Murray State
Bowling Green
'Breds fall to hard-hitting BGSU 10-5
2/27/2005 12:00:00 AM | Baseball
Bowling Green State's batters set the tone early in today's game at Murray State, popping two home runs in the first inning en route to its 10-5 win over the Thoroughbreds.
The Falcons hit four home runs on the day, two by Alex Hudak, who hit one in the first inning and one in the last.
Murray State (3-3) trailed 5-0 going into the bottom of the third when left fielder Clint Griggs led off with a walk and second baseman Chaz Ebert was hit by a pitch. The two runners advanced a base on a wild pitch, then third baseman Alex Stewart walked to load the bases. Designated hitter Jason Payton laced a single through the left side to score Griggs and Ebert and cut the BGSU lead to 5-2.
Murray State ceded two more runs to the Falcons (2-1) in the fourth inning and two in the sixth before responding in the bottom of the sixth.
Pinch-hitter Tyler Pittman hit a one-out single to right and right fielder Lincoln Kent double him in. Shortstop Michal Perconte singled Kent to third, and Mullins scored on a sacrifice fly by center fielder Brett Mullins, making the score 9-4.
In the eighth, MSU added another run when Pittman hit a two-out double, moved to third on a groundout and scored on a Perconte single to make the score 9-5. Hudak's second solo shot of the game in the ninth inning closed out the scoring at 10-5.
"(MSU starting pitcher) Jon Ross Shelton did not pitch like he is capable of," said MSU head coach Rob McDonald, "and Bowling Green's hitters are physical, strong, aggressive hitters, and when you throw stuff to them up in the zone, they will hit pretty good.
"(BSGU) is a good team. They are solid in the field, and I think they are going to be a team at the end of the year that is going to be a real strong team. They were good last year, and they've got almost everybody back from that."
Murray State was led offensively by Pittman, who went 2-for-2 with a double and two runs scored, and Perconte, who went 2-for-3 with one run batted in. Payton had two RBIs, while Kent had a double for the 'Breds.
On the mound, Shelton (0-2) took the loss, allowing three runs on three hits, striking out two and walking two in 1-2/3 innings. Matt Scalfani came on in the second inning, allowing four runs on five hits, striking out four and walking one in 3-1/3 innings. Charlie Wade came on in the sixth, allowing three runs (one earned) on five hits, striking out four and walking none in four innings.
For Bowling Green State, Hudak went 4-for-5 with two home runs, three runs and two RBIs. Nolan Reimold went 3-for-5 with a home run, two runs and three RBIs.
On the mound, Adam Gumpf (1-0) got the win, allowing no runs on one hit, striking out four and walking one in two innings. Tom Oestrike came on in the third, allowing two runs on no hits and two walks in facing just three batters. Nick Cantrell relieved Oestrike, allowing no runs on one hit, striking out two and walking one in three innings. Greg Mentrek entered in the fifth inning, allowing three runs on five hits, striking out one and walking none in three innings. Brett Browning pitched the ninth inning, allowing no runs on no hits, striking out two and walking one.
Murray State will host Missouri tomorrow (Monday) at 2 p.m. at Reagan Field.
