SUNDAY'S SCORES
@VMI 9,
Western Illinois 8
Morehead State 9, @Butler 4
@Southeast Missouri 12, Milwaukee 2
@Kansas State 20,
SIUE 7
@Southern Indiana 10-4, Youngstown State 1-1
@Iowa 10,
Lindenwood 9 (10)
Mississippi Valley State 5,
@UT Martin 3
@Georgia Southern 11,
Tennessee Tech 6
@Little Rock 7, Central Arkansas 2
VMI 9, WESTERN ILLINOIS 8
LEXINGTON, Va. - Recap coming soon.
MOREHEAD STATE 9, BUTLER 4
INDIANAPOLIS - Morehead State designated hitter Aubrey Kearns and right fielder Davis Germann both finished just a triple away from hitting for the cycle as the Eagles slugged their way to a 9-4 win over Butler in the series finale at Grand Park in Westfield, Indiana Sunday.
Kearns finished the day 3-5 with three runs batted in and Germann went 3-4 with a walk. Both scored two runs apiece.
Morehead State (8-8) pounded out 12 hits and left six runners on base. Jaden Correa finished with two hits in three at-bats.
Eagle starter Connor Davis (2-0) threw five innings and earned the win. The freshman from Cincinnati allowed three runs (all on solo home runs) on five hits. He walked two Bulldog batters and posted three strikeouts.
Butler (4-11) rapped out seven hits and left three runners stranded. All of Butler's runs came by way of solo home runs. Bulldog starter Logan Wiley (0-3) took the loss.
With the Eagles trailing 4-3, MSU right fielder Davis German led off the fifth inning with a home run over the fence in left center. Alex Kean followed with a walk and advanced to third on Aubrey Kearns' single through to left side. Catcher Caden Sheridan advanced both with a sacrifice bunt. Kean scored on a wild pitch and Kearns moved to third.
Second baseman Nick Griffith walked, and Jaden Correa delivered an RBI single to right. Correa was picked off first. Third baseman Griffin Olson scored Griffith from third with an RBI infield single to extend Morehead State's to 8-3.
The Eagles capped their scoring in the sixth. German reached with a single through the right side for his third hit of the day. Germann scored on Kearns' two-out double into left center.
Butler matched the run in the bottom of the inning when center fielder David Ayers smacked a two-out home run to center.
Morehead State scored first in a two-out rally in the first inning. First baseman Alex Kean drove a double down the right field line and scored on Kearns' fourth home run of the season, a shot over the fence in center.
Butler got the lead with a home run in the bottom of the first by first baseman Matthew Rhodes, and back-to-back home runs by left fielder Danny Gavin and Rhodes in the bottom of the third inning.
SOUTHEAST MISSOURI 12, MILWAUKEE 2
CAPE GIRARDEAU, Mo. - Southeast Missouri Baseball (10-7) secured a decisive 12-2 victory over the Milwaukee (2-13) at Capaha Field on Sunday in seven innings. SEMO tallied 11 hits and drew 10 walks, while its pitching staff held the Panthers to just six hits over seven innings.
The Redhawks opened the game with a strong first inning, scoring four runs. Cal Sullivan singled and advanced to third on a passed ball, later stealing home for the first run. Ryan Lopetegui stole second, followed by Carson Schrack's RBI single. Joe Terranova walked, and Tank Sims was hit by a pitch, loading the bases. Andrew Ramirez then singled to right field, driving in two more runs. The inning ended with SEMO leading 4-0.
In the third inning, SEMO added to its lead. Schrack walked and scored on Terranova's two-run homer to left field, extending the lead to 6-0.
The Panthers got on the board in the fourth with a solo home run by O'Connell. SEMO responded in the bottom of the inning with three runs. Sullivan, Hall, and Lopetegui loaded the bases with a single and two walks. Schrack and Terranova each walked in a run, and Ramirez walked in another, bringing the score to 9-1.
The sixth inning saw SEMO scoring three more runs. Terranova and Moises Rosario singled, followed by Ramirez's RBI single. Caleb Klein added an RBI single, and Sullivan doubled to drive in two more, making it 12-1.
