'Breds Zap Zips With Drama, Sweeping Twinbill In Last At-Bats

Sunday, March 12

Murray, Ky.

Murray State

Akron

'Breds Zap Zips With Drama, Sweeping Twinbill In Last At-Bats

3/12/2006 6:00:00 AM | Baseball

The Murray State Thoroughbreds swept today's double-header against former Ohio Valley Conference rival Akron in dramatic fashion, winning both games in their final at-bats. MSU came from behind to win Game 1 6-5, then averted a come-from-behind win by Akron by taking Game 2 15-14 in eight innings.

“It sounds like a broken record, but our kids have always fought and battled,” said MSU head coach Rob McDonald. “They go about doing things the right way when we're behind. They try to make things tough on the pitcher and come through with clutch hits. If you keep doing the right things and have courage and step up and do things at the right time, you get the big wins.

“I'm proud of the way we battled. It was tough all day today. We didn't look good at times, but we battled all day, and it worked out for us.”

The teams will complete the three-game series tomorrow (Monday) at 2 p.m. at MSU's Reagan Field.

In the first game, Murray State (4-9) took an early lead in the fourth inning when catcher Jason Payton led off with a single, then scored when Austin Swain bunted a ball that was misthrown by an Akron fielder. Swain was thrown out at third base, but Payton's run put the 'Breds ahead 1-0.

Akron (5-7) plated two runs in the fifth and three more in the eighth to push ahead 5-1, but MSU scored once more in the eighth. Tyler Pittman led off with a walk, then went to second when Swain walked. Tyler Owen slapped a pinch-hit single through the left side to score Pittman and narrow the gap to 5-2.

It was still 5-2 going into the bottom of the ninth when Brett Mullins led off by getting hit by a pitch. Chaz Ebert then doubled him to third.

Payton then stepped up and hit the first home run of the season for Murray State, a three-run blast to left that tied the game at 5-5. Swain then singled to right and reached second on a fielding error on the play, then advanced to third on a groundout. Swain then scored on a wild pitch to give MSU the 6-5 win.

Payton led the 'Breds with two hits, two runs and three runs batted in. Akron was paced by Ryan Frazee and Chase Liggett, who each had two hits, including one home run each. Liggett drove in three runs, while Scott Gunn had a double for the Zips.

In the field, first baseman Jamie Leidolf had a team-high eight putouts, while third baseman James Akin had a game-high six assists, Akron catcher Liggett had nine putouts, while second baseman Frazee and pitcher Stephen Williams each had four assists.

On the mound, Daniel Calhoun (1-0) got the win in relief for Murray State, allowing three unearned runs on three hits, striking out one and walking one in two innings. Kalen Gibson got the start, allowing two runs on five hits, striking out three and walking four in seven innings of work.

For Akron, Garrett Knoll (0-1) took the loss, allowing four runs (three earned) on five hits, striking out one in one-plus innings. Williams started for Akron, allowing two runs (one earned) on two hits, striking out eight and walking four in 7-1/3 innings. Frank Turocy closed the game, pitching one-third of an inning.

In the second game of the double-header, Murray State jumped out to a 7-0 lead after two innings, but gave up 13 runs over the fourth and fifth innings to give Akron the lead.

The Zips led 14-10 going into the bottom of the seventh and last inning when the 'Breds again plated four runs in the last inning. Mullins led off with a walk, then went to second on a balk. Ebert walked, then Pittman reached on catcher's interference to load the bases. Swain pinch-hit and reached on a fielder's choice, scoring Mullins and moving Ebert to third. Micah Dunn then pinch-hit and reached on a failed fielder's choice, scoring Ebert and moving Swain to second to pull MSU to within 14-12. Swain and Dunn advanced a base on a groundout, the Jamie Leidolf laced a pinch-hit single into right to score them both and knot the game at 14-14 and force extra innings.

MSU pitcher Marc Harmon retired the side in the top of the eighth. Lopez led off the eighth with a walk, then went to second on a passed ball. Mullins then walked, and Ebert sacrificed them both ahead one base. Pittman stepped up and slapped a single through the right side to score Lopez and give the 'Breds the 15-14 win.

Pittman had a game-best four hits, including a triple, along with two runs and three RBIs. Ebert went 2-for-2 with a double, four runs scored and an RBI, while Owen went 2-for-4 with his first career home run, a three-run job in the second inning, and a double. Mullins scored three runs for MSU, while Lopez scored twice and Brett Wilson drove in three runs.

Akron was led by Frazee, Brian Kimutis and Kurt Davidson, who each had three hits. Frazee had a double, two runs and two RBIs in the game, while Kimutis scored twice and drove in three.

In the field, catcher Wilson had a team-high six putouts for Murray State, while shortstop Justin Yount and second baseman Lopez each had two assists. For Akron, second baseman Frazee had a game-high eight putouts to go with a game-high three assists.

On the mound, Harmon (1-0) got the win, allowing no runs on one hit, striking out one in two innings of relief work. Michal Perconte started the game, allowing 10 runs on nine hits, striking out four and walking one in 4-1/3 innings. Jon Newton came on in the fifth and allowed three runs on three hits, striking out one and walking one in two-thirds of an inning. Charlie Wade pitched the sixth inning, allowing one run on two hits.

For Akron, Turocy (0-1) took the loss, allowing four runs (one earned) on two hits, walking three in 1-1/3 innings. Pat Watt started for the Zips, allowing seven runs on six hits, striking out four and walking four in three innings. Jeremy Goldizen came on in the fourth, allowing three runs (two earned) on three hits, striking out two and walking one in two innings. Brett Savage came on in the sixth, allowing one unearned run in the seventh on no hits, walking three in one-plus innings.