Murray State
Morehead State
'Breds get Game 1 over Morehead 9-8,but fall in latter game of twinbill 4-2
4/17/2004 12:00:00 AM | Baseball
The Murray State Thoroughbreds frittered an 8-3 lead, allowing visiting Morehead State to come back and tie the game at 8-8 in the eighth inning of the first game of an Ohio Valley Conference double-header. The 'Breds rebounded with a run in the bottom of the eighth to take Game 1 9-8. Murray State fought well in the second game today, but fell 4-2.
In the first game, Morehead State (10-21, 4-7 OVC) scored first, plating a run in the top of the third inning, but Murray State (9-24, 3-8 OVC) answered with three runs in the bottom of the inning.
Left fielder Austin Swain led off the inning with a walk, then went to third on a single by third baseman Clint Griggs. Swain scored on a sacrifice fly by center fielder Tyler Pittman to tie the game at 1-1. Shortstop Alex Stewart reached on a fielder's error, then right fielder Scotty Scott singled, scoring Griggs and moving Stewart to third. Stewart scored on a groundout to give Murray State a 3-1 lead.
The Eagles tied the game in the fifth inning, but the 'Breds went ahead for good in the sixth, when Scott was hit by a pitch, went to second on a passed ball, then scored on a triple by first baseman Josh Foreman to put Murray State ahead 4-3.
The 'Breds scored four runs in the seventh when Swain led off with a single, the Griggs doubled him to third. Swain scored on a groundout, moving Griggs to third, and Stewart doubled Griggs in. Scott hit a single to right, scoring Stewart, then moved to second on a failed pickoff attempt. Scott stole third, then scored when the throw to third sailed high, giving Murray State an 8-3 lead.
In the eighth inning, Morehead State scored five runs (one earned) with the help of five hits and one 'Breds error to tie the game at 8-8, but Murray State answered in the bottom half of the inning when pinch-hitter Jamie Leidolf led off with a single, went to third on a throwing error, then scored during a double play for the game-winning run.
Murray State was led by Griggs, who went 3-for-5 with a double and two runs scored. Scott had two hits with two runs scored and two runs batted in. Stewart had a double and two runs for the 'Breds, while Foreman had a triple. Pittman had two RBIs, while Swain scored twice.
Morehead State was paced by Robert Dittrich and Travis Rima, who had two hits apiece for the Eagles. Matt Morris had three RBIs, while Lance Seasor and Patrick Lager had two apiece. Lager hit a two-run home run in the third inning, while Morris had a three-run blow in the eighth.
On the mound, Craig Kraus (1-5) got the win in relief, allowing one run on four hits in 1-1/3 innings. Starter Jon Ross Shelton pitched well, allowing seven runs (three earned) on five hits, striking out seven and walking three in 7-2/3 innings.
For Morehead State, Casey Campbell (2-5) took the loss in relief, allowing two runs (none earned) on two hits, striking out one in 1-2/3 innings. Starter Chad Parsons allowed seven runs (five earned) on seven hits, striking out four and walking one in 6-1/3 innings.
GAME 2
In the second game, runs came at a premium, as Morehead State took a 4-0 lead after four innings. Murray State rebounded with two runs in the fifth inning, but couldn't get any more.
In the fifth inning, Swain hit a one-out bunt single, then Griggs was hit by a pitch. Both runners advanced on a balk, then Pittman singled in Swain. Stewart hit a sacrifice fly to plate Griggs, but the scoring ended there.
In the bottom of the seventh inning, Griggs hit a two-out single and Pittman walked, bringing up Stewart, but he was called out on strikes to end the game.
Murray State was led by Pittman, who went 3-for-3 with an RBI.
Morehead State had seven batters with one hit each. Dittrich, Rima and Lager tripled and Matt Morris hit a double for the Eagles, while Dittrich scored twice.
On the mound, Billy Fares (2-5) took the loss, allowing four runs on five hits, striking out two and walking two in four innings. West Harris came on in the fifth, allowing no runs on two hits, striking out two and walking one in three innings.
Adrian Duran (3-5) got the complete-game win, allowing two runs on seven hits, striking out seven and walking two in seven innings.
"Our first game was a good college game," said Murray State head coach Rob McDonald. "We got up, they got back in it, and we came back and won it. It was a good game on both sides.
"In the second game, they had some opportune hits, but our kids battled back and put us in a position to where I was feeling good. Our guys gave it a good battle -- they fought back -- but we just didn't get it."
The teams will meet for the rubber game of the three-game series tomorrow (Sunday) at 1 p.m. at Reagan Field. That game can be heard locally on WRKY (1130 AM, Murray).
