Murray State
Austin Peay
'Breds battle top-ranked APSU, but Governors sweep twinbill
5/8/2004 12:00:00 AM | Baseball
The Murray State Thoroughbreds were able to rough up one of the Ohio Valley Conference's best pitchers for three home runs in the second game of today's double-header at Austin Peay, but the top-ranked Governors used a potent offense and outstanding defense to halt the 'Breds, 5-1 in the first game and 7-6 in the second.
The 'Breds (14-29, 8-12 OVC) held APSU (31-15, 16-4) under its scoring average of 7.34 runs per nine innings in both games. With the sweep, Austin Peay unofficially became the first team to clinch a spot in the OVC Championship Tournament.
In the second game, both teams' starters came in with impressive numbers, but were pulled midway through the game.
Murray State freshman Tyler Pittman (1-2) came in leading the league with a 1.33 OVC earned-run average, but gave up seven runs in 3-2/3 innings.
Austin Peay's Jeff Mault (11-2) was pulled before getting an out in the fifth inning after giving up five runs in four innings.
Pittman gave way to sophomore West Harris, who had an impressive win in his last outing against Tennessee-Martin. Harris came on in the fourth with APSU threatening and not only got the last out of the inning, but retired all seven batters he faced in the game.
That freeze on the Govs' offense allowed the 'Breds bats to pick up the pace, as MSU closed to within 7-6 in the sixth inning, but could not push the score further.
Pittman went 2-for-3 with his seventh home run of the season, two runs scored and three runs batted in. First baseman Josh Foreman had two hits, including his second homer of the year, while left fielder Austin Swain had two hits, including a double. Shortstop Alex Stewart got his fourth home run of the season.
Seven Austin Peay batters had one hit each, but Chris Poynter's three-run shot in the first inning gave APSU the boost it needed to open the game.
On the mound, Pittman allowed seven runs on seven hits, striking out two and walking two in 3-2/3 innings. Harris allowed no runs on no hits, striking out three and walking none in 2-1/3 innings.
For APSU, Mault got the win, allowing five runs (three earned) on seven hits, striking out four and walking two in four-plus innings. Brad Daniel came on in the fifth, allowing one run on one hit, striking out one and walking one in two innings. Adam Weston got his fifth save of the season, allowing one hit and striking out one in one inning.
Coming into the game, Mault had allowed three home runs all year. Today, he gave up three homers in four innings.
In the first game, MSU fell victim to strong pitching, as APSU's Rowdy Hardy (10-2) went the distance, allowing one unearned run on six hits, striking out eight and walking one in nine innings.
The Governors struck early, plating three runs in the first inning. MSU starter Craig Kraus (3-6) settled in and pitched six strong innings after that, but the APSU defense was too much.
Six 'Breds had a hit apiece, as Stewart doubled for Murray State.
For APSU, Poynter had four hits, including a home run and two RBIs.
On the mound, Kraus allowed five runs (four earned) on 10 hits, striking out four and walking two in seven-plus innings, the longest outing of his career. Billy Fares came on in the eighth, retiring all three batters he faced.
"There is nothing we can look back on and be upset about," said MSU head coach Rob McDonald. "We gave up a couple of big innings, the first inning of both games. Hardy was a very accomplished pitcher; he pitched very well in the first game. In the second game, Mault had been very successful this year, but we did a good job against him. We got three home runs against him. This is definitely the toughest pitching we've seen all year.
"What won the games for them was not only their pitching, but outstanding defense. In the fourth inning of the second game, we had a rally going, and (Clint) Griggs hit a ball up the middle that looks like a hit, but their second baseman (Jake Peterson) ran over behind the base, turned and made a great throw to first base, and the first baseman (Chris Hyde) made a good scoop to get the throw out of the dirt for the last out of the inning."
Murray State closes out this series at 1 p.m. Sunday, a change from the originally-schduled 2 p.m start. The game can be heard locally on WRKY (1130 AM, Murray).
STANDINGS UPDATE: With Samford's sweep at Tennessee Tech today and Southeast Missouri's sweep at Morehead State, SEMO moved into fifth place at 10-9, while Samford tied Tech for sixth at 9-11. Murray State is a game behind sixth at 8-12.
The 'Breds remain in the hunt for a spot in the six-team OVC Championship Tournament. Their "magic number" to clinch a spot is nine over both Samford and Tennessee Tech. That means that any combination of MSU wins and Samford or Tech losses (depending on which is ahead of the other) totaling nine will put the 'Breds into the tournament. No team has been eliminated from tournament contention yet.
