Murray State University Athletics
Murray State
Samford
'Breds earn No. 4 seed, set MSU record with 15 OVC wins
5/21/2005 12:00:00 AM | Baseball
The Murray State Thoroughbreds wrapped up the No. 4 seed in the O'Reilly's Ohio Valley Conference Baseball Tournament, to be played later this week.
The 'Breds (27-29, 15-12 OVC) clinched a berth in the tournament and eliminated Samford with a 12-1 win over the Bulldogs in the first game of a double-header this afternoon. MSU locked up the No. 4 seed with a 4-2 loss in Game 2.
Murray State set a new school record with 15 OVC wins, bettering the mark of 14 set in 1991.
In the first game today, the 'Breds' bats came out on fire, as Murray State scored seven runs on eight hits in the first inning and four in the second to leap out to an 11-0 lead after two innings.
In that first inning, Chaz Ebert broke an 0-for-9 slump by leading off with a double. Seth Hudson hit a bunt single to move Ebert to third base, then Clint Griggs hit a sacrifice fly to score Ebert. Alex Stewart singled Hudson to second base, then Tyler Pittman slammed his sixth home run of the season, a three-run shot that gave Murray State a 4-0 lead.
Austin Swain then hit a double, followed by a single by Michal Perconte, moving Swain to third. Brett Wilson doubled in Swain, sending Perconte to third, and Brett Mullins hit a sacrifice fly to score Perconte. Ebert's second double of the inning scored Wilson and gave MSU an early 7-0 advantage.
In the second inning, Stewart drew a one-out walk, then Pittman singled him to second. Swain hit a single, scoring Stewart and moving Pittman to third, and Wilson hit a two-out double, scoring Pittman and Swain. A Mullins double scored Wilson to put the 'Breds ahead 11-0.
MSU added to that lead in the fifth inning, as Mullins led off with a walk, moved to second on a groundout and scored on a single by Griggs to put the 'Breds ahead 12-0.
Samford (20-35, 13-14 OVC) got on the scoreboard in the seventh inning when Parker Gargis homered to left center to break up the shutout.
Ebert, Pittman, Swain, Perconte and Wilson each had a co-game-high two hits to lead Murray State. Pittman and Wilson had three runs batted in apiece, while Stewart, Pittman, Swain and Wilson each scored twice.
On defense, Griggs had eight putouts at first base, while Hudson had five assists at second base.
On the mound, Fares (7-5, 5-2 OVC) got his fifth complete game of the season, his third in OVC play. He allowed one run on five hits, striking out three and walking one in seven innings, throwing only 87 pitches (12.4 per inning).
For Samford, Bear Burnett and Gargis each had two hits. On defense, Chet McDonough had six putouts at catcher, while Trey Moody had three assists at second base.
Stephen Artz (5-7) took the loss, allowing 11 runs on 12 hits, striking out two and walking one in 1-2/3 innings, throwing 58 pitches (34.8 per inning). Matthew Thomas came on in the second inning, allowing one run on one hit, striking out three and walking three in 3-1/3 inning, throwing 57 pitches (17.1 per inning). Scott Kubina pitched the sixth inning, allowing one hit and walking one in facing one more than the minimum three batters, while Justin Harris pitched the seventh inning, facing the minimum three batters and striking out two.
In the latter game, Murray State adjusted its usual lineup to allow more playing time for other players in preparation for the OVC tournament.
The game was a scoreless tie until the fifth inning, when Jason Payon led off by getting hit by a pitch, stealing second, then scoring on a single by James Akin to put the 'Breds ahead 1-0.
In the bottom of the inning, Garrett Rice led off with a solo home run, tying the game at 1-1.
Murray State retook the lead in the top of the seventh inning when Akin led off with a single, then went to second on a sacrifice bunt by Josh Foreman. Akin went to third on a wild pitch, then scored on a single by Mullins to put MSU ahead 2-1.
In the bottom of the last inning, Gargis hit a two-out single, then Bill Whitehead hit a single, moving Gargis to second. Drew Reagan came on to pinch-hit for McDonough and hit his first pitch over the center-field wall for the game-winning home run.
Akin had two hits to lead Murray State batters, while Payton and Lincoln Kent each doubled. On defense, Foreman had nine putouts at first base, while Stewart and Akin each had three assists.
On the mound, Charlie Wade (1-3, 1-3 OVC) took the loss in relief, allowing three runs on three hits in two-thirds of an inning. West Harris started the game, allowing one run on four hits, striking out five and walking none in five innings. Perconte pitched the sixth inning, allowing one hit and striking out one in facing just one more than the minimum three batters.
For Samford, Rice and Gargis each had two hits, while Rice and Reagan each homered. On defense, McDonough and Richard Bishop each had six putouts, while Whitehead and Chandler Tidwell each had two assists.
On the mound, Neimkin (2-2) got the win, allowing one hit and facing more than the minimum three batters in one inning of work. Tidwell got the start for the Bulldogs, allowing two runs on six hits, striking out seven and walking one in six innings.
"Our No. 1 goal this weekend was getting into the tournament," said MSU head coach Rob McDonald. "We set our sights on winning three out of three, but I made the decision that, now that we are in the tournament, the thing to do was to get guys at-bats who may be pinch-hitters, who we may platoon during the tournament. They've been great guys all year long and deserve the opportunity to play a little bit.
"I am really proud of the way our guys played in the first game. It was a big game, and our hitters came out and set the tone early. They played like champions against someone who may be the best pro prospect in our league, a really good pitcher in Stephen Artz. We really came to play. Billy Fares was as good as he could be in such a crucial game.
"In the second game, West Harris was pitching well," McDonald said. "He probably could have pitched more. We didn't pull him because he wasn't doing well; he was doing well. Each of our guys threw well.
"It's fun to be going to Paducah; that was our goal from the start. Our guys are excited about it, and I'm excited about it. We'll see what happens."
Murray State opens the tournament on Wednesday at 2:30 p.m. against No. 5 seed Southeast Missouri State (24-30, 15-12 OVC), whom the 'Breds won two out of three games against in their first league series this season. No. 3 seed Morehead State (28-25, 15-11 OVC) will face No. 6 seed Eastern Kentucky (23-29, 14-12 OVC) on Wednesday at 6:30 p.m., a team that just won two of three games against them this weekend to close out their regular season.
On Thursday, the losers of Wednesday's games will face each other in the first elimination game of the double-elimination tournament at 11 am. No. 2 Austin Peay (35-21, 16-11 OVC), which got a first-round bye, will face the highest remaining seed at 2:30 p.m., while regular-season champion Jacksonville State (32-23, 19-8 OVC) will face the other Wednesday winner at 6:30 p.m.
