Murray State
Arkansas - Little Rock
'Breds sweep UALR twinbill, 3-2 and 8-4
3/21/2004 12:00:00 AM | Baseball
The Murray State Thoroughbreds swept its double-header this afternoon against Arkansas-Little Rock, taking the first game 3-2 and the second game 8-4 at Reagan Field.
In the first game, a two-run home run by first baseman Geoff Kirksey in the third inning was the difference, as the 'Breds took Game 1 of the twinbill 3-2.
Murray State (4-14) scored first, as third baseman Clint Griggs led off the first inning with a walk, and a single by shortstop Alex Stewart moved Griggs to third. Griggs scored on a double play, giving MSU a 1-0 lead.
UALR (6-10) countered in the third inning when Matt Spatafora hit a one-out single, then went to third when Chris Becker reached on a fielder's error. Spatafora scored on a groundout, tying the game at 1-1.
In the bottom half of the inning, Griggs drew a one-out walk, then scored on the two-out homer by Kirksey, who took an 0-1 pitch down the right-field line and out of the park to put MSU ahead 3-1.
In the eighth inning, the Trojans cut the lead in half when Becker hit a one-out single and Chad McKellar walked. McKellar scored on an attempted double play, cutting the 'Breds' lead to 3-2.
Murray State left the bases loaded in the eighth inning, but got UALR out in the ninth to preserve the win.
Kirksey and Stewart each went 2-for-4 for Murray State, with Kirksey getting two runs batted in and Griggs scoring twice.
For UALR, Jimmy Scott had a double.
On the mound, Billy Fares (2-1) got the win, allowing one unearned run on six hits, striking out eight and walking one in seven innings. West Harris came on in the eighth to claim Murray State's first save of the season, allowing one unearned run on one hit, striking out four and walking one in two innings.
For UALR, Kenny Geiersbach (2-3) took the loss, allowing three runs on six hits, striking out seven and walking three in seven innings. Scott Yant came on in the eighth, but was hit by a comebacker by his first batter and had to leave the game after throwing to two batters, allowing two hits. Travis Trammell closed out the game, allowing no runs on no hits, striking out one and walking one in one inning.
In the second game, Murray State took advantage of three Trojan errors in the third inning, scoring seven runs on five hits to claim the 8-4 win.
Again, the 'Breds scored in the first inning when Stewart laced a one-out double down the left-field line and scored on an error to give MSU an early 1-0 lead.
In the top of the third, Arkansas-Little Rock took a lead when Justin Bennett led off with a double, then moved to third on a sacrifice bunt. Becker slapped a two-out single to score Bennett, then moved to third on a single by McKellar. becker scored on a wild pitch to give UALR a 2-1 lead.
In the bottom half of the inning, left fielder Austin Swain led off with a single, then moved to second on a single by Stewart. Kirksey attempted a sacrifice bunt, but was safe on a throwing error to load the bases. Swain scored on a groundout, then third baseman James Akin got an infield single to score Stewart and Kirksey to put MSU ahead 4-2.
Akin took second on a balk, then went to third when catcher Bo Baxter reached on an error. First baseman Josh Foreman singled in Akin, then second baseman Seth Hudson reached on an error, moving Baxter to third and Foreman to second.
Swain singled in Baxter and Foreman, moving Hudson to third, and Hudson scored on a balk to give the 'Breds an 8-2 lead after three innings.
Arkansas-Little Rock challenged in the sixth inning when J.J. Yant singled to shortstop, then went to third on a double by Joe Petrino. Bennett drew a one-out walk to load the bases, then Mico Cuen singled in Yant. Spatafora drew a bases-loaded walk to cut the lead to 8-4, but that would be as close as UALR could get.
Stewart and Swain each got two hits for Murray State, with Stewart getting a double and two runs scored, while Swain had two runs batted in.Akin also drove in two runs for the 'Breds.
For UALR, J.J. Yant went 2-for-3, while Petrino and Bennett each had doubles.
On the mound, Jon Ross Shelton (2-2) got the win, allowing four runs on eight hits, striking out nine and walking five in 5-1/3 innings. Bart Peach picked up his first save of the season, allowing no runs on no hits, striking out two and walking one in 1-2/3 innings.
For UALR, Brad Cherry (1-3) picked up the loss, allowing eight runs (one earned) on six hits, striking out four and walking two in five innings. Oscar Marin pitched the sixth inning, allowing no runs on no hits, striking out one in one inning.
"Our guys fought and battled today," said MSU head coach Rob McDonald. "We have been due for this kind of day. I've been saying when you hit line drives at people, it evens out with the cheap hits. We got several breaks today and had a couple of big hits, too. Our guys stepped in and did a good job of hitting.
"Our pitchers really did a good job; these were two well-pitched games. UALR is a dangerous-looking offensive club, and our pitchers did a good job getting ahead and working some good pitches."
Murray State concludes this four-game homestand on Wednesday when the 'Breds welcome regional rival Western Kentucky for a 2 p.m. game at Reagan Field. MSU then opens its Ohio Valley Conference schedule on Saturday at Southeast Missouri.
