Murray State
Morehead State
Payton Blasts Two Homers As 'Breds Split With Eagles
4/22/2006 5:00:00 AM | Baseball
Junior catcher Jason Payton lifted two home runs in back-to-back at-bats to help the Murray State Thoroughbreds win the first game of its double-header against Morehead State 8-5. The Eagles were able to take Game 2 of the twinbill behind the pitching of Henry Mabee to earn a split of the twinbill.
The rubber game of the series will be played tomorrow (Sunday) at 1 p.m. at Murray State's Reagan Field.
In the first game, Murray State (11-28, 4-10 OVC) was trailing 4-1 in the sixth inning when Payton led off with a home run to center field. Morehead State (15-21, 6-7 OVC) scored a run in the top of the seventh, but the 'Breds rallied for four runs in the bottom half of the inning.
Brett Mullins led off with a single, then Chaz Ebert got an infield single. Austin Swain sacrificed both runners over on a very close bunt play in front of the plate, then Tyler Pittman blasted a double to right-center field, scoring Mullins and Ebert and pull Murray State to within 5-4. Payton then stepped up and hit a two-run shot to left-center field to put the 'Breds ahead 6-5.
'Breds pitcher Daniel Calhoun retired the side in the eighth inning, and Murray State pushed its lead in the bottom half of the inning. Justin Yount led off with a single, then Mullins walked. Chaz Ebert sacrificed the runners over, then Micah Dunn was intentionally walked. Pittman then walked to score Yount, and Payton walked in Mullins for the final score.
Payton went 3-for-4 in the game with two home runs, two runs scored and four runs driven in. Yount went 2-for-4 with a run, while Brett Wilson went 2-for-5 with a double and a run. Mullins scored two runs in the game, while Pittman drove in three runs. Tyler Owen also got a double for the 'Breds.
For Morehead State, Chris McCaslin went 3-for-3 with a double and two runs. Mark Midden also doubled for the Eagles, while Ryan Kinder and Paul Rhodes each hit home runs.
In the field, first baseman Wilson had eight putouts, while third baseman Owen had a co-game-high three assists. For Morehead State, first baseman Rhodes had nine putouts, while shortstop Nick Nail had three assists.
On the mound, Daniel Calhoun (2-3, 1-1 OVC) got the win in relief, allowing one hit in 1-1/3 innings. Michal Perconte got his first save of the season, allowing one hit and striking out one in facing the minimum three batters in the ninth inning. Kalen Gibson started for the 'Breds, allowing five runs on eight hits, striking out five and walking three in 6-2/3 innings.
For Morehead State, starter Shane Lucci (5-6, 3-2 OVC) took the loss, allowing six runs (five earned) on 10 hits, striking out five and walking two in 6-2/3 innings. Greg Wood finished the seventh inning, facing one batter, while Mark Rhodes entered in the eighth, allowing two runs on one hit and walking three in one-third of an inning. Josh Barnes finished the game for the Eagles, facing three batters and ceding one walk in two-thirds of an inning.
"We're catching (Payton) to death right now," said Murray State head coach Rob McDonald, "and I'm learning that's the thing to do because if you look at Jason now -- I don't know how much weight he's lost over the season, but he's lost quite a bit of weight -- I think his bat's getting quicker with each pound that he loses. It's not like he's getting tired or something. He's looking really good at the plate. He had some really good hacks and was right on some pitches (in the second game). He's looking good and he's feeling good at the plate."
In both games combined, the 'Breds' bullpen looked in rare form, allowing no runs on three hits, striking out four and walking none over four innings of work.
"We need guys to do that," McDonald said. "Hopefully, that will help set a tone and give the rest of our guys in the bullpen some confidence. Sometimes, it takes somebody to show the way and lead the way out there in that situation. Those guys did a good job today."
In the second game, Eagles starter Henry Mabee threw a complete-game five-hitter, extending his unearned-runs streak to 26-2/3 innings and throwing his fifth straight complete game in bringing Morehead State the split in the 6-1 decision.
Murray State opened the scoring in the first inning when James Akin was hit by a pitch, then went to second on a failed pickoff attempt. He went to third on a groundout, then scored on a single by Payton. The 'Breds would only eke out two hits in the second inning and two in the seventh for the rest of the game.
Mabee (4-5, 2-2 OVC) struck out seven and walked none in the complete-game win.
Andrew Bishop (2-6, 1-4 OVC) took the loss for the 'Breds, allowing six runs on 12 hits, striking out three and walking one in 5-1/3 innings. Marc Harmon closed out the game, allowing one hit and striking out three in 1-2/3 innings.
Owen went 2-for-3 for Murray State. Trent Hanna went 3-for-3 for the Eagles, scoring two runs, while Nail also went 3-for-3 with two RBIs. Donald Cheney popped a home run for Morehead State.
In the field, catcher Payton had seven putouts, while Bishop had a co-game-high five assists. For Morehead State, Rhodes had nine putouts, while second baseman Chris McCaslin had five assists.
"(Mabee) pitched real well," said McDonald. "The thing that he did so well was he was able to throw breaking balls early in the count for strikes, and he has an above-average fast ball. Our guys battled and scrapped and clawed and got some runners on base, and we just didn't come through with the big hits as we did in the first game."
