Murray State
Eastern Illinois
'Breds swept by EIU in OVC twinbill
4/3/2004 12:00:00 AM | Baseball
The Murray State Thoroughbreds fell victim to the big inning in today's double-header against Ohio Valley Conference rival Eastern Illinois, ceding six-run innings in each of the games, falling 11-5 in the first game and 17-6 in the second.
In the first game, Murray State (7-18, 1-4 OVC) trailed 2-0 in the bottom of the second inning when center fielder Tyler Pittman slapped a one-out double to center and left fielder J.D. Merrit singled him to third. Pittman scored on a wild pitch, with Merritt moving to second, and Merrit reached third on another wild pitch. A double by first baseman Josh Foreman scored Merritt to tie the game at 2-2.
Eastern Illinois (6-17, 3-2 OVC) led 5-2 after six innings when they popped the 'Breds for six runs in the seventh inning to break the game open.
MSU scored three runs in the eighth inning when Pittman led off with an infield single and Merritt doubled him to third. Catcher Dustin Hennigar walked to load the bases, and Foreman walked to score Pittman. Second baseman Seth Hudson walked in Merritt, and a groundout by Griggs plated Hennigar to cut the EIU lead to 11-5, but that was where the scoring ended.
Murray State was led by Pittman and Merritt, who each had three hits, a double and two runs scored. Foreman went 2-for-2 with a double and two runs batted in.
EIU was paced by Kyle Haines, who went 2-for-4 with a triple, a home run, one run scored and four RBIs, while Jason Cobb and Mark Chagnon each had two hits. Cobb, Pete Stone and David Chacon each had two runs for the Panthers, while Chris Uhle had three RBIs.
On the mound, Jesse Rhoades (0-1) took the loss, allowing four runs on six hits, striking out three and walking five in four innings. Chandler Shepherd came on in the fifth, allowing four runs (three earned) on one hit, striking out one and walking five in 2-1/3 innings, while Charlie Wade closed out the game, allowing three runs (two earned) on two hits, striking out two and walking three in 2-2/3 innings.
For EIU, Kirk Miller (2-3) got the win, allowing five runs on nine hits, striking out three and walking eight in seven-plus innings. Brian Long closed out the game, allowing no runs on no hits, striking out one and walking one in two innings.
In the second game, the Panthers outscored Murray State 13-3 over the last four innings to forge the 17-6 win.
Trailing 1-0 in the bottom of the second inning, Murray State took the lead when first baseman Geoff Kirksey led off with a single, then Pittman followed with a single. Merritt hit a sacrifice bunt to move the runners one base, then second baseman Derrick Newton drove them in with a single through the right side to give MSU a 2-1 lead.
Eastern Illinois scored three runs in the top of the third, but Murray State got one back when third baseman James Akin hit a one-out single, went to third on a double by shortstop Alex Stewart, then scored on a groundout to cut the EIU lead to 4-3.
The Panthers plated four runs in the fourth inning to take an 8-3 lead, but MSU fought back, as Merritt scored on a single by pinch-hitter Jamie Leidolf in the fourth inning, then left fielder Austin Swain scored on a single by Kirksey in the fifth inning to cut the Panther lead to 8-5.
EIU scored three times in the sixth inning before pounding out six runs in the seventh to put the game away.
Murray State was led by Swain and Kirksey, who each had two hits in the game. Kirksey and Newton each had two RBIs for the 'Breds.
EIU was paced by Haines and Jackson, who each had three hits. Haines scored four runs, while Jackson had three RBIs. Kevin Carkeek went 2-for-5 with four RBIs.
On the mound, Billy Fares (2-3) took the loss, allowing 11 runs (10 earned) on 11 hits, striking out two and walking two in five-plus innings. West Harris came on in the sixth, allowing no runs on two hits, striking out two in one inning. Jack Ociesa entered in the seventh, allowing five runs on two hits, walking two, and Pittman closed out the game, allowing one run on two hits, striking out three in one inning.
Kyle Widegren (2-4) went the distance for EIU, allowing six runs on 10 hits, striking out six and walking none in seven innings.
Murray State faces Eastern Illinois in the series-closing game tomorrow (Sunday) at 1 p.m. CDT at Reagan Field.
