Murray State
Western Kentucky
'Breds beat Hilltoppers 13-11, third straight win going into OVC play
3/24/2004 12:00:00 AM | Baseball
The Murray State Thoroughbreds extended their win streak to three going into its Ohio Valley Conference opener at SEMO this weekend, beating Western Kentucky today 13-11 at Reagan Field.
Murray State (5-14) last beat Western Kentucky on April 10, 1980, sweeping a double-header in Bowling Green. MSU's last home win over the Hilltoppers (13-12) came on April 29, 1979, at the original Reagan Field site where MSU's Industry and Technology Building is now located.
Those earlier wins came when Western Kentucky was a member of the Ohio Valley Conference. Since WKU left the OVC in 1982, the 'Breds have played the Hilltoppers only nine times, with no meetings coming between 1982 and 1996. WKU had won the previous 13 meetings against Murray State.
In today's game, the 'Breds jumped on the Hilltoppers early, scoring all 13 of their runs and smacking 15 of their 17 hits in the first five innings. Western Kentucky pitchers held Murray State to two hits over the last four innings, but the 'Breds had done their damage early. The 13 runs and 17 hits are season-highs for MSU.
Murray State got on the scoreboard in the bottom of the first inning when third baseman Clint Griggs led off with a walk, went to second on a groundout, went to third on a wild pitch and scored on a groundout.
Western Kentucky took a brief lead in the top of the second when the 'Toppers took advantage of two hit batters. Jordan Newton hit a three-run home run to put WKU ahead 3-1.
In the bottom half of the second, the 'Breds' bats came alive, as MSU scored five runs on seven hits, capped by a two-RBI single by first baseman Geoff Kirksey.
Murray State scored three more runs in the third inning when second baseman Seth Hudson led off with a double and catcher Dustin Hennigar walked. Left fielder Austin Swain singled through the left side to score Hudson and move Hennigar to third. Swain took second on a wild pitch, then Griggs singled in Hennigar and Swain to give the 'Breds a 9-3 lead.
In the fourth inning, WKU scored a run, while Murray State plated two. The Hilltoppers scored twice in the fifth inning, but MSU countered with two runs of their own to take a 13-6 lead after five.
Western Kentucky refused to go quietly, scoring a run in the sixth inning, three in the seventh and one in the eighth to narrow the margin to 13-11 after eight innings. WKU pitcher Greg Durr retired the side in the bottom of the eighth, but 'Breds pitcher Billy Fares did the same in the top of the ninth to earn his first save of the season.
"This was a really big win for us," said MSU head coach Rob McDonald. "Our guys played well, with a lot of confidence. I feel like we've got a little bit of a roll going into conference play. To play that way without (starting shortstop) Alex Stewart is a really good thing for our kids."
Stewart had a strained Achilles tendon and was rested in preparation for the 'Breds' series at Southeast Missouri this weekend.
Swain went 3-for-4 -- getting hits in his first three at-bats -- claiming a double, scoring two runs and driving in three. Hudson went 3-for-5 with two doubles, two runs and a run batted in.
Center fielder Tyler Pittman went 2-for-5 with a triple, a run and two RBIs, while shortstop Derrick Newton went 2-for-5 with a double and two runs scored. Griggs went 2-for-4 with two runs and three RBIs, while right fielder Scotty Scott went 2-for-5 with a run and Kirksey went 2-for-4 with a run and two RBIs.
For WKU, Marcus Ross went 2-for-3 with three runs and an RBI, while Matt Gunning went 2-for-5 with a run and an RBI. Jordan Newton and Tim Grogan each homered for the Hilltoppers, while Judd Robertson got a double. Grogan and Matt Johnston scored twice, while Jordan Newton had four RBIs and Grogan had two RBIs for Western Kentucky.
On the mound, Chandler Shepherd (1-1) got the win in relief, allowing three runs (two earned) on two hits, striking out two and walking one in 2-2/3 innings. Jesse Rhoades started for Murray State, allowing four runs on two hits, striking out two and walking three in 3-1/3 innings. West Harris came on in the seventh, allowing three runs on three hits, walking one in one inning, while Craig Kraus pitched the eighth inning, allowing one run on two hits, striking out one and walking one in one inning. Billy Fares pitched the ninth, allowing no runs on no hits, facing the minimum three batters for the save.
For Western Kentucky, Brett Korth (1-2) took the loss, allowing six runs on five hits, walking two in 1-1/3 innings. Kenny Griffin came on in the second, allowing three runs on six hits, striking out one and walking one in two-thirds of an inning. James Mantzanis came on in the third, allowing four runs on four hits, striking out one and walking one in 2-1/3 innings, while Ryan Landrum came on in the sixth, allowing no runs on one hit in 1-2/3 innings. Durr closed out the game, allowing no runs on one hit, striking out two in two innings.
Murray State will open its Ohio Valley Conference schedule on Saturday with a 1 p.m. double-header at Southeast Missouri. The three-game league series will conclude on Sunday with a 1 p.m. game.
