Murray State
Arkansas State
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'Breds Lose Two-Run Lead In The Ninth At Arkansas State, 6-5
4/5/2006 5:00:00 AM | Baseball
The Murray State Thoroughbreds snapped a 29-inning scoreless drought with a run in the first inning of their game at Arkansas State tonight, and led 5-3 going into the bottom of the ninth inning, but couldn't hold the lead, allowing three runs to push the host Indians past MSU 6-5.
Murray State (7-22) scored in the first inning when Tyler Pittman slapped a two-out infield single, then scored on Jason Payton's triple to give the 'Breds an early 1-0 lead.
In the third inning, MSU had another runner score from first base when Seth Hudson hit a two-out single, then scored on a double by Pittman to push the lead to 2-0.
Arkansas State (14-15) scored two runs in the fourth inning to tie the game, but Murray State retook the lead in the fifth when Chaz Ebert led off by being hit by a pitch, then went to second on a sacrifice bunt. Ebert scored on a double by Payton to give the 'Breds a 3-2 lead.
ASU tacked on a run in the bottom half of the inning to retie the game at 3-3, but MSU got two unearned runs in the eighth inning to post a 5-3 lead.
Payton led off the inning by reaching on a error, then Austin Swain beat out a bunt single, moving Payton to second. Payton scored and Swain got to third on a two-base throwing error in Tyler Owen's at-bat, placing Owen on second, then Swain scored on a sacrifice fly to push