Saturday’s Baseball Results
Central Michigan 12, UNLV 8
Central Michigan 8, UNLV 0
Kent State 4, Indiana State 3
Western Michigan 8, Southern California 5
Eastern Michigan 16, Austin Peay 8
Austin Peay 7, Eastern Michigan 6
Ohio 6, North Alabama 4
North Alabama 6, Ohio 3
Georgia Southern 7, Ball State 4
Georgia Southern 16, Ball State 0
Boston College 11, Northern Illinois 10
Boston College 8, Northern Illinois 5
East Tennessee State 15, Toledo 1
Texas A&M 9, Miami 2
Lipscomb 5, Bowling Green 2
Stories courtesy of MAC Sports Information Departments
Central Michigan 12, UNLV 8 -- Boxscore
Central Michigan 8, UNLV 0 – Boxscore
Central Michigan improved to 3-0 by sweeping UNLV in a doubleheader on Saturday at the Rebels' Earl E. Wilson Stadium.
Chase Rollin had three hits and drove in four runs as CMU posted a 12-8 comeback victory in the first game. Freshman Zach Lechnir hit a two-run homer and Jordan Patty struck out six over seven scoreless innings to lead the Chippewas to an 8-0 win in game two.
"Our team did a great job responding to adversity in game one today," CMU coach Jordan Bischel said. "I liked that we had a very complete performance in game two and were able to keep our energy level high at the end of a long day."
Game 1
The Chippewas scored five runs in the seventh inning to take the lead for good, 9-6. Rollin had a two-out, two-run single that put the Chippewas in front, 7-6, and Garrett Navarra followed with an RBI single. Rollin then stole home to make it 9-6.
CMU extended its lead to 12-6 in the eighth inning on run-scoring singles from Rollin and Zach Heeke, along with an RBI sacrifice bunt from Zach Gilles.
CMU starter Cameron Brown went 4 1/3 innings, surrendering six runs (four earned) and striking out seven.
Sophomore Cameron Miller shut down the Rebels, coming on in the fifth when UNLV had scored twice to tie the game, 4-4. Miller got two outs, stranding one baserunner, in the fifth, and then went three more innings, surrendering two hits while striking out five. He earned the victory in the longest outing of his career.
Game 2
Lechnir hit his first career homer, a two-run shot, in the third inning to put the Chippewas up, 2-0.
The Chippewas continued to add on, tallying 12 hits. Lechnir's home run proved to be all they needed, however, as Patty and freshman Clayton Brock combined on a four-hitter. Brock had five strikeouts in his two innings as the pair combined to fan 11.
The Chippewas can complete the series sweep on Sunday (4 p.m.) in the series finale.
Kent State 4, Indiana State 3
Boxscore
PORT CHARLOTTE, FL- Patrick Ferguson's infield single scored Ben Carew and four Kent State pitchers shutout Indiana State over the final seven innings in a 4-3 victory in 10 innings on Saturday afternoon in the middle game of the Snowbird Classic.
Collin Romel, Zach Schultz, Max Rippl, and Tyler Drabick combined to shutout the Sycamores, scattering four hits over that span. The strong relief effort allowed the Flashes to erase an early 3-1 Indiana State lead and eventually secure the extra inning victory. The Sycamores scored in each of the first three innings before Kent State quieted the Indiana State bats. The Sycamores used small ball, a pair of walks and a two-out single to take the early lead. The Flashes followed suit in the second using a Justin Kirby walk, a sacrifice and the first of two Ferguson rbi singles to tie the game at one. Indiana State scored solo tallies in the second and third, using a pair of doubles and multiple sacrifices to push across the two runs.
Neither team was able to do much over the middle three innings, with both teams getting a runner to second base, but no further. Things got going for the Flashes in the seventh. Mack Timbrook, Collin Mathews and Patrick Ferguson all singled to load the bases with nobody out. After a strikeout, Kevin Dobos made it 3-2 with a sacrifice fly and Grant Vera tied the game with a timely single up the middle. Both teams had chances in the eighth with Ben Carew singling, stealing second but getting stranded on third. The Sycamores got runners on first and second with nobody out, but bunted into a double play to silence the threat.
In the 10th, Carew and Michael Turner both singled and Carew was pushed to third on a fielder's choice. After Mathews was hit by a pitch to load the bases, Ferguson came through with his third single of the day and his second run batted in, Carew scored to give the Flashes their first lead of the game. Tyler Drabick pitched a scoreless 10th, pitching around a single and a walk to earn the save.
