By Mike Lehman, TTU Sports Information

MOREHEAD, Ky. – It was another historic day at the plate for the Tennessee Tech baseball team on Saturday, as the Golden Eagles closed out the 2025 regular season with a monster 26-15 victory against Morehead State at Prefontaine Park and Allen Field.

For the first time in program history, the purple and gold (37-19, 18-9) dropped 20 or more runs on the scoreboard in back-to-back games, doubling down on its 27-11 victory on Friday. The Golden Eagles piled up 22 hits and 12 walks on the day, dominating at the dish from start to finish.

The Cookeville crew set the tone early against the Eagles (14-39, 4-23), scoring eight runs on five hits in the opening inning. Loading the bases without recording an out, Tech turned to right fielder Jorsixt Jimenez to get the fireworks started with a two-run double down the left-field line.

Second baseman Eddie Garza kept the inning rolling with an RBI single through the left side, and catcher Ryan Lee followed by drawing a base-loaded free pass for another RBI. Third baseman Jackson Rooker made it a 5-0 lead with a sacrifice fly ball to left field before first baseman Nicho Jordan drew a walk with the bases juiced for another run.

Designated hitter Mack Whitcomb, who walked earlier in the frame, plated two more for the purple and gold with a two-run single off the top of the wall in right-center field. Tech made it a 9-0 contest in the second thanks to a lead-off home run off the bat of center fielder Jackson Green, his third long ball of the weekend and sixth of the year.

Morehead fought back in the second and third frames, reversing course on the Golden Eagles with a single run in the second. The home Eagles then dropped eight runs on eight hits in the third, tying the contest at 9-9.

Tech didn’t even blink, with Whitcomb providing an instant lead for the Cookeville crew in the fourth. The sophomore slugger blasted a lead-off pump to left field, his team-leading 15^th round-tripper of the season.

Green singled to center field, stole second base, and then reached third on a throwing error. He scored later in the at-bat on a wild pitch. Two batters later, backstop Ryan Lee went bridge with a two-run dinger to center field for his sixth trot of the year. In the bottom half, Morehead got one run back on a solo home run, but Tech went back to work in the sixth.

Crafty baserunning provided a spark in the inning, with shortstop Preston Steele scoring on a wild pitch and Rooker creating chaos on the base paths. He rounded third on the wild offering, drawing a throw from the catcher and taking off for the plate, beating the ensuing throw for another run!

In the bottom of the sixth, the Eagles scored three times on a two-run long ball and an RBI single, but the Cookeville crew was far from finished. The Tech squad dropped four more runs on four hits, starting with more thievery on the base paths from Green.

The senior stole both second and third, making him a perfect 19-for-19 on the year to move into a tie for 14^th on the team’s single-season list and into a tie for ninth on Tech’s career stolen bases charts with Chad Malone (1995-98) with 39. Garza drove him in with an RBI base knock to right field.

After taking over at shortstop in the sixth, Owen Lee made his presence felt at the plate by pulverizing the first pitch he saw to right field for a three-run bomb and his ninth tater of the year. Morehead answered with a run in the seventh, but Tech dropped one final salvo in the eighth.

It was a two-out rally for the purple and gold in the frame, with Green belting his second tank of the day to right field for a two-run shot. His seventh four-bagger of the year was also his fourth in the past two games. Tech proceeded to load the bases on three straight walks to keep things rolling.

Owen Lee singled to second base to drive in two more before Smelser peppered a two-run single to shortstop. Whitcomb followed up with an RBI single to center field to round out the scoring at 26 for the day.

Whitcomb and Green each tallied four hits in the ball game, with Whitcomb driving in four runs and scoring twice, and Green plating three with five runs scored and a walk. Owen Lee, Ryan Lee, Garza, and Smelser each produced two hits while Jimenez tacked on three with a couple of RBI. Owen Lee drove in five with two runs scored while Ryan Lee plated three.

All 10 of Tech’s hitters to record an at-bat earned at least one hit while nine drew at least one walk. All 10 scored at least one run while nine drove in at least one run.

The Golden Eagles will represent the No. 3 seed at next week’s OVC Championships presented by SERVPRO at Mtn Dew Park in Marion, Ill. Tech will compete on Wednesday, May 21, with a 7:30 p.m. CT tilt against the winner between No. 6 Lindenwood and No. 7 UT Martin earlier in the day. The contest will be single elimination, with the loser headed home and the winner advancing to the double-elimination portion of the tournament.

Tickets are priced at $30 for All-Session and for a single day they are $10 for adults, $5 for children, and $5 for college students with ID. Tickets can be purchased at OVCSports.com.

