Murray State
Austin Peay
'Breds fight back but fall 6-5 to APSU; will play in elimination game at 2:30
5/26/2005 12:00:00 AM | Baseball
If you have watched the Murray State Thoroughbreds play, you know that no lead -- or MSU deficit -- is absolute, and that the 'Breds will battle and forge wins from come-from-behind situations. Today, the 'Breds tried to do just that, trailing 4-0 before scoring four runs in the seventh inning, but fell to Austin Peay 6-5.
The 'Breds (28-30) will play at 2:30 p.m. in the second of two elimination games tomorrow (Friday) against the winner of the Morehead State-Eastern Kentucky game to be played tomorrow at 11 a.m. (the first elimination game of the day). APSU and Jacksonville State will meet tomorrow in a winners' bracket game at 6:30 p.m.
Against the Governors (36-21), Murray State had a scoreless game until the bottom of the third, when Austin Peay's Brett Luther led off with a double, then Cody Youngblood hit a bunt single to move Luther to third. Jared Walker singled in Luther to give APSU a 1-0 lead.
The Governors scored again in the fifth when Ryan Kane led off with a single, then Walker singled him to second. Kane got to third on a flyout, then scored when Tommy Smith singled to right, giving Austin Peay a 2-0 lead.
In the sixth inning, Luther walked and stole second for the Govs. Youngblood walked, then Walker doubled in Luther and Youngblood to put Austin Peay ahead 4-0.
Murray State got on the scoreboard in the seventh inning when Clint Griggs led off with a single, then Alex Stewart doubled him to third. Griggs scored on a groundout, while Stewart went to third. Michal Perconte walked, then Brett Wilson doubled in Stewart and Perconte. Brett Mullins singled Wilson to third, then Wilson scored on a single by Chaz Ebert to tie the game at 4-4.
In the eighth inning, the Governors retook the lead when Kane was hit by a pitch, stole second, went to third on a fielder's choice, then scored on a sacrifice fly., moving Walker to third. Smith singled in Walker to give APSU a 6-4 lead.
Undaunted, Murray State tried to battle back in the ninth. Wilson came through with a two-out solo home run -- his first as a Thoroughbred -- but that would be all that MSU would score, falling with the 6-5 loss.
"I try to convey to our guys that I'm all about playing the game," said MSU head coach Rob McDonald. "Our guys fought and battled, but it just wasn't our day. We would have liked to have hit (APSU pitcher Rowdy Hardy) better, but there are a lot of guys who would like to have hit Roger Clemens better. Hardy just pitched an excellent game, and he is truly an outstanding pitcher.
"We fought back and scored four runs in the seventh inning. We had a big inning, and I can't be anything but proud of our guys when they compete like that."
Wilson led Murray State with two hits, including a double and a home run. He also scored twice and had three runs batted in.
On defense, Wilson had a team-high seven putouts at catcher, while Hudson and Billy Fares had two assists each.
On the mound, West Harris (4-5) took the loss, allowing two runs on four hits, striking out four and walking one in three innings. Billy Fares had the start for the 'Breds, allowing four runs on nine hits, striking out three and walking five in five innings.
For Austin Peay, Walker and Smith had three hits apiece. Kane and Luther each scored twice, while Walker had three RBIs. On defense, Chris Poynter had 10 putouts at first base, while Walker had eight assists at shortstop.
On the mound, Hardy (11-5) went the distance, allowing five runs on eight hits, striking out six and walking one in nine innings. His home run to Wilson was his first allowed this season and the second one allowed in his career at APSU.