Max Rippl picked up the win with Drabick earning the save. The Flashes improved to 1-1 on the season and will go for the weekend "series" win on Sunday against Saint Joe's. The Hawks are 1-2 on the season, beating Ohio State but dropping games to Pitt and Iowa. Ryan Lane is scheduled to get the Sunday start for the Flashes. The opening pitch is set for 10 a.m.
Western Michigan 8, Southern California 5
Boxscore
LOS ANGELES – Trailing by three runs late, the Western Michigan baseball team scored six runs on three hits in the seventh inning to capture an 8-5 victory over the University of Southern California on Saturday afternoon at Dedeaux Field.
The Broncos secured their first win of the 2020 campaign while earning their first win over a Pac-12 school since 1989, when WMU defeated USC in the NCAA Midwest Regional. With the win, WMU tied the three-game series with the Trojans and will seek its first series victory over a Power Five school since 1997 on Sunday.
After scoring just two runs on three hits in the season opener, the Brown & Gold offense exploded for eight runs on 12 hits in game two. WMU registered a runner in scoring position in seven of the nine innings and loaded the bases three times.
Four Broncos registered multiple hits in game two with redshirt junior Logan Hudson and sophomore Jimmy Allen each having three. Allen led WMU with a career-high two RBIs going 3-for-5 at the plate with a run scored. Hudson was also 3-for-5 with a run scored and drew one walk along with an RBI.
The one through four hitters of Hudson and juniors Blake Dunn, Justin McIntyre and Connor Charping combined for seven of WMU's 12 total hits. Along with Hudson and Allen, freshman Josh Swinehart and sophomore Will Morrison each registered one RBI.
Earning the win in his first career start was sophomore Easton Sikorski, who dealt a career-high six innings, allowing one earned run on five hits while striking out two. Sikorski in 25 batters faced didn't allow a hit the final three innings of his outing.
In relief the Broncos were led by junior Jack Huisman and the senior trio of Will Mullen, Jack Szott and Tyler Thorington. Through the final four innings of play the bullpen allowed just two earned runs on five hits while striking out two. Thorington earned his first save of the season pitching two thirds of an inning and recording the final out.
Szott provided the spark on the mound in the late innings, entering the game with the bases loaded and no outs in the bottom of the eighth and the Broncos leading by two. Szott recorded back-to-back fly outs and a fielder's choice to get out of the jam and hold the Bronco lead to two.
The Broncos outhit the Trojans 12-10 and left 15 runners on base compared to USC's seven. At the plate the Broncos registered two doubles while drawing eight walks.
Western Michigan improves its overall record to 1-1 on the season with the series finale against USC set for Sunday at 3 p.m. On Sunday WMU seeks its first series victory over a Power Five school since 1997.
USC got on the board first in the bottom of the second, scoring two runs on two hits and added to its lead an inning later with one run on two hits to grab a 3-0 advantage after three innings of play.
The Broncos looked to get on the board in the top of the fifth after a double down the right field line by Hudson gave WMU a runner in scoring position with two outs. However, WMU was unable to capitalize as the next batter struck out swinging to end the inning.
Sophomore Allen reached second on a double to left center field in the top of the sixth with one out prior to a fly out and ground out to end the Bronco scoring chance.
It was an offensive explosion for the Broncos in the top of the seventh scoring six runs on three hits along with two USC errors to take a 6-3 lead. With one out junior McIntyre doubled to left center field before back-to-back walks by Charping and Hudson loaded the bases for junior Sean O'Keefe.
O'Keefe connected on a dribbler back up the middle that was bobbled by the USC pitcher, allowing O'Keefe to reach first and score McIntyre from third for WMU's first run of the game. Pinch-hitting freshman Swinehart drew a walk to cut WMU's deficit down to one and leave the bases loaded for Allen.
On a 2-2 count, Allen rocketed a ball to right field scoring Hudson and O'Keefe to give WMU its first lead of the game at 4-3. After freshman Greg Budig was hit by a pitch to load the bases once again, sophomore Will Morrison roped a single to left field that scored two and extended the Bronco lead to 6-3.
USC gained a run back in the bottom of the seventh with a one-out single back up the middle before Mullen registered a swinging strikeout to stop the scoring threat. The Trojans had its best chance of the night in the bottom of the eighth after loading the bases with no outs and trailing 6-4.
A pitching change brought redshirt senior RHP Szott to the mound who recorded back-to-back fly outs followed by a fielder's choice to halt the Trojan comeback and keep WMU's lead at 6-4.
The Broncos added two insurance runs in the top of the ninth as the Brown & Gold loaded the bases with one out for Hudson. The Caledonia, Mich., native delivered once again with an RBI single up the middle, scoring two runs and widening the Bronco lead to 8-4.