Milwaukee added a run in the seventh with a double by Spence that scored Horn, but SEMO's lead was secure as SEMO rolled to a decisive 12-2 victory over Milwaukee.
KANSAS STATE 20, SIUE 7
MANHATTAN, Kan. - Kansas State hit a school-record eight home runs Sunday and the Wildcats completed the sweep of SIUE baseball with a 20-7 win in seven innings.
The Cougars have now lost four in a row and fell to 5-11. Kansas State is 11-4.
The Wildcats tagged SIUE starter Spencer Stearns (0-2) with three home runs in the first on their way to a 5-0 advantage. Micah Kendrick hit his second of the day in the third inning to chase Stearns.
Stearns allowed seven runs over 2.1 innings. He struck out two.
Brennan Grams replaced Stearns in the third inning and surrendered a home run to the first batter he faced, pushing K-State's lead to 8-0. Wyatt Doak gave up a bases loaded walk and a three-run double which made it 12-0.
Grams worked just two-thirds of an inning and allowed four runs.
The Cougars got on the board in the fourth when Ethan Willoughby grounded into a fielder's choice scoring Chase Bloomer from third.
The Wildcats scored a run in the bottom of the fourth and two in the fifth on two more home runs to lead 15-1.
Mack Mitchell hit a two-run home run and Ethan Willoughby hit a solo home run two batters later as the Cougars cut the lead back to 15-5 with a four-run fifth inning.
Kansas State starter Lincoln Sheffield (4-0) allowed four runs, three earned, on three hits over five innings. He struck out eight.
Kansas State sent nine hitters to the plate in the sixth inning and added five more runs, including another home run.
Ryan Niedwiedz hit his team-leading sixth home run of the year and the third for SIUE in the game. He drove in two for the final margin. Niedzwiedz finished 2-4. The Cougars finished with five hits.
Dee Kennedy hit three home runs for the Wildcats. Micah Kendrick and Ty Smolinski each hit two
SOUTHERN INDIANA 10-4, YOUNGSTOWN STATE 1-1
EVANSVILLE, Ind. - University of Southern Indiana Baseball swept a doubleheader and completed a three-game sweep of Youngstown State, 10-1 and 4-1, Sunday on the final day of the Holiday Inn Showcase at the USI Baseball Field. USI is 12-4 this season, while YSU goes to 1-13.
The 12-4 mark is USI's best start since 1996 when the Screaming Eagles were 13-4 to begin the season. This spring also is USI's best start in the Division I era.
USI junior right-hander Ryan Weller threw five strong innings and junior catcher Drue Saenz drove in four runs as the Screaming Eagles cruised to a 10-1 win in the opening game. USI scored two in the second, two in the fourth, and blew the game open with six in the eighth.
Weller (2-0) allowed one run on four hits and three walks, while striking out three in five innings of work. Saenz had a pair of hits, a double and triple, and a sacrifice fly to drive in the four runs.
Graduate rightfielder Jesse Velders also drove in a pair of runs in the victory.
USI senior first baseman Patrick McLellan hit a two-run home run in the opening frame to lead the Screaming Eagles to a 4-1 victory in the nightcap.
After McLellan's first-inning blast, the Penguins scored once in the fourth to narrow the gap to 2-1. USI would seal the victory with a pair of runs in the sixth when senior catcher Micajah Wall doubled in junior second baseman Parker Martin and scored on a single by junior designated hitter Collin Senior for the eventual 4-1 victory.
On the mound, junior right-hander Eben Hansen started and led seven USI hurlers in the nightcap. Hansen (1-0) picked up the win, going three scoreless innings, allowing one hit and two walks. He also struck out two batters.
USI junior right-hander Trey O'Neil finished the game and picked up his first save of the season by striking out three of four batters in the ninth.
IOWA 10, LINDENWOOD 9 (10)
IOWA CITY, Iowa - The Lindenwood baseball team (6-9, 0-0 OVC) fell just short of taking their series against Iowa (10-5, 0-0 Big Ten) on Sunday afternoon, dropping the rubber match 10-9 in extra innings. The contest featured six lead changes, with the Lions leading by as many as three runs following the top of the fifth.
