Murray State
Southeast Missouri State
'Breds swept in OVC opener
3/27/2004 12:00:00 AM | Baseball
Clint Griggs went 4-for-7 with a home run, a double and three runs scored, but the Murray State Thoroughbreds were swept in their Ohio Valley Conference-opening series by homestanding Southeast Missouri 19-5 and 6-2.
In the second game of the twinbill, Murray State (5-16, 0-2 OVC) fell victim to the longball, as SEMO (10-11, 2-0 OVC) used a three-run home run in the third inning and a two-run pop in the sixth to ensure the win.
As they did in the first game, the 'Breds jumped on the scoreboard first in Game 2, as center fielder Tyler Pittman led off the second inning with a triple and scored on a single by right fielder Scotty Scott to go ahead 1-0.
In the bottom half of the inning, the Indians responded when Freddy Lopez led off with a single, moved to second on a single by Brent Lawson, went to third on a single by Gary Gilbert and scored on Bo Jenkins' sacrifice fly to tie the score at 1-1.
Lopez turned on the first pitch he faced in the third inning, popping a three-run home run to break up the tie and give SEMO a 4-1 lead.
Murray State responded in the top of the fourth when second baseman Seth Hudson hit a one-out single, then designated hitter Clint Griggs was hit by a pitch. Third baseman James Akin slapped a single to right, scoring Hudson and closing the margin to 4-2.
In the bottom of the sixth, Frankie Montiel lifted a two-out, two-run homer for the Indians for the final scoring of the game at 6-2.
Akin led the MSU offense with a 3-for-4 game, driving in a run. Pittman went 2-for-4 with a triple and a run scored.
Lopez, Montiel, Eric Horstman and Brady Noll each had two hits for Southeast Missouri.
On the mound, MSU's Billy Fares (2-2) pitched well exceot for the two home runs allowed, with six runs on 11 hits, striking out six and walking one in going the distance in six innings.
Mike Fitch (1-2) got the win, allowing two runs on nine hits, striking out three and walking one in four-plus innings. Brad Smith came on in the fifth, getting his third save of the season, allowing no runs on one hit, striking out three and walking none in three innings.
In the first game, Southeast Missouri took advantage of Murray State miscues, scoring 10 unearned runs in an 11-run first inning in the Indians' 19-5 win.
Third baseman Clint Griggs went 3-for-5 for the 'Breds, getting a double, a solo home run in the third inning (his first as a Thoroughbred), scoring three runs and driving in one. First baseman Geoff Kirksey popped a solo home run in the first inning to put MSU ahead 2-0, his fourth home run of the season.
On the mound, Craig Kraus (0-4) took the loss, allowing 11 runs (one earned) on eight hits, walking one in two-thirds of an inning. Charlie Wade came on in the first, allowing eight runs (five earned) on 10 hits, striking out five and walking two in 5-1/3 innings. Jake Ociesa closed out the game, allowing one hit, striking out three and walking three in two innings.
Anthony Maupin (3-2) got the win for SEMO, allowing four runs on six hits, striking out four in six innings.
Murray State closes out this series tomorrow (Sunday) at 1 p.m. at Capaha Park in Cape Girardeau. The game can be heard locally on WRKY (1130 AM, Murray).