File photo by Jim Dillon

CAPE GIRARDEAU, Mo. – The Lindenwood Lions women’s outdoor track and field program wrapped up their third season in the Ohio Valley Conference, ending the week’s festivities in sixth place with a total of 63 points. This ties the best finish in program history at this event as four different Lions placed in the top three of their events.

Sa’Nijah Houston claimed victorious on Saturday becoming the first Lion to be named the OVC Female Track Athlete of the Year after putting on a performance throughout the week. The two-time OVC Track Athlete of the Week finished in first during the 200 meter with a time of 24.254 barely edging the runner behind her with a time of 24.259. Chanel Honeywell also finished in fourth for the Lions with a time of 24.39.

Houston also claimed second place on Saturday in the women’s 400 meter race with a time of 53.80. She was also part of two relay teams this weekend finishing in sixth in the 4x100m with a time of 46.39 and fifth in the 4x400m with a time of 3:52.35. During the 2025 outdoor season, Houston set two Lindenwood records in the 200m (23.92) and the 400m with a time of 53.71.

Kinsey Dueker started the weekend off right for the Lions finishing in third during the Heptathlon where she set a school record with 4736 total points. She opened up the weekend on Thursday with a win in the 100m hurdles with a time of 14.49. Overall, she had five top four finishes within the seven events.

Kimberly Lugg added another top three finish to start the day on Saturday with a third place throw in the women’s discus. During her second try, Lugg tossed a third place finish throw of 46.65m. Lugg also would finish in 11th during the women’s shot put with a distance of 12.16m.

The final podium for the Lions come from Kendall Klewer in the women’s javelin. Already posting a top three distance in Lindenwood history, Klewer out threw her personal best posting a throw of 43.71m during her fifth attempt. Josey Roe finished right behind her with a toss of 43.26m ranking fourth in Lindenwood history.

Below are the final scores from the OVC Outdoor Track and Field Championships

1. Southeast Missouri State – 191

2. Little Rock – 123

3. Eastern Illinois – 92

T-4. Tennessee State – 72

T-4. SIUE – 72

6. Lindenwood – 63

7. Southern Indiana – 59

8. Tennessee Tech – 44

9. UT Martin – 38

10. Western Illinois – 37

11. Morehead State – 28

For more information on Lindenwood women’s track and field please visit lindenwoodlions.com.

LONG BEACH, Calif.—Four Long Beach State entries won five individual titles Saturday on day two of the Big West Track and Field at LBSU’s Jack Rose Track.
 
Both Beach teams finished third in the team scoring race. The men posted 127 points behind the winner, Cal Poly (186). The women charted 109.5 points; trailing UC Irvine’s winning 150.5 performance.
 
MEN
Tristyn Flores won the 100 m race by breaking his own school record. Flores ran 10.10, bettering his previous mark of 10.26. Flores doubled up in the 200m, becoming the first LBSU runner to win both events in the same meet since 2008, when Brent Gray won both. Flores ran 20.64 in the finals, the second-quickest time in school history.

Canaan Wharry was the discus winner for the Beach. His 188-7 defeated second-place Jacob Hawkins of UC Irvine by nearly six inches.

The Beach scored twice in the javelin, led by Elliott Payne, who earned All-Conference honors. He placed third, throwing 212-10. Milo Orona was eighth (182-5).  

Glen Quayle and Cyprus Rice tied for third in the pole vault as the duo both cleared 16-0 3/4.

The 4x100m relay comprised Mikey Holland, Flores, Patrick Henderson, and Moray Steward. The team earned All-Conference honors with a third-place showing, running 40.24.

Ryan Gregory ran a season-best 52.61 in the 400m hurdles to earn fourth place.

Novye’ James came in fourth in the triple jump after going 50-4 1/2.

Senior Cristian Martinez broke the 1:50 barrier for the first time in the 800, going 1:49.64 to finish fourth. Cameron Rhone lowered his personal best in the 800m to 1:50.03 to place sixth.

Levi Jones ran the sixth-fastest 1500m time in school history, 3:45.75, to finish seventh. Cameron Gill’s 3:47.16 is the eighth-fastest time in school history and earned him eighth place.

Henderson, Flores, Holland, and Vincent Jones’ 4x400m relay finished the meet in seventh place, running 3:18.81.

WOMEN

Rahni Turner won her second Big West title (2023, 2025) in the 100m hurdles as she crossed the line in a wind-aided time of 13.08 (3.2, a new personal best). She led a 1-2 in the event as Claudine Raud-Gumiel was the runner-up, running a wind-aided 13.34.

