing home Andrew Ramirez. This gave the Redhawks a 1-0 lead after two innings.
Wright State tied the game in the fourth inning when Duncan homered to left field. The score was knotted at 1-1 through four innings.
In the ninth inning, Andrew Ramirez singled and was followed by Brooks Kettering, who was hit by a pitch. Demitri Shakotko's single to right center drove in Ramirez, giving the Redhawks a 2-1 lead. Later, Dakota Joggerst, pinch hitting for Cal Sullivan, delivered an RBI single to score Kettering, extending the lead to 3-1. The Redhawks completed the inning with a 3-2 advantage after Wright State scored one run on an RBI single by Manley.
LINDENWOOD 4, MURRAY STATE 0
ST. CHARLES, Mo. - The Lindenwood baseball team (10-10, 0-0 OVC) defeated Murray State (12-8, 0-0 MVC) 4-0 on Sunday to secure the series win over the Racers. All four of Lindenwood's runs were scored on the game's final swing, as William Zareh walked it off with a grand slam.
In a classic pitcher's duel, Aaron Jungers picked up the win after allowing no runs on zero hits with a strikeout through the game's final two innings. Lucas Niemeyer was also fantastic for the Lions, tossing seven shutout innings with a strikeout to start the game.
Kam Edwards was the only Lion to post multiple hits in the contest, going 2-4 with a run scored.
Neither team had much going offensively early on, combining for just four hits through the first four frames. The Racers moved a runner into scoring position in the second and fourth innings, but were unable to cash in.
The game's first real scoring threat came in the top of the fifth, with Murray State's Conner Cunningham leading off the inning with a base hit before advancing on a sacrifice bunt and moving to third on a balk. However, Lindenwood escaped the inning unscathed largely thanks to shortstop Charlie Isom-McCall, who made a fantastic diving play on a hard-hit ball to the left side to record the second out,robbing what initially looked like a sure base hit and RBI.
Lindenwood threatened in the bottom of the seventh with runners on second and third with two outs but were unable to find the go-ahead run as the game remained scoreless entering the eighth.
Aaron Jungers entered the game for Lindenwood and – other than a fielding error that allowed a Racer on base – retired the next six MSU batters in order, sending the game to the bottom of the ninth still scoreless.
Kam Edwards led off the inning for Lindenwood with a leadoff single after beating the throw from the shortstop. Murray State challenged, but the call was upheld. Jake Radosevich and Will Geary then drew back-to-back walks to load the bases with no outs.
Following a pitching change, the Racers were able to get the first out with a strikeout, bringing up William Zareh with a chance to win the game with a base hit or fly out. Zareh more than delivered, turning on the first pitch he saw and launching it over the left field wall for a walk-off grand slam.
WESTERN CAROLINA 8, MOREHEAD STATE 7
CULLOWHEE, N.C. - Morehead State spotted Western Carolina four runs, stormed back with six straight runs over the three middle innings to grab the lead, but ultimately fell 8-7 Sunday in the series finale at Childress Field at Hennon Stadium in Cullowhee, N.C.
Morehead State (10-11) trailed 4-0 heading into the fourth inning. MSU's Caden Sheridan got the Eagles on the board with a leadoff home run in the fourth, a liner over the left field fence that traveled 404 feet. The Catamounts threatened in the fourth with runners at second and third with one out, but Davis induced two fly balls to get out of the inning.
The Eagles scored a pair of runs in the fifth inning to cut the WCU to 4-3. Ian McCubbin led off with a walk and advanced to second on a throwing error by the pitcher attempting a pickoff. He advanced to third on a lined to center by Kyle Krupp and scored on a wild pitch with Krupp advancing to second. Krupp scored on Kearns' liner single to center.
Morehead State took the lead in the sixth. Nick Griffith led off getting hit by a pitch and scored on Ian McCubbin's two-out triple down the left field line. Krupp followed with an RBI single through the right side. Krupp stole second base and scored on Davis Germann's infield single and throwing error by WCU third baseman Mason Holtman to give MSU a 6-4 lead.
Morehead State starter Connor Davis got a no-decision in a solid start. He pitched into the seventh inning, officially throwing six innings, allowing six runs on eight hits. He walked three WCU batters and recorded three strikeouts.
Western Carolina (14-7) got two runs back in the seventh to tie the game at 6-6. WCU drew back even in the bottom of the seventh inning. Two sharp singles chased Davis as Devin Costa came out of the bullpen to relieve the MSU starter. A pair of singles plated two runs and chased Costa. Freshman Luke Hayes came out of the bullpen and put out the fire.
