C’est Magnifique: Émilien Pitre Shines in Kentucky Victory
Émilien Pitre tied his career-high with three hits, blasted the first Big Blue Bomb of his collegiate career and scored the game-winning run in a 6-2 Kentucky victory over Murray State on Tuesday at Kentucky Proud Park. UK now has won six in a row. Infielder Hunter Gilliam was nearly as impressive as Pitre, rapping out three hits, including a two-run triple off the wall in left field into a stiff breeze. He also made two terrific scoop plays at first base. On the mound, sophomore Jackson Nove earned his first collegiate win with three hitless innings in relief of starter Travis Smith, who set a new high-water mark with six strikeouts. Sophomore Mason Moore earned his third save with two hitless innings.
Cardinals Roll to Sixth Straight Win
Following a big weekend in Texas, the fourth-ranked University of Louisville baseball team returned home with an 11-1 victory over Morehead State on Tuesday at Jim Patterson Stadium. Louisville (11-1) has now won six straight games after reaching double figures in runs for the fifth time in the last six games. The Cards also tallied double-digit hits for the seventh consecutive game. Seven different pitchers took the mound for the Cards, as the Louisville pitching staff held the opponent to one run or fewer for the sixth time in 12 games. Kade Grundy (2-0) won his second straight midweek start with three shutout innings. Kaleb Corbett, Patrick Forbes, Will Koger, Riley Phillips and Tucker Biven each turned in scoreless innings. The Cards matched their season high with 15 strikeouts in the win.
Hilltoppers Sweep Belmont with Run Rule; Reach Double-Digit Wins
WKU Baseball defeated the Belmont Bruins for a second time this season, winning 11-1 when the game was called after the seventh-inning due to a 10-run rule at Nick Denes Field. This marks the first Hilltopper 10-run rule since May 1,2021 when WKU beat Marshall 15-5. With the win, the Hilltoppers move to 10-4 and reach 10 wins through 14 games for just the second time since the 2016 season. RHP Cole Eigenhuis made his WKU starting debut on the bump, recording three strikeouts in 3.1 frames, while giving up one run on two hits and two walks. LHP Cam Tullar entered in the fourth inning in relief claiming two strikeout victims, while allowing just one hit in 0.2 innings. The final three innings belonged to RHP Cole Heath who earned his first collegiate win. The redshirt sophomore earned two strikeouts, while allowing no runs on just one hit. In total, the three only allowed one run on four hits and racked up seven strikeouts in the contest. Offensively, the Hilltoppers racked up 9 hits, with three Hilltoppers recording multi-hit performances. The C-USA doubles leader, Ty Crittenberger, led the way with a 2-for-3 effort with a double, two RBI, and two runs on the day, while Lukas Farris and AJ Fiechter each produced a 2-for-4 effort, combining for three RBI and two runs. Kirk Liebert also contributed with a two-out, two-RBI double with the bases loaded as well as scoring two runs of his own.
Racers Pitching Combines for 15 Strikeouts, Falls to Kentucky 6-2
Murray State pitchers Ethan Lyke, Thomas McNabb, and Ben Krizen combined for 15 strikeouts against Kentucky in a 6-2 defeat at Kentucky Proud Park in Lexington, Ky. The Racers and Wildcats played within one run of one another through seven and a half innings before UK would plate three runs in the eighth to seal the game. The Evansville, Indiana native, Lyke got the start on the rubber for MSU going 5.0 innings pitched while allowing just two earned runs to go with a career-high nine strikeouts. The freshman lefty walked just one in the strongest performance of his Murray State career. Relief pitchers McNabb and Krizen continued to impress out of the bullpen for the Racers, adding seven more strikeouts to Lyke’s total to give the Racers an imposing 15 strikeouts against the SEC foe. Krizen now carries a 1.69 ERA on the year across 9.2 innings pitched. Offensively, Brennan McCullough and Ethan Krizen led the way with an RBI-triple for McCullough and an RBI-single for Krizen. Shortstop Riley Hawthorne added the third hit for MSU while Carson Garner reached base twice, drawing two walks.
Govs break out for 10 runs to down USI
Left fielder Harrison Brown had four hits, including a home run, and APSU baseball team defeated Southern Indiana, 10-6, Tuesday night. Govs’ reliever Kyle Magrans (1-0) picked up his first win as a Governor with 1.2 innings of scoreless relief following starter Jacob Weaver. Weaver struck out seven batters in his four innings, allowing four runs on seven hits. Eight of the Govs’ nine starters recorded a hit, and APSU posted 14 hits. Harrison Brown’s 4-for-5 outing included his first home run of 2023. Second baseman Jon Jon Gazdar went 3-for-5 with two RBI. Southern Indiana third baseman Caleb Niehaus went 2-for-5 with two RBI. Left fielder Ren Tachioka was 2-for-4 with an RBI. USI starter Adam Weihe (0-2) allowed six runs on nine hits in 2.1 innings. Reliever Blake Ciuffetelli followed him and struck out seven batters over his 4.1 innings, allowing two runs.
Govs baseball series against PFW moved to Evansville, Friday-Saturday
Austin Peay State University and Purdue Fort Wayne have agreed to move the location of this weekend’s baseball series to German American Bank Field at Charles H. Braun Stadium on the University of Evansville campus. In addition to the location change, the Govs and Mastodons changed the series format to two doubleheaders, starting at 1 p.m. on Friday and Saturday. The schedule changes were made necessary due to damage sustained on Joe Maynard Field at Raymond C. Hand Park during Friday’s severe weather in Clarksville. Admission is free on both days of the series. Also, fans attending the games should be aware no concessions will be available for the weekend.
Benefiel throws no-hitter as Govs shutout Friars
Junior pitcher Jordan Benefiel pitched her first career no-hitter for Austin Peay State University’s softball team, Tuesday afternoon at Cathi Maynard Park-Cheryl Holt Field, as the Governors shutout Providence, 8-0. The no-hitter by Benefiel (5-4) is the ninth overall in program history and the first since Morgan Rackel turned the trick on February 17, 2019, versus Jackson State. Along with giving up no hits, she would finish the game with seven strikeouts, while giving up three walks. The Govs (7-7) on the other hand has no problems with their offense, as they recorded runs in each inning, while recording eight hits and five walks.
Hilltoppers Head East for First Midweek Game at EKU
WKU Softball is heading to Eastern Kentucky this Wednesday for the first midweek game of the season, at 4 pm against the Colonels, after last year’s match up was canceled due to inclement weather. The Hilltoppers lead the all-time series 14-12.