Sofia Lavreshina swept the 400m in both conference championships on Saturday. After winning the MPSF Indoor title in February, she won the 400m at the Big West meet in a time of 53.18. She later finished eighth in the 200m (23.99).

Maren Butler earned her second All-Conference certificate in as many days as she was the runner-up in the discus. Her mark of 167-4 is the fifth-longest in school history.

Trinity Barnett took third in the 100m, running 11.60. She returned in the 200m to finish fifth, going 23.74.

The 4x100m relay of Daryana Hall, Barnett, Turner, and Lavreshina ran the third fastest time in school history, 44.90, to place third and earn All-Conference accolades.

Madeline Scovil recorded the ninth-longest triple jump in school history, 39-8 3/4, to finish fifth in the competition.

The 4x400m relay of Turner, Lavreshina, Isela Ochoa, and Jaliyah Davis posted the seventh fastest time in school history, 3:43.53, to place fifth.

In the pole vault, Jonelle Scott and Grace Stoddart cleared 12-8 1/4, with Scott being awarded seventh as she made the height in fewer attempts.

Jenelle Hurley scored in the javelin, finishing eighth with a toss of 120-1.

UP NEXT

Long Beach State will await the selections to the NCAA West First Round. Texas A&M hosts the regional meet, which runs from May 28 to 31 in College Station. The main session each night will be streamed on ESPN+.

 

 
 

CAPE GIRARDEAU, Mo. – The Eastern Illinois Track and Field team concluded the 2025 Ohio Valley Conference Outdoor Track & Field Championships with a third place finish from each the men’s and women’ team. The men finished with 157 points as the women finished with 92.

Day One

The morning section featured the first portion of the heptathlon and decathlon. Sach Wolf and Zach Stout secured the fourth and sixth place spots in the decathlon as Anna Jones finished in eighth in the heptathlon.

Isabella Fabrizio continued Thursday’s effort for the Panthers, securing a bronze medal in the women’s hammer throw after recording a toss of 52.66m. This marks Fabrizio’s second medal of the calendar year, after earning a second place finish in the shot put at the OVC Indoor Championships in February.

Jacob Maxwell and Sam Bradbury also posted a strong performance in the hammer throw, as Maxwell finished fourth with a mark of 54.08m while Bradbury followed close behind in fifth with a distance of 50.06m.

The track featured more top finishes from EIU, beginning with Hallee Thomas in the 400m hurdles. Thomas finished in third place and moved on to the finals in the women’s 400m hurdles after posting a time of 1:03.24.

Daniel Lacy and Jahleel Perrin also advanced to the finals in the men’s 200m dash, as Lacy finished with the top time of 21.21. Perrin would cross the finish line in 21.85 to claim the final qualifying spot on Sunday. Kenyetietta Quinn qualified in the women’s 200m dash with a time of 24.50 to finish fifth in the prelims.

The women’s 10,000m run was the final event of the evening, where two Panthers recorded a strong finish. Mackenzie Aldridge pushed ahead late to earn a fourth place finish with a time of 37:27.87 while Kylie Haacke finished sixth after logging a time of 38:23.77.

Day Two

Nathan Kirby kicked off day two for the Panthers, securing the top time of 14.48 in the 110m hurdles prelims to move onto the finals on Saturday. Hallee Thomas followed suit in the women’s 100m hurdles, recording a time of 14:54 to slide into the final qualifying spot.

Sam Bradbury and Jacob Maxwell once again found themselves at the top of the leaderboard in another field event, this time being the discus. Bradbury earned a third-place finish with a toss of 52.85m while Maxwell finished close behind in fourth with a mark of 48.36m.

The men’s and women’s 3000m Steeplechase featured three different Panther athletes who finished in one of the top three spots on the podium. Rylea Borgic headlined the women’s section, securing a gold medal after crossing the finish line in 10:59.53. Cale Smith and Mason Stoeger manufactured success in the men’s division, earning the second and third place spots with times of 9:37.44 (Smith) and 9:39.81 (Stoeger).

Billy Bailey and Daniel Lacy got things started for the sprinters, each logging qualifying times for Sunday’s 400m dash finals. Bailey finished in seventh with a time of 48.47 as Lacy placed second after completing a lap in 47.85.

The 100m dash highlighted two panther athletes who moved on to the finals, one in the men’s division and one in the women’s. Tyler Dillion posted the third best preliminary time of 1:53.30 in the men’s section as Abby Venhaus finished fourth, crossing the finish line in 11.81.

