Murray State
Austin Peay
Ebert pops five hits, Fares' shutout goes into ninth as 'Breds win 8-4
5/8/2005 12:00:00 AM | Baseball
Junior designated hitter Chaz Ebert went 5-for-5 with a double and a run, while junior pitcher Billy Fares brought a shutout bid into the ninth inning as the Murray State Thoroughbreds halted Austin Peay 8-4 in Ohio Valley Conference play this afternoon.
Fares (6-5, 4-2 OVC) had the longest outing of his MSU career, scattering six hits through the first eight innings and coming back in the ninth to complete the shutout. A series of APSU hits and a couple of 'Breds miscues extended the inning, but not enough for the Governors to overcome the eight-run deficit. Michal Perconte got his second save of the season, getting the last out of the game.
Ebert slugged a team-season-high five hits, including a double, and scored a run.
Murray State (24-25, 12-9 OVC) broke open the scoreless tie in the sixth inning when Clint Griggs led off with a single, then Alex Stewart singled him to second. Tyler Pittman sacrificed the runners ahead one base, and Griggs scored on a sacrifice fly by Perconte to put the 'Breds ahead 1-0.
MSU added two runs in the seventh when Seth Hudson reached on a fielder's choice, then went to second on a groundout. Stewart slapped a triple, scoring Hudson, then Pittman tripled in Stewart to give Murray State a 3-0 lead.
In the eighth inning, the 'Breds struck with force, as Perconte led off by reaching on a fielding error, then moved to second on a sacrifice bunt by Jason Payton. Brett Mullins was hit by a pitch, then Ebert singled to load the bases. Hudson then slammed a three-run triple, then scored on a fielder's choice at Griggs' at-bat. Stewart reached on an error, moving Griggs to second, then Pittman walked to load the bases again. Lincoln Kent singled in Griggs to give Murray State an 8-0 lead.
Austin Peay (31-16, 14-7 OVC) used three hits and two errors to score four runs in the ninth inning, but it wasn't enough to overcome the eight-run difference.
"Billy Fares was just super," said MSU head coach Rob McDonald. "We really needed somebody to step forward and take the bull by the horns from the pitching staff, and he certainly did.
"Chaz Ebert has been in a little bit of a slump lately, and came out and swung like he has for a good part of the year. He's the kind of guy who makes us go from the top of the order. We had a lot of guys come through with some real clutch hits today."
Stewart went 3-for-5 with a triple, a run and a run batted in. Hudson and Pittman each tripled for the 'Breds, while Ebert doubles.
On defense, Griggs had a team-season-high 15 putouts at first base, while Hudson had four assists at second base.
On the mound, Fares allowed four runs (two earned) on nine hits, striking out seven and walking only one in 8-2/3 innings. Perconte faced two batters, ceding a walk in one-third of an inning.
For APSU, Jake Peterson went 4-for-4,while Jared Walker had two hits. On defense, Chris Poynter had seven putouts at first base, while Walker had four assists at shortstop.
On the mound, Devin Thomas (6-4) took the loss, despite pitching well over the first five innings. He allowed one run on six hits, striking out three and walking three in 5-2/3 innings. Jamie Ganz came on in the sixth, allowing seven runs (five earned) on five hits, striking out one and walking one in 1-2/3 innings. Brad Daniel closed out the game, allowing one hit and walking one in two-thirds of an inning.
Murray State will take Finals Week off, then return to action on Saturday when the 'Breds host OVC rival Jacksonville State in a 1 p.m. double-header.