In the ninth the Trojans cut the WMU lead down to 8-5 after a one out RBI single and positioned runners on first and second with one out. However, the USC comeback was halted once again as Thorington started the 1-6-3 double play to secure the victory.
Eastern Michigan 16, Austin Peay 8 -- Boxscore
Austin Peay 7, Eastern Michigan 6 – Boxscore
CLARKSVILLE, Tenn. (EMUEagles.com) – After cold weather extended the offseason one extra day, the Eastern Michigan University baseball team finally took to the diamond for its 2020 season-opener, a two-game doubleheader, against Austin Peay State University today, Feb. 15. The Eagles defeated the Governor's in the first game, 16-8, before falling by one, 7-6, in the nightcap at Raymond C. Hand Baseball Park.
Eastern (1-1) combined to score 22 runs on 24 hits between the two games, and had six different Eagles register hits in both contests. The Eagles will have a chance to earn the series victory over Austin Peay (1-1) in tomorrow's finale.
Game One: EMU 16, APSU 8
The old baseball myth that claims a lack of offense in the early-season proved to be just that, a myth, as Eastern and Austin Peay combined to score 24 runs in the season-opener for both teams. EMU was dominant at the plate, where it amassed 16 runs, the most by an Eagle team since it crossed the plate the same number of times against Ball State, May 7, 2016.
Offensively, it was the duo of sophomore Taylor Hopkins (Mason, Ohio-Archbishop Moeller) and junior captain Shane Easter (Kalamazoo, Mich.-Comstock) that led the way. Hopkins finished the game with single-game career highs in hits (3), RBI's (6), and runs scored (4). The second-year standout also had a career-high two home runs in the game. Easter was also able to take the ball deep as he blasted his first-career home run, which doubled as a grand slam. His four-RBI performance is the best of his career (previous high of two).
Junior hurler Luke McGuire (Shelby Twp., Mich.-Stevenson) came on in relief and pitched the final six innings of the contest, facing 26 batters and allowing just five hits along the way. He also added four strikeouts. The six-frame outing is the second-longest of his career, and earned him his sixth-career win.
EMU wasted no time getting to work at the dish, putting up two runs in its first at-bat of the season to take a 2-0 lead. Redshirt senior Jeff Timko (Rochester Hills, Mich.-Brother Rice) got the team rolling as he singled up the middle to begin the game. After a fielder's choice and passed ball put Hopkins and Timko on first and third, respectively, the duo executed a double-steal to perfection. Both runners were safe and EMU crossed the plate for the first of two times in the frame. It was senior captain Nick Jones (Battle Creek, Mich.-Lakeview) who provided the team's second run when he doubled to left field. Jones finished the game with three hits, which tied for the team lead.
Facing its first deficit of the season, 4-2, after the fourth inning, the Eagles responded. With one out and one aboard, Hopkins connected for the first of his two home runs, which tied the game, 4-4. After a Governor two-spot put the Eagles behind once more, 5-4, in the fifth, it was junior Jared Kauffman (Springboro, Ohio-Bishop Fenwick) who was able to tie the game with a double to right-center field. Hopkins went deep for the second time just two batters later, which gave EMU an 8-5 advantage, one it held for the rest of the game.
Up one, 8-7, in the top of the seventh, Easter added the firework that proved to be the final blow to APSU. With the bases loaded and no outs, the Kalamazoo, Mich. native launched his first-ever long ball, a grand slam that gave EMU a 12-6 advantage in the contest. Although the Govs' added one more run, it was far from enough to mount a comeback.
When it was all said-and-done, the Eagles had racked up 16 hits, including seven for extra bases, en route to a dominant 16-8, season-opening victory.
Game Two: APSU 7, EMU 6
The night portion of the double-feature saw a much more competitive game than its matinee counterpart, and Austin Peay completed a late-inning comeback to defeat EMU by one run, 7-6.
Hopkins picked up where he left off in game one at the plate, adding an additional two hits to his already impressive outing. The Mason, Ohio native finished the day with a team-best five knocks. Junior college transfer Christian Bault (Maineville, Ohio-Bishop Fenwick (Lincoln Trail)) also had a pair of hits, building on his one-knock performance in game one.
Sophomore Justin Meis (Pittsburgh, Pa.-Bethel Park), last year's team innings leader, made his first start of the season for the Green and White. The Steele City slinger tossed six innings and racked-up 10 strikeouts in his 2020 debut, a no decision.