The men’s 800m run featured two more EIU athletes who are advanced to the final heat. Tyler Dillon and Isai Morales both ran qualifying times as Dillon placed third (1:53.30) and Morales placed seventh (1:54.15) to move on to Sunday.

Friday evening’s action was interrupted by a thunderstorm beginning around 5:30pm CT before the decision was made to postpone the remaining events until Sunday morning. The remaining events from Saturday consist of the women’s discus, women’s long jump, men’s high jump finals.

Day Three

Saturday’s slate was filled with finals and championship events, beginning with the men’s high jump that was postponed from Friday evening. Elijah Skutt and Abraham Johnson found success in the event, as Johnson placed fourth reaching a height of 2.02m as Skutt finished third on the podium with a mark of 2.05m.

Abby Venhaus continued her long jump efforts from the night before, claiming the silver medal in the women’s division after jumping a distance of 5.96m. Taryn Tarquin also posted a strong performance in the sand pit, securing a silver medal in the triple jump with a distance of 12.08m.

The EIU men’s 4x100m relay team consisting of Israel Jackson, Shawn Lacy, Jahleel Perrin, and Daniel Lacy posted a strong second place finish after crossing the finish line in 40.88. The men’s 4x400m relay team also found success on the track, as Billy Bailey, Spencer Wilson, Tyler Miller, and Daniel Lacy combined for a time of 3:11.36 to claim the bronze medal.

Four additional Panther athletes finished Saturday’s action with a first place finish in their respective event.

Daniel Lacy once again found the podium, but this time in a solo event in the 400m dash. Lacy proved why his season long OVC record stood strong, earning a gold medal and a first-place finish after recording a time of 47.02. Nathan Kirby was the other Panther sprinter to earn gold in their event, logging a time of 14.30 in the men’s 110m hurdles.

Cale Smith and Isai Morales formulated the success in the distance events for EIU, as they also each earned a first-place finish in their events. Smith would go on to earn his second medal of the weekend, this time being a gold, after crossing the finish line in 3:49.95 in the men’s 1500m. Morales then posted a strong 800m time of 1:54.71 shortly after to claim the final first-place finish for the Panthers.

Final Scores

Men:

SEMO – 216.50

LR – 164.50

EIU – 157

TSU -78.50

SIUE – 59.50

UTM – 52

Women:

SEMO – 191

LR – 123

EIU – 92

SIUE – 72

TSU – 72

LU – 63

Up Next

The Panthers are set to participate in the NCAA West Regionals hosted at E.B. Cushing Stadium in College Station, Texas on May 28-31.

What started as a small grass volleyball tournament nearly two decades ago has grown into a two-weekend summer event supporting The Little Light House.

The Sandfest Volleyball Tournament is now in its 18th year, raising money for The Little Light House, a nonprofit that provides free education and therapy to children with special needs.

Creator Tracy Weldon says he came up with the idea as a way to give back to his school after his son, who has Down Syndrome, received services at the school.

With no funding from the government or United Way, The Little Light House relies entirely on private donations.

How it Started

Weldon said he originally thought the tournament would be a small event. The first year, only five teams signed up. In 2025, there are 40 teams signed up just for the Junior tournament.

“What started out as a small tournament grew into something that covers two weekends in the summer,” said Weldon.

Juniors Division Tournament in May

The juniors tournament is taking place May 17 and 18 at the Helmerich Park sand volleyball courts near 71st and Riverside. With 40 teams, the matches are spread across two days to avoid long evenings.

Weldon said the juniors competition also helps out the athletes by bridging the gap between indoor and sand volleyball seasons.

Adult Tournament Returns in August

The adult division of Sandfest takes place at the beginning of August. Weldon said teams will play quads and sixes on Saturday, and the doubles competition will be on Sunday.

Weldon said organizers will hand out and post flyers at local courts with information on how to register.

Proceeds Benefit The Little Light House

There is an entry fee for teams, but Weldon said all funds go directly to the cause. The money raised covers court rentals, supplies, and the Little Light House programs. He said organizers do not make any profit.

“As far as support for The Little Light House, I knew that the volleyball community would embrace it somewhat, but I didn’t know that it would be to this extent,” said Weldon.

Mission of the Matches

The Little Light House provides services many families would not otherwise have access to, including speech therapy and early education for children with physical and developmental disabilities.

Weldon said more players have learned about the nonprofit through Sandfest and go on to volunteer.

“Talking to some of them, I found out that it’s the most gratifying hours that they achieved,” he said.

You can find more information on how to volunteer on The Little Lighthouse website.