Tennessee-Martin 13, Arkansas-Little Rock 6
Arkansas-Little Rock 19, Tennessee-Martin 2
UALR earned a doubleheader split with a 13-6 loss in game one and a 19-2 win in the nightcap that saw Bennett Cromer tie the UALR single-game strikeout record by fanning 13 Tennessee-Martin batters. UALR (5-4) scored first with two runs in the first inning. A Santino Dewreede one out triple was followed by back-to-back RBI doubles by Rick Guarno and Joe Mercer. Tennessee-Martin put eight runs on the board in the top of the second. The first four Skyhawk batters reached on base on balls, Hunter Harts bases loaded triple gave UTM the lead for good at 4-2. Josh Wallace (0-1) took the loss for the Trojans, Oscar Marin had an outstanding relief appearance, giving up one unearned run while striking out seven in four innings. Justin Bryant (1-0) got the win in his first start of the season, Brett Hall pitched the final four innings for the save. Dewreede matched his career-high with four hits, Mercer and Matt Spatafora each added three hits in the loss. UALR won game two behind a dazzling pitching performance by Bennett Cromer. Cromer (1-1) pitched a complete game, giving up two runs and recorded his record-tying 13th strikeout on the final out of the game. The Trojans scored in every inning except the fifth and tallied five runs in the first and sixth innings. Pittullo went 3-for-3 during the second game with a double, triple, 3 RBI and four runs scored. Guarno blasted his second home run of the season in the second inning, on the way to a 3-for-4 performance with four runs and four RBI. Casey Estill (0-1) took the loss for the Skyhawks.
New Mexico State 7, Drexel 6
Beau Blacken's two-run home run in the bottom of the eighth proved to be the gam winner as the New Mexico State Aggies (15-2) defeated the Drexel University Dragons (1-8) 7-6 Sunday at Presley Askew Field. The win was the 10th come-from-behind victory for the Aggies this year and the 31st consecutive non-conference home victory. The Aggies rallied from 1-0, 4-1 and 6-5 deficits to sweep the Dragons. Billy Becher led the Aggie offense, going two-for-four with two home runs, three rbi and two runs scored. Blacken was one-for-three with a home run, two rbi and two runs scored. The Dragons took an early 1-0 lead when John Tredinnick grounded out to second to score Josh Brandt. The Dragon defense would help keep the lead by holding the Aggies to just one hit in the first three innings. Becher would tie the game at 1-1 with his first home run in the bottom of the fourth with two outs in the inning. The Dragons would regain the lead at 4-1 in the top of the fifth. Harry Ley would hit a bases loaded triple to score three runs after an error by Hal Bisnett with two outs extended the inning. The Aggies would take their first lead of the game in the bottom of the sixth when Becher drove his second home run of the game to score Bisnett. Gavin Monjaras would add two more runs on an rbi double, scoring Keith Jenkins and Blacken, giving the Aggies a 5-4 lead. The Dragons would regain the lead in the top of the seventh on a two-run home run by Brandt, giving the Dragons a 6-5 lead. Blacken then stepped up in the bottom of the eighth with his only hit of the game, a two-run home run to give the Aggies the last lead they would need at 7-6. The Dragons tried to rally in the ninth when Josh Yocum and Ley reached base with one out. Brent Heaberlin would then single to left field, but Chris Ewen would throw out Yocum at home plate, extinguishing the Dragons' hopes of tying the game. Andrew Garretson would get Jason Bailey to fly out to end the game. Garretson (2-0) earned the victory for the Aggies, allowing no runs on three hits and striking out one in two innings of relief. Noah Heldt got his first start of the season, allowing four runs on four hits, striking out four and walking three in five innings of work. Steve Garstke (0-1) earned the loss for the Dragons, allowing two runs on one hit and striking out two in two innings of relief. Starter Jarame Beaupre allowed five runs on five hits, striking out four and walking three in five innings.
