Murray State
Alabama-Birmingham
'Breds pound out three home runs, but UAB scores 11 quick runs in 15-8 win
2/20/2004 12:00:00 AM | Baseball
The Murray State Thoroughbreds opened their 2004 season in fine fashion, with first baseman Geoff Kirksey popping a solo home run in the first inning and the 'Breds plating two more runs in the second inning to take an early 3-0 lead. Host Alabama-Birmingham responded with four unanswered runs over the fourth and fifth innings and 11 runs over the sixth and seventh innings to forge the 15-8 win.
Kirksey got the 'Breds on the board with a two-out solo shot in the first inning. In the second, second baseman Derrick Newton led off with a double to left, but was caught in a rundown when catcher Dustin Hennigar grounded to short. Hennigar moved to second on a passed ball, then took third on a wild pitch.
Third baseman James Akin then walked, and designated hitter Ike Bridwell hit a sacrifice fly to center to score Hennigar. Akin stole second base, and left fielder J.D. Merritt doubled him in to give the 'Breds a 3-0 lead after two innings.
In the fourth, Alabama-Birmingham (2-0) responded with two runs when former Tennessee Tech standout Cole Helms led off with a single and Matt Womble walked. Ben McCullars singled in Helms to put UAB on the board. Womble went to third on a sacrifice bunt, then scored on a sac fly from Sam Clark to cut the MSU lead to 3-2.
In the fifth inning, the Blazers scored two more, as Dan Stucky led off with a single, then moved to second on a single by Daniel Hill. Jon Ross Shelton then came in to relieve MSU starter Craig Kraus.
Both UAB runners moved up a base on a passed ball, then Stucky scored the tying run when Nathan McCorkle reached on an unsuccessful fielder's choice. Hill moved to third on that play, the put UAB ahead when Womble reached on a fielder's error, giving the Blazers a 4-3 lead after five innings.
Murray State re-tied the game when Hennigar popped a one-out solo home run in the sixth inning to knot the game at 4-4, but UAB responded with six runs in the bottom half of the inning on four hits and two errors. Hill hit a three-run home run to bolster the Blazer cause and help UAB to a 10-4 lead after six.
MSU kept at it with two runs in the seventh. Shortstop Alex Stewart hit a two-out single up the middle, then Newton stepped up and blasted a two-run homer to right to pull the 'Breds to within 10-6.
In the bottom half of the inning, the Blazers scored five runs on two hits, three walks and an error, using a three-run shot by Womble to take a 15-6 lead after seven innings.
The 'Breds refused to go down quietly in the eighth, as right fielder Clint Griggs drew a one-out walk, then center fielder Tyler Pittman singled through the right side, moving Griggs to third, scoring on the Kirksey sac fly. Pittman took second on a wild pitch, then scored on a fielder's error to close out the scoring at 15-8.
"We got off to a good start, with a home run in the first inning and two more," said MSU head coach Rob McDonald. "Things really looked good. The wind was really howling out to right-center, so we needed it to be an offensive night, and it was.
"We hit the ball well at times. We ran the bases aggressively, and we made some really good plays in the field. We did have four errors, but two of those came from the mound. We did not pitch as well as our guys will pitch later this year. They pitched behind in the count a lot, and that makes the opposing hitters do better. We walked six batters and hit two, and of those eight, six scored.
"We played hard and fought hard," McDonald said. "I'm proud of the way we continued to battle the entire game."
Murray State was led by Newton, who went 2-for-5 with a double, a home run, one run scored and two runs batted in; Hennigar, who went 2-for-4 with a home run, two runs scored and two RBIs; Merritt, who went 2-for-3 with a double and an RBI; and Pittman, who went 2-for-5 with a run scored. Kirksey hit a home run for the 'Breds and had two RBIs.
Shelton (0-1) took the loss in relief, allowing six runs (five earned) on four hits, striking out two and walking two in the fifth inning. Kraus started the game and allowed four runs (three earned) on seven hits, walking one in four innings. Jesse Rhoades came on in the sixth, allowing five runs on two hits, striking out two and walking three in 1-2/3 innings, while Chandler Shepherd closed out the game, allowing no runs on no hits in 1-1/3 innings.
Six Blazers popped two hits each, led by Womble, who went 2-for-3 with a home run, two runs scored and four RBIs, and Hill, who went 2-for-3 with a home run, two runs and four RBIs.
Griffin Zambrough (1-0) got the win for UAB, allowing three runs (two earned) on four hits, striking out five and walking four in five innings. Ryan Huffman came on in the sixth inning, allowing three runs on six hits, striking out three and walking one in two innings. Eric Roberts closed out the game, allowing two runs (one earned) on one hit, striking out one and walking one in two innings.
These same teams face each other again tomorrow (Saturday) at 2 p.m.
