Green Has Big Hits, But SIUE Drops Close Game

NASHVILLE, Tenn. -- Belmont's William Dodd poked a two-out RBI-single into left field in the bottom of the 10th inning Saturday lifting the Bruins to 7-6 win and a series victory.

SIUE dropped to 10-15 overall and 10-5 in the Ohio Valley Conference. Belmont improved to 16-12 overall and 7-3 in the OVC.

Zach Malach (1-1) suffered the loss. Malach came into the game with a runner at first and no outs in the 10th. Belmont designated hitter Nick Egli laid down a bunt which was misplayed by Malach. Tyler Walsh then reached on a bunt single to load the bases. Joseph Stovall bounced back to the mound where Malach threw home to start a double play, leaving runners at second and third and one out for Dodd.

"When you're playing a good team you have to play well," SIUE Head Coach Tony Stoecklin said. "We're a good team too but we just didn't play well. We had two unearned runs and we had a miscue that led to another run. When you give a good team three runs at home it's going to be hard to win."

Belmont managed just three hits against Cougar starter Jarrett Bednar who tossed a season-high 5 2/3 innings. He struck out four. The Bruins came up with single runs in the first and fourth innings to take a 2-0 lead.

"He was fantastic," Stoecklin said of Bednar. "All three pitches were working. He really stifled a good-hitting team. They had swung the bats really well for about four or five games. He shut them down."

The Cougars got on the board with an unearned run in the fifth inning. Skyler Geissinger reached on an error to start the inning and then scored later in the inning on an infield hit by Denton Reed.

Chase Green tied the game with his second home run of the year to lead off the sixth inning.

The Cougars took a 6-2 lead when they scored four times on six consecutive hits to open the seventh inning.  Mario Tursi doubled and Nick Lombardo singled to drive in a run each. Green added a two-run single in the inning.

Green finished the day 4 for 5 with the three RBIs. Lombardo and Dustin Woodcock each finished with two hits.

"Chase had good at-bats," Stoecklin said. "When they made a mistake in he pulled it out of the ballpark. When they pitched him away he hit it to the right side."  

EIU Wins First Game OF Season

COOKEVILLE, Tenn. -- Matt Wivinis was masterful for Eastern Illinois on Saturday afternoon as the Panthers picked up a 14-2 win at Tennessee Tech to win the final game of the Ohio Valley Conference series.

EIU won its first game of the season improving to 1-23, 1-11 in the OVC.  TTU fell to 12-18, 6-9 in the OVC. The Panthers will open up a seven game home stand on Tuesday hosting nationally ranked Illinois at 3 p.m. at Coaches Stadium.

EIU’s offense provided Wivinis with all the offense he needed in the first inning. The Panthers scored four runs against TTU starter Travis Moths (1-3) who lasted only a third of an inning. Caleb Howell opened the scoring with an RBI double. Brant Valach followed with an RBI single. Demetre Taylor then hit the first of his two home runs with a two-run shot.  Taylor would add a three-run homer in the eighth. Taylor finished with five RBI.

Wivinis (1-5) worked 7.2 innings allowing two unearned runs. TTU scored in the fourth and seventh inning.  David Allen and Jordan Hopkins drove home the Golden Eagles runs. Hopkins was the only TTU player with multiple hits going 2-for-4.

EIU added a run in the second on a Cale Hennemann RBI single. Adam Casson had a solo homer in the fourth as he drove home four runs on the day.  Casson tacked on a two-run single in the fifth and sacrifice fly in the seventh.

The Panthers finished with 18 hits. Howell, Valach and John Devito all finished 3-for-5 at the plate.