Middle Tennessee 6, Kent State 4
Josh Archer's two-run homer in the sixth provided the insurance, as Middle Tennessee defeated Kent State, 6-4, Sunday at a cold and blustery Reese Smith Field, ending the weekend with three straight victories. The Blue Raiders got on the board early, scoring twice with just one hit. Archer walked to leadoff the second and Chad Cooper followed with a double down the leftfield line to plate Archer. Cooper then stole third and scored on a sacrifice fly to right by Shane Kemp. Kent State scored an unearned run in the fourth when Kemp dropped a fly ball with two outs off the bat of Chad Kinyon and Eric O'Brien followed with a run-scoring single. But the Golden Flashes gave the runs back in the bottom of the frame. Cooper scored when KSU rightfielder Adam Crowder dropped a Kemp fly ball with two outs, and Brett Carroll scored on a wild pitch for a 4-1 Blue Raider advantage. KSU cut into the lead with single runs in the fifth and sixth. Crowder beat out a bunt single to leadoff the fifth and went to second when Carroll's throw from third was wild. Crowder scored on a pair of ground balls. Pat O'Brien walked to leadoff the sixth and scored on a double to right-center by Kinyon, cutting the lead to 4-3. The Blue Raiders got the two runs back in their half of the sixth, as Nate Jaggers singled to leadoff and Archer blasted his third home run in two games, a tape-measure shot to leftfield to give Middle Tennessee a 6-3 lead. The Golden Flashes loaded the bases in the eighth via a single from Pat O'Brien and a pair of walks. But pinch-hitter Ben Whitney struck out to end the threat with the Blue Raiders still holding a three-run advantage. Blue Raider miscues gave KSU chances in the ninth, as Jaggers made a wild throw to first with one out. After a stolen base, Matt Sega beat out a bunt single and Joe Tucker scored on a throwing error by pitcher Danny Borne. The Blue Raiders went to the pen with the tying run at the plate, summoning Chris Mobley. Sega tried to move up a base on a ball in the dirt, but was thrown out by Troy Harp. Mobley then induced Pat O'Brien to pop out to short to end the contest. Blue Raider starter Travis Horschel (1-0) got the victory, allowing three runs, one earned, in 5.2 innings of work. Borne worked 2.2 innings and deserved better, giving up an unearned run and three hits with four strikeouts. Mobley got the final two outs for his first save of the season. KSU starter Justin Laraway (0-1) took the loss, giving up four runs, two earned, on just three hits in five innings of work.
Houston 4, Louisiana-Lafayette 1
Louisianas Ragin Cajuns baseball team continued to battle through their early season struggles in a 4-1 loss against the University of Houston here at Cougar Field. The Cajuns were held to just one run on three by the Houston pitching combo of Garrett Mock and Ryan Wagner. Houston opened the game against UL Lafayette starting pitcher Jordy Templet in the first inning with consecutive hits by Kevin Roberts and Hyung Cho. Roberts scored from third on an RBI groundout and Cho scored on a sacrifice fly by Stuart Musslewhite to give Houston the 2-0 lead after one inning of play. UL Lafayette picked up a run in the third inning off Cougar starter Garrett Mock (2-0) to make it a one run game. Second baseman Sport Voorhies led off the inning with a walk and advanced to third on a Justin Morgan sacrifice bunt down the third base line. Voorhies scored the first run of the game for the Cajuns on a ground ball error by the Cougar shortstop. Right fielder Kevin Preau picked up the RBI on the play. Cajun centerfielder Corey Coles led off the sixth inning with a double to centerfield. First baseman Phillip Hawke laid a perfect sacrifice bunt down the third base side advancing Coles to third. With one out the Cajuns failed to get the tying run across the plate after Bryan Sneed lined out to third base and Ryan Core struck out swinging. Houston added another run off Templet in the bottom half of the sixth inning when Hyung Cho led off the inning with a double and scored on a Cajun infield groundball error. The Cougars increased the lead to 4-1 in the seventh inning after Cougar leftfielder Gabe Lucas opened the inning with a double and scored from third on a one-out called balk on Templet. Templet let up one more run in the eighth inning to make the final margin 5-1. Kevin Ardoin replaced Templet with two outs in the inning. Templet allowed five runs on nine hits through 7 2/3 innings, while walking one with no strikeouts. Houston third baseman Hyung Cho led his team offensively in the three game series batting .615 against Cajun pitching with four runs scored and two RBI. Templet (1-2) suffered the loss for Louisiana-Lafayette, while Mock (2-0) received the win for Houston. Ryan Wagner picked up the save for Houston after allowing no hits or runs in the final three innings.
