SATURDAY'S SCORES
Southeast Missouri 17, @Western Illinois 4
@Eastern Illinois 7, Morehead State 2
@UT Martin 10, Lindenwood 1
@Little Rock 6, Southern Indiana 0
@SIUE 8, Tennessee Tech 1
SOUTHEAST MISSOURI 17, WESTERN ILLINOIS 4
MACOMB, Ill. - SEMO Baseball (19-8, 4-1) secured a decisive 17-4 victory over Western Illinois (7-19, 2-3) on Saturday, backed by a powerful offensive performance that included 17 hits and three home runs.
The Redhawks began the contest with Caleb Klein getting hit by a pitch and advancing to third on a stolen base. Joe Hall then delivered an RBI single, bringing Klein home to take an early 1-0 lead.
In the second inning, Andrew Ramirez walked and eventually scored on a ground-rule double by Cal Sullivan, giving the Redhawks a 2-1 lead.
The third inning saw the Redhawks extend their lead when Ryan Lopetegui doubled and was brought home by Ramirez's RBI single. Moises Rosario's sacrifice fly added another run, putting them ahead 4-2.
Ramirez hit a three-run homer in the fourth, driving in Lopetegui and Hall, who reached on an error. This lifted the Redhawks to a 7-4 advantage.
In the fifth inning, Klein's single and subsequent run on Lopetegui's RBI single increased the lead to 8-4.
SEMO erupted for six runs in the sixth inning. Dakota Joggerst singled and scored on Joe Terranova's two-run homer. Sullivan's three-run home run further extended the lead to 14-4.
In the seventh, Joggerst's single and subsequent scoring from a series of hits and a sacrifice fly by Sullivan added three more runs, sealing the game at 17-4.
EASTERN ILLINOIS 7, MOREHEAD STATE 2
CHARLESTON, Ill. - Eastern Illinois rides the excellent performance of Bryce Riggs on the mound to remain undefeated in OVC play. With the win, EIU moves to 15-9 (5-0 OVC), while the Eagles drop to 11-16.
Bryce Riggs threw eight perfect innings and nearly recorded a no-hitter until Kyle Krupp hit an infield single in the 9th inning.
The final line for Riggs was 8.1 innings, throwing 109 pitches, allowing two hits and two runs. Riggs completed the resume with eight strikeouts, including three looking strikeouts.
Blaine Nunnally was called upon in the bullpen to complete the impressive pitching performance. Nunnally threw 0.2 innings, striking out two batters and allowing one hit.
On the mound for the Eagles, Luke Hayes battled throughout his first career start. Hayes tosses 3.1 innings, allowing one hit but gave up five walks.
Landon Waugh was given the loss, throwing 2.2 innings, allowing seven runs; however, only one of the runs was earned. Panthers took advantage of back-to-back chaotic miscues to break open the game in the sixth.
Both teams were affected by a slow offensive start, with the game held scoreless through the first four complete innings. Joey Hagen drove the first run of the game with an RBI single to left field, scoring James Love.
The next time up to bat, the Panthers sped away from the Eagles, scoring six runs in the bottom of the sixth innings. Morehead State's defensive mishaps allowed EIU to take control the rest of the way.
Morehead State's nightmare started with back-to-back singles by Mike O'Conor and Tyler Castro. Then, chaos arrived; a throwing error by Landon Waugh to first base scored O'Conor and Castro. Seconds later, Chris Worcester reached first on a fielding error by Jaden Correa.
Love's sacrifice fly to right field drove in Stanley for the fourth run of the game. Wilson picked up an infield single and advanced on a wild pitch. With two runners in scoring position, Ethan Rossi singled down the left field line, scoring Wilson and Worcester.
The final run of the game came from an RBI single delivered by Zak Goodwin, scoring Rossi.
Riggs was three outs away from a no-hitter but fell short, allowing two runs on two hits before handing the ball to Nunnally to complete the Saturday victory.
UT MARTIN 10, LINDENWOOD 1
MARTIN, Tenn. - Recap coming soon.
LITTLE ROCK 6, SOUTHERN INDIANA 0
LITTLE ROCK, Ark. - Recap coming soon.
SIUE 8, TENNESSEE TECH 1
EDWARDSVILLE, Ill. - Spencer Stearns allowed a single run on three hits over eight innings Saturday as SIUE picked up an 8-1 win over Tennessee Tech to win the Ohio Valley Conference series at Roy E. Lee Field.
SIUE moved to 5-0 in OVC play and 13-14 overall. Stearns tied his career high with eight innings pitched and improved to 3-2 with the win.
Tennessee Tech dropped to 0-5 in the league and 9-18 overall.
For the second day in a row, the Cougars got on the board in the first inning. SIUE scored four times on four hits and chased Tennessee Tech starter Garrett Holpuch (2-2) before the inning ended. Ryan Niedzwiedz, Mack Mitchell and Terrick Thompson-Allen all had RBI-hits in the inning.
The Golden Eagles lone run came in the second inning on an Eddie Garza sacrifice fly.
Niedzwiedz pushed the lead back to four runs with his OVC-leading 12th home run of the season leading off the third inning. Chase Bloomer extended the lead to 6-1 with an RBI single in the fourth inning. SIUE took advantage of a two-out error and added two runs in the fifth on a two-out, two-run triple by Brenden Fry.
The Cougars outhit the Golden Eagles 11-5 in the game. Bloomer finished 3-5. Niedzwiedz and Thompson-Allen each had two hits.