After two quick outs in the top of the eighth inning, right-fielder Ian McCubbin slammed a drive over the scoreboard in deep right center that travelled 448 feet and gave the Eagles the lead at 7-6.
WCU got a leadoff walk by Trent Turner in the eighth then pinch-hitter Cole Jones reached on a throwing error by Hayes on a sacrifice bunt to put runners on the corners. Catamount right fielder Elijah Smith lifted a fly down the right field line. German caught the fly down the right field line and fired a throw to Sheridan to cut down Turner at the plate as Jones advanced to second base on the play.
Jones then advanced to third on a balk by Hayes. After an intentional walk, an infield error on Jalen Jones' ground ball allowed Jones to score and put runners at first and second. WCU Wyatt Stanley delivered an RBI single to put the Catamounts back ahead 8-7 for the final margin. Both runs in the inning were unearned.
WCU's Bryant Kimbrell (3-0) earned the win out of the bullpen. He threw three innings, allowing one run on three hits and struck out five Eagle batters. Luke Hayes (1-1) took the loss. The freshman threw 1.2 innings, allowing the two unearned runs , one hit, three walks and struck out two Catamount batters.
Western Carolina got three runs in the bottom of the first inning. The Catamounts first two batters reached on a walk and a hit batsman. Two RBI singles and a sacrifice fly plated the runs for WCU.
After the Eagles threatened in the second but failed to score, the Catamounts looked to score again. After a leadoff single through the right side by first-baseman Marshall McGowan, WCU's right fielder lined a drive that short-hopped the fence in right center for a double. Eagle right fielder Ian McCubbin threw to second baseman Nick Griffith, who relayed a strike to Caden Sheridan to cut down McGowan at the plate and extinguish the rally.
WCU tacked on another run in the third inning on a lead-off walk, stolen base and a two-out RBI single to extend the Catamount lead to 4-0, setting up the Morehead State comeback.
VALPARAISO 13, SIUE 9
EDWARDSVILLE, Ill. - Valparaiso built an 8-0 lead Sunday and held on for a 13-9 win over SIUE to avoid a sweep at Simmons Baseball Complex.
SIUE is now 8-12 overall. Valpo is 6-10.
On a windy day at Roy E. Lee Field, the Cougars tied their season high with six home runs in the game. Valpo added two of their own.
Valparaiso chased SIUE starter Noah Johnson (0-2) with a five-run first inning. Johnson gave up three hits and three walks in just two-thirds of an inning. Thomas Cooper hit a two-run home run against Trent Koehler in a three-run second inning.
The Cougars scored four times in the third to cut the Beacons' lead in half. Ryan Niedzwiedz and Joshua Heyder each hit two-run home runs in the inning.
George Betevis hit a three-run home run for Valparaiso as part of a four-run inning, which pushed the lead out to 12-4.
Niedzwiedz hit his second home run of the day, another two-run homer, in the fifth to make it 12-6. Niedzwiedz leads the Ohio Valley Conference with 10 home runs for the season. He is second in the OVC with 25 RBIs.
Brenden Fry and Daniel Gierer each homered in the sixth to close the gap to 12-8.
It was 13-8 in the ninth when Chase Bloomer went deep for the final margin.
Bloomer, Niedzwiedz, Heyder and Gierer all had two hits for the Cougars.
Valparaiso was led by Cole Lockwood and Eli Riley who each had four hits.
The Beacons outhit the Cougars 14-10 in the game.
THE CITADEL 8, UT MARTIN 4
MARTIN, Tenn. - The University of Tennessee at Martin baseball team competed until the final out but fell short in the final game of the weekend series 8-4 against The Citadel.
Cameron Greene (two RBIs) led the Skyhawks (9-10) at the plate with three hits including a home run and a double. TJ Grines (stolen base) and Colten Payton (two walks) recorded base hits while Andrew Davis (walk, stolen base), JT Popick (RBI) and Bo Strickland (three walks) also contributed to the offensive attack.
Maxwell Schumacher (1-1) started the game and fanned three batters over seven innings in his fifth start of the season. Gehrig Wright (0.1 innings), Mason Little (one inning, one strikeout) and Trevor Busyn (0.2 innings, no runs allowed, no hits allowed) pitched in relief for UT Martin.
The Citadel (8-9) got the leadoff man on, but Schumacher picked him off and proceeded to retire the next two batters. The Skyhawks got their righty a run in the home half when Dunsford brought in Grines from third.