New Orleans 12, Manhattan 2
The University of New Orleans Privateers finished sweeping the three-game series over Manhattan College with a 12-2 win Sunday on Maestri Field at Privateer Park. Brad Domreis and Gabe Trevizo each homered to lead the way, and Michael Jones(1-1) pitched six innings for the win, becoming the sixth New Orleans pitcher with a win this season. Domries took the first pitch of the second inning over the right field wall to give the Privateers (7-6) a 1-0 lead. The home run was Domries third of the season. The second run of the inning was scored as Mike Nuckles singled up the middle, advanced to second on a wild pitch and scored on an RBI single to right by Austin Wasserman. In the fifth inning, the Privateers sent ten batters to the plate, scoring six runs on five hits. Trevizo opened the inning with a single to left and advanced to third on two wild pitches. Domreis and Mike Nuckles walked to load the bases, and Mike Forbes singled to score Trevizo and Domreis. Mike Rohdes base-clearing triple plated Nuckles and Forbes. Rohde scored on a balk. Wasserman singled to right and moved to third on a throwing error by rightfielder Zachary Sousa. Joe Pietro singled, his with his fifth infield hit of the series, to score Wasserman. New Orleans scored two runs in the sixth and a single run in the fourth. Trevizos homer in the seventh brought the game to an end with the inclusion of the ten run rule. Seven of the eight starters had hits in the game. New Orleans totaled fourteen hits, including three extra base hits, giving them double digit hits for each game of the series.
Manhattan (0-2) their two runs in the second inning behind an Jonathan Holzer single which scored the lead off batter Sal Candela who singled up the middle to start the inning. The Jaspers added the second run as Matt Cucurullo grounded into the sacrifice bunt to score John Fitzpartick who reached base on a walk. For the series Pietro went eight of thirteen, three of four for stolen bases, with two RBI and three runs scored.
Northwestern State 6, Arkansas State 2
Arkansas State 3, Northwestern State 2
Arkansas State University baseball team took the nightcap of a doubleheader 3-2 in 11 innings over Northwestern State University on Sunday at Tomlinson Stadium. NSU won the first game 6-2 and won Saturdays contest 8-0. Corey Goetz scored the game-winning run in the bottom half of the 11th on a wild pitch. Goetz came in to pitch run for Zach Shipley after Shipley knocked a one-out double down the right field line. Goetz then advanced to third on a groundout. NSU (10-4) scored two runs in the top of the first when Anatole Vincent belted a two-out, two-run home run over the left field fence. ASU (3-7) tied the game in second, scoring twice. Brent Cramer led off the inning with a single to left center, followed by a double to right field from Blake Denischuk with Cramer advancing to third. After a groundout to the first baseman, Shipley, who was 4-for-5, singled up the middle, driving in both runners. Blake Ring (1-1) got the win in relief for the Indians, tossing four innings with five strikeouts. Ring did not allow any runs or hits, facing 13 batters. Jody Petty started the game for ASU and went seven innings, allowing two runs on eight hits while fanning two. The Tribe had nine hits in the game, striking out three times and walking three times while stranding ten runners on base. Brad Hayes collected his seventh multi-hit game of the season as he went 2-for-5 at the plate. Al Scott (0-1) received the loss for NSU, going two-thirds of an inning. Scott gave up one run on one hit while facing four batters. Zach Sanches threw ten innings for the Demons, allowing two runs on eight hits with two strikeouts and two walks. NSU recorded eight hits, leaving seven runners on base. Jeff Martin continued his hot streak against ASU, going 2-for-4. Vincent went 1-for-5 with two RBIs and one run. In game one, NSU put up four runs in the top of the first to take control of the contest. After two consecutive fly outs to center field, Vincent was hit by a pitch and advanced to second off a single from Alonzo Soliz. Martin then doubled down the left field line, scoring Vincent and advancing Soliz to third. After Bob Barbier was hit by a pitch, Brandon Morgan drove in Soliz and Martin with a bases loaded single through the left side of theinfield with Barbier moving to third. Barbier picked up the Demons fourth run of the inning by stealing home while Morgan reached second on an error during a rundown. ASU got out of the inning on a groundout to Hayes. The Tribe sliced into the lead by adding one run in both the first and second innings, but NSU held off an Indian comeback causing ASU to leave 13 runners on base. The Demons also added insurance runs in the eighth and ninth. Aaron Gravis (3-1) recorded the win for NSU, pitching five and one-third innings. Gravis spread out seven hits with four strikeouts while allowing two runs. Cory Keener (2) was credited with a save, throwing three and two-thirds with no runs and two hits. Karnie Vertz (0-2) tossed five and one-third innings in the loss, allowing four runs on four hits. Ryan Hamilton went three and two thirds innings in relief, giving up two runs on three hits. Hayes and Matt Rogelstad both went 2-for-5 at the plate. Hayes also had one RBI and one run while Rogelstad added one RBI.