Jake Radosevich has a monster day at the plate for Lindenwood, going 2-3 with a pair of home runs and six total RBIs. It was the second two home run, six-RBI outing of his career, matching his career highs previously set against Illinois State on February 28th of last year.
Joining Radosevich with multiple hits were Filip Sarota and Kam Edwards. Sarota went 2-3 with a double and two RBIs, while Edwards went 2-4 with a pair of doubles.
On the mound, starting pitcher Lucas Niemeyer held Iowa to three earned runs with a pair of strikeouts through 5.1 innings of work.
After drawing a walk to lead off the first inning, Charlie Isom-McCall stole second to move into scoring position before advancing to third on a groundout to first base, setting the table for Jake Radosevich to drive in the game's first run with a sacrifice fly to right center.
Iowa pulled ahead with a three-run bottom of the second, with all three runs going down as unearned following a two-out error on a pop up to shallow right field that allow two runs to come across before an RBI base hit added one more.
However, the Lions would surge back ahead in the top of the third with a Jake Radosevich three-run homer to left field following a Kam Edwards double and Charlie Isom-Mcall walk. Lindenwood loaded the bases with two outs in the top of the fourth but were unable to take advantage as Iowa escaped the inning without allowing a run.
The Hawkeyes were unable to keep LU off the scoreboard in the fifth, as Will Geary tripled to lead off the innings before Radosevich recorded his fifth RBI in three at-bats with another sacrifice fly. After Ethan Cantareira was hit by a pitch and stole second base, Filip Sarota delivered an RBI base hit to left field to extend the lead to 6-3.
Iowa would score four unanswered runs over their next three at-bats to go back in front, beginning with a Ben Swails solo homer in the bottom of the fifth and eventually regaining the lead in the bottom of the seventh with Swails coming home to score on a passed ball.
Lindenwood would immediately respond in the top of the eighth, with Ethan Cantareira leading off the frame with a base hit before executing a perfect hit run to score from first on a Filip Sarota double down the left field line. After Sarota moved to third on a ground out, Tyler Ellis would bring in the go-ahead run with a sacrifice fly center field.
The track meet continued in the bottom of the eighth as Mitch Wood led off the inning with a solo home run to left field to tie the game before a Joey Nerat double later in the frame scored Kooper Schulte from first to put Iowa back in front.
Jake Radosevich was not done, however, and the first baseman continued his big day with another solo home run – this time to opposite field in right – to tie the game once again. Ethan Rakers would then retire the Iowa side in order in the bottom of the ninth to send the game to extra innings.
In the tenth, Lindenwood was unable to generate any offense, and after Iowa loaded the bases in the bottom of the inning, a Joey Nerat sacrifice fly walked it off for the Hawkeyes.
MISSISSIPPI VALLEY STATE 5, UT MARTIN 3
MARTIN, Tenn. - The University of Tennessee at Martin baseball team battled but ultimately fell short in the series finale against Mississippi Valley State, 5-3.
The Skyhawks (7-8) outhit the Delta Devils (3-10) seven to six behind a multi-hit day from TJ Grines (two runs scored, double, two stolen bases) and base knocks by Andrew Davis (walk, run scored, stolen base), Colten Payton (three RBIs), Cameron Greene (triple), Cullen Box (double) and JT Popick.
Brandon King (five innings, four strikeouts, no earned runs) started for UT Martin while JP Nunn (one inning, two strikeouts), Gabe Bryant (one inning, two strikeouts, no runs) and Trevor Busyn (two innings, no earned runs) made appearances out of the bullpen.
King used a double play and groundout to start his day with a scoreless frame before his offense tacked on two in the home half from a two-run single by Payton. Two more scoreless innings were tossed by the righty and Payton added on another run when he plated Grines on a groundout to make it 3-0.
Mississippi Valley State scored in the fifth and tied the game up in the sixth. Bryant stepped in for the seventh and posted a scoreless inning on two punchouts and a flyout. Busyn induced two groundouts and a popout for another zero from the Skyhawk bullpen.