Going into the bottom of the third, UT Martin trailed by three and quickly erased that deficit from a Popick sacrifice fly and Greene’s two-run opposite field homer. Schumacher got into a rhythm and spun four straight scoreless frames the keep the game knotted at four headed to the eighth. The Bulldogs would pull in front in the eighth and added on to their lead in the ninth to be able to take the series finale.
TENNESSEE TECH 16, MERCER 10
COOKEVILLE, Tenn. - Tennessee Tech erupted for eight runs in the fourth inning to seize control and defeat Mercer 16-10 on Sunday at Bush Stadium at the Averitt Baseball Complex, salvaging the final game of the three-game series.
Mercer jumped out to an early lead with two runs in the first inning and four more in the second, but the Golden Eagles responded quickly. Tennessee Tech scored three runs in the bottom of the second and added three more in the third to pull even at 6-6.
After Mercer briefly reclaimed the lead with three runs in the fourth, the Golden Eagles delivered the game’s decisive inning. Nash Crowell started the rally with a two-run home run, Owen Lee later drew a bases-loaded walk to force in a run, and Jorsixt Jimenez blasted a grand slam to deep center field. Connor Crowson followed with a solo home run to cap the eight-run frame and give Tech a 14-9 advantage.
Tennessee Tech finished with 16 runs on 16 hits. Jimenez led the offense with two hits and five RBIs, while Lee added two hits and four RBIs. Jackson Rooker went 3-for-4 with two runs scored and two RBIs, and Manny Garza collected three hits and scored three times.
Crowell drove in two runs and scored three times, and Crowson contributed a home run and an RBI as the Golden Eagles recorded seven extra-base hits.
On the mound, Carter Casabella earned the win in relief, tossing six innings with nine strikeouts after entering in the second inning. Drew Mattox and Eli Huddleston combined to pitch the final two innings to secure the victory.
LITTLE ROCK 12, SAMFORD 2
BIRMINGHAM, Ala. - Little Rock rode the momentum from Saturday's win at Samford to a convincing run-rule victory in Sunday's finale, taking the series from the host Bulldogs, 12-2 in seven innings at J.L. Griffin Field.
Zach Busick picked up his team-best third win of the season with a strong five-inning outing, while Kade Smith finished with three hits and four different players drove in at least two runs for the Trojans (10-9).
The Trojans wasted no time in getting ahead of Samford (7-11) on Sunday, scoring three runs in the first, three more in the second, and two in the third for an 8-0 lead. The Bulldogs got within 8-2 in the fourth, but Little Rock responded with a four-run sixth to open a 10-run advantage.
Busick struck out three while scattering six hits and two runs, and Trent Jordan threw a pair of scoreless innings in relief. Samford used a total of six pitchers who combined to give up 13 hits.
Smith doubled twice, drove in two runs, and scored twice. Cade Martin had two hits and knocked in a pair, Easton Roe had two RBI, and Jerdy Lopez drove in two runs. The Trojans totaled five doubles for the afternoon.
EASTERN ILLINOIS 25, MEMPHIS 14
MEMPHIS, Tenn. - Eastern Illinois erupts for 25 runs in a high-scoring thriller against Memphis to close out the weekend series. EIU moves to 8-8 on the season, while the Tigers drop to 5-14.
This marks the fifth straight year the Panthers have scored 20 or more runs in a game. The historic offensive performance also marked the first time since 2011 that the Panthers scored 25 runs in a game, when EIU beat Morehead State 25-8.
EIU scored seven out of the nine innings, including nine in the 4th inning and six in the 8th. Chris Worcester led the way for the Panthers, going 3-6 with five RBIs and a home run. In addition to Worcester, the Panthers had three other players with three RBIs each. Overall, the offense totaled 25 runs, 19 hits, 20 RBIs, 13 walks, five doubles, three home runs, and a triple.
In the top of the fourth, EIU went nuclear, scoring nine runs on three hits. The inning started with the Panthers with bases loaded. Ethan Rossi singled to short, and each runner advanced on a throwing error by Javon Hernandez.
The momentum continued with O'Conor hitting an RBI single, followed by Tyler Castro and Melton each earning a walk, driving in two runs. The long inning continued, scoring six more runs on walks and wild pitches.
The game stretched to four and a half hours because the Tigers struggled on the mound. In the top of the 8th inning, EIU scored six more runs and four hits to put the game out of reach. The six runs were earned once again by wild pitches for the Tigers and a deep left three-run home run by Worcester.
Jarret Kinder threw 4.0 innings of relief, allowing zero earned runs and only three hits. On the bump for the Tigers, Seth Garner threw 2.1 innings, allowing five earned runs. Four separate bullpen arms for Memphis allowed four earned runs each.