Wright State 10, Western Kentucky 4
Through its first six games the Western Kentucky baseball team had been nearly flawless on defense with just two errors. On Sunday, the Hilltoppers committed five and stranded 11 runners in a 10-4 loss to Wright State at Nick Denes Field. The miscues helped Wright State (1-6) take control of the contest with a 4-run, third inning and a 3-run fifth inning to get its first win of the season. The loss ended a 4-game winning streak for WKU, which fell to 4-2. The Hilltoppers got on the board in the first inning with a single run. Junior Matt Johnston led off the inning with a single up the middle and stole second to move into scoring position. With one out, Matt Gunning singled to right-center field to give Western the 1-0 lead. In the third, Wright State, which had managed just five runs in the first three games, crossed the plate four times on WKU starter Kenny Hughes, who is 0-1. With one out, Chris Tuttle doubled and went to third on a single by Trent Matthews. The visitors tied the game at one on Matt Barhorsts single to left. The Raiders went for the double steal with Vickers at the plate. Catcher Kevin Beardens throw to second was wild allowing Tuttle to score. Vickers then made it 4-1 with a home run to left. After failing to score with the bases loaded and one out in the third, the Hilltoppers kept things close by adding a run in the bottom of the fourth. Travis Brown, who hit .545 for the series, led off the inning with a single. After moving to second on a sacrifice by Rafael Vallejo, Brown plated on a double by to the gap in right center by Johnston. The visitors added three insurances runs in the fifth and two more in the seventh. Tuttle reached on single and would score late in the inning on a throwing error by Tim Grogan. Vickers, who finished with four RBI, and Pat Masters each drove in a run with base hits. In the seventh, Adam Morton roped a 2-run double. In the seventh, Gunning, who finished 4-for-5, doubled to right and moved to third on a passed ball. He would score on Antone Towns sacrifice fly to make it 9-4. After Vickers hit a solo shot to left in the ninth, Gunning hit his second home run of the season in the bottom of the inning. The left-hander roped a shot to straightaway center.
McNeese State 8, South Alabama 3
Chris Denton pitched eight strong innings as McNeese State defeated South Alabama 8-3 in the final round of the Bank One Lake Area Classic on Sunday. Despite the loss, the Jaguars still earned the championship based on the head-to-head tie-breaker with Georgia, which also finished the tournament with a 2-1 record. USA defeated Georgia 9-6 on Saturday. USA (5-6) continues its road swing Tuesday night with a 6 o'clock first pitch at Troy State. The Jaguars, down 8-0 heading into the ninth, prevented the shutout on Josh Touchstone's two-run triple and a run-scoring groundout by Jason Gross. Touchstone extended his hitting streak to 10 games with his first triple of the season. Denton (1-0) allowed just one hit through seven innings and issued just three for the afternoon. He struck out five and walked four. Jag starter Caleb Crosby (0-2) took the loss after allowing two earned runs on six hits in 3 1/3 innings. Left-handed reliever Frank Elia was struck for four earned runs over three innings of work. Scoreless after three innings, McNeese (9-6) plated two runs in the bottom of the fourth on consecutive run-scoring singles by Lance Dawkins and Josh Fontenet. Tommy Eubanks singled to open the frame and Ran Prince followed with a double. The Cowboys plated a run in the fifth and extended their lead to 6-0 in the seventh with a three-run inning. Eubanks capped the McNeese State scoring with a two-run double in the eighth. Gabe Mayorga had two of USA's five hits. Dawkins, Prince, Eubanks and Seth Lastrapes had three hits each for the Cowboys who had 16 for the game.