The Delta Devils would take the lead in the ninth, and despite bringing the tying run to the plate, UT Martin was unable to complete the comeback.
GEORGIA SOUTHERN 11, TENNESSEE TECH 6
STATESBORO, Ga. - Tennessee Tech rallied late but could not overcome an early deficit Sunday afternoon, falling 11-6 to Georgia Southern in the rubber match of a three-game series at J.I. Clements Stadium.
With the loss, the Golden Eagles dropped the series 2-1 and moved to 7-8 on the season, while Georgia Southern improved to 4-11. Tennessee Tech will return to action Tuesday with a road trip to No. 19 Tennessee for a 5 p.m. CT first pitch.
Tennessee Tech struck first in the opening inning when Landon Smelser doubled to deep center and later scored on a wild pitch to give the Golden Eagles a 1-0 lead.
Georgia Southern answered with a decisive third inning, scoring five runs on four hits. James McCoy highlighted the surge with a two-run homer to center before Sean White added a two-run blast to left later in the inning to push the Eagles ahead 5-1.
Tech chipped away in the fifth as Luke Bragga singled and eventually scored on a fielder's choice by Jorsixt Jimenez, trimming the deficit to 5-2.
The Golden Eagles remained within striking distance until the seventh when Georgia Southern struck again. McCoy delivered the biggest blow of the day, launching his second home run of the game — a three-run shot to center — to cap a four-run frame and extend the lead to 9-2.
Tennessee Tech mounted a late push, plating two runs in the eighth. Owen Lee doubled and later scored on an RBI groundout by AJ Marchetti before Cade Fuller drew a bases-loaded walk to bring in another run.
The Golden Eagles added two more in the ninth when Ty Denton singled home a run and Connor Crowson followed with a sacrifice fly, but Georgia Southern closed the door to secure the series victory.
Lee finished 2-for-4 with two runs scored and a double to lead Tennessee Tech's offense. Smelser also had two hits, including a double, while Crowson added two hits and an RBI. Denton drove in a run and scored once.
Drew Mattox took the loss for the Golden Eagles after allowing four runs in 2.1 innings.
LITTLE ROCK 7, CENTRAL ARKANSAS 2
LITTLE ROCK, Ark. - Little Rock (8-7) secured a 7-2 victory over Central Arkansas (9-7) on Sunday at Gary Hogan Field, using an 11-hit offensive performance and a key three-run sixth inning to clinch the win.
Zach Busick delivered a strong start, pitching six innings while allowing four hits and two earned runs. He struck out six and walked three over 85 pitches, 48 of which were strikes. Gage Haley followed with an impressive relief outing, tossing the final three innings without allowing a run. Haley surrendered just two hits while striking out three to secure the save.
"Really proud of our club. We've been struggling lately, and I hope this weekend is indicative of who we're going to be," head coach Chris Curry said. "Zach did an incredible job. I hope this is a building block to his career as a starter. He worked through the first inning and stayed calm for us. Later, with some traffic, he punched out their best player. We were able to push ahead with some great baserunning and hits in key spots later in the game."
Central Arkansas grabbed an early lead in the first inning with a two-run double, but Little Rock answered immediately. Ty Rhoades delivered a two-RBI single to right field, scoring Cade Martin and Easton Roe to tie the game at 2-2 after the opening frame.
Little Rock took the lead in the second inning. Jerdy Lopez singled and advanced to third on a single by Kade Smith before Martin drove him home with an RBI single, giving the Trojans a 3-2 advantage.
After several quiet innings, the Trojans broke the game open in the sixth. Smith doubled to score Lopez, Martin followed with an RBI double to bring home Smith, and Roe added an RBI single to extend the lead to 6-2.
Little Rock added an insurance run in the eighth inning when Smith walked, stole second base, and scored on an RBI double by Angel Cano to make it 7-2.
The Trojans' defense and pitching closed the door from there to secure the victory.
Smith led the offense with two hits, including a double, while scoring twice and driving in a run. Lopez also scored twice and added a stolen base, while Martin collected two hits, including a double, and drove in two runs.