Murray State
Evansville
'Breds break through in middle innings, use six-run eighth to deal Aces 13-6 loss
3/31/2004 12:00:00 AM | Baseball
The Murray State Thoroughbreds trailed 4-3 after four innings, but outscored host Evansville 4-0 over the fifth and sixth innings to take the lead. A six-run eighth inning kept the Purple Aces at bay as MSU brought home the 13-6 win, its fifth in its last seven games.
Shortstop Alex Stewart -- a native of Evansville -- played in his first game after missing the last four with a sore Achilles tendon, but made it a homecoming to remember with a three-run home run in the eighth.
Murray State (7-16) got on the scoreboard first in the third inning when left fielder Clint Griggs drew a one-out walk and Stewart also walked. Designated hitter Geoff Kirksey popped a double to left to score Griggs and Stewart and give MSU a 2-0 lead.
Griggs has reached base in all 22 games he has played thus far.
Evansville (14-9) countered in the bottom half of the inning when Eric Jones drew a two-out walk and stole second. Kyle Smith singled him in to cut the 'Breds lead to 2-1.
Murray State scored in the fourth inning when catcher Dustin Hennigar slapped a two-out solo home run to right -- his second of the season -- to push MSU to a 3-1 lead.
Evansville came roaring back in the bottom of the fourth when Eric Lis led off with an infield single and Jeff Fontaine drew a one-out walk. Pat Tumilty hit a home run to right, giving the Purple Aces a 4-3 lead.
The 'Breds took the lead for good in the fifth inning when Kirksey led off with a single and moved to third on a double by center fielder Tyler Pittman. Kirksey scored and Pittman moved to third on a balk, then third baseman James Akin scored Pittman with a single, giving MSU a 5-4 lead.
Sophomore hurler Chandler Shepherd came on in the fifth for starter and Evansville native Bart Peach and held Evansville well, giving up only a leadoff single in the fifth.
In the sixth inning, Murray State plated two more runs when Griggs hit a one-out single, then Stewart doubled him to third. Griggs scored and Stewart went to third on a wild pitch. Kirksey drew a walk and right fielder Scotty Scott hit a two-out infield single that scored Stewart and gave MSU a 7-4 lead.
Shepherd retired the side in the sixth inning to help the 'Bred maintain their lead.
In the bottom of the seventh inning, Evansville got a run back when Ryan Barrett was hit by a pitch and Jones walked. Both runners advanced on a wild pitch and Mike Serafini drew a one-out walk to load the bases. West Harris came on in relief of Shepherd and threw a wild pitch that scored Barrett, but then settled in and struck out two of the next three batters to end the inning and keep MSU's 7-5 lead.
In the top of the eighth, Murray State scored six unearned runs when Pittman reached on a fielding error and Scott singled him to third. First baseman Josh Foreman doubled in Pittman, then a Hennigar sacrifice fly scored Scott and moved Foreman to third. Second baseman Derrick Newton reached on a fielding error that scored Foreman, then Stewart stepped up and sent a 1-1 pitch over the wall in right field to cap MSU's scoring and give the 'Breds a 13-5 lead.
Evansville scored a run in the eighth when Kyle Smith singled in Ryan Daywalt, but that would not be enough, as Murray State took the 13-6 win.
Kirksey went 3-for-5 to lead the 'Breds at the plate, getting a double, a run scored and two runs batted in. Stewart went 2-for-5 with a double, a home run (his second of the season), three runs and three RBIs. Scott went 2-for-5 with a run and an RBI.
Griggs scored three runs for MSU, while Pittman scored twice. Hennigar had two RBIs. Pittman, Foreman and Seth Hudson each doubled for the 'Breds.
Griggs, Kirksey, Pittman and Stewart each extended their hitting streaks to a team-high five games tonight.
Evansville was paced by Kyle Smith, who went 4-for-5 with two RBIs. Cody Strait went 2-for-4. Tumilty had three RBIs with a home run for the Purple Aces.
On the mound, Shepherd (2-1) got the win in relief, allowing one run on one hit, striking out three and walking two in 2-1/3 innings. Peach started the game, allowing four runs on five hits, striking out two and walking three in four innings. Harris allowed one run on one hit, striking out four and walking three in 1-2/3 innings, while Billy Fares pitched the ninth inning, allowing no runs on two hits, striking out one.
Evansville threw seven pitchers in the game, with Matt Brinkman (0-1) taking the loss, allowing three runs on five hits, striking out four and walking two in 1-2/3 innings.
Murray State (1-2 OVC) returns home to its Ohio Valley Conference schedule when it hosts Eastern Illinois (4-17, 1-2 OVC) in a three-game series this weekend. The teams will play a double-header on Saturday at noon, then close out the series with a Sunday 1 p.m. game at Reagan Field.