Game two featured a much slower pace through its first four innings, as just four runs were scored between the two teams. EMU was kept off the board until the third, when it tacked three runs on the Governors. Kauffman started the momentum with an infield single, before Timko found a gap through the left side. Although he did not record a hit, Hopkins helped EMU to score in its next at-bat as he put the ball in play, which led to an APSU throwing error. EMU took advantage as Kauffman and Timko were both able to score to give EMU a 2-1 advantage. With runners now on first and second, it was Bault who came up clutch, knocking a single and extending EMU's lead, 3-1.
Although Eastern seemed to have control of the game, Austin Peay was able to string together a pair of productive offensive innings in the seventh and eighth, respectively. Up, 6-3, at stretch time, EMU gave up a pair of runs in the bottom half of the next two frames, falling behind, 7-6, with one at-bat remaining. Freshman pitcher Cameron Wagoner (Tecumseh, Mich.-Tecumseh) got his first taste of collegiate baseball during the eighth inning, and although he was able to record two strikeouts, ultimately suffered the loss.
Although Bault knocked a two-out single to keep Eastern alive in the ninth, the Eagles ultimately went down with three looking strikeouts, failing to advance Bault and suffering their first setback of the season in the doubleheader's evening nightcap, 7-6.
Ohio 6, North Alabama 4 -- Boxscore
North Alabama 6, Ohio 3 -- Boxscore
FLORENCE, Ala. – The Ohio baseball team (2-1) split a Saturday doubleheader with North Alabama (1-2) at Mike Lane Field. Ohio won the first game, 6-4, and lost the second game, 6-3. Both games were played in seven innings.
GAME ONE
Redshirt sophomore RHP Jack Liberatore (Greensburg, Pa.) grabbed his first win of the season after tossing 5.0 innings. Liberatore fanned three batters and allowed just three runners to get on base while allowing one earned run to score.
After getting the win yesterday, senior LHP Nick Byrnes (Cincinnati, Ohio) earned his first save of the season for Ohio after tossing 1.2 innings of shutout baseball. Byrnes fanned one batter and allowed just one hit.
At the plate, Ohio was led by redshirt sophomore INF Michael Richardson (Cambridge, Md.), who went 2-for-4 with two RBI and two singles.
Junior INF Aaron Levy (Cincinnati, Ohio) also drove in two RBI after going 1-for-3 with a single that scored two runs in the top of the first inning.
Senior INF Trevor Hafner (Perrysburg, Ohio) had one RBI on a sacrifice fly.
Junior OF Isaiah Peterson (Lincoln, Neb.) scored twice and was 2-for-3 with a double. Redshirt sophomore Spencer Harbert (Middletown, Del.) scored two runs and was 1-for-3 with a single and a walk.
As a team, Ohio had six hits, one double and reached on a walk five times.
OU jumped out to a 2-0 lead in the top of the first inning when Levy had a single that scored both Harbert and junior OF Sebastian Fabik (Lebanon, Ohio).
Ohio took a 3-0 lead in the top of the second with a Richardson single that scored Peterson. Ohio went up 4-0 in the frame when redshirt junior INF Joe Weisenseel (Strongsville, Ohio) scored on a wild pitch.
North Alabama got on the board in the bottom of the third inning with a sacrifice fly.
A sacrifice fly for Ohio in the fifth inning that scored Harbert put Ohio up 5-1. Ohio was able to push its advantage to 6-1 in the sixth inning with a Richardson single that scored Peterson.
North Alabama added three runs in the bottom half of the sixth inning but Byrnes came in and shut the door for his first save of the season.
GAME TWO
Redshirt junior C Devonte Washington (Twinsburg, Ohio) hit his first career home run in the second inning. Washington finished the day 2-for-2 with two RBI, a home run and a walk.
Lukkes drove in one RBI and was 1-for-3 with his firstdouble of the year.
Sophomore RHP Collin Sells (Lancaster, Ohio) fell to 0-1 after his first start of the season. Sells pitched 3.2 innings and allowed four earned runs while striking out two batters. Junior LHP Alex Kuster (Lake Orion, Mich.) tossed 1.1 innings without giving up an earned run while freshman RHP Parker Maddox (Columbus, Ind.) threw one scoreless inning.
North Alabama took a two-run lead after a Brad Kiefer double in the first inning.
Ohio grabbed the lead in the second inning. A Lukkes double scored Hafner to cut the UNA advantage to 2-1. Ohio took the lead after Washington hit a two-run home run over the left field fence that scored Lukkes.
UNA tied the game in the bottom half of the inning on a groundout to the second baseman.
The Lions took the lead on a Kiefer single in the fourth inning, giving him his second RBI of the afternoon.
The Lions added to their lead in the fourth to go up 6-3 after a sacrifice fly and a single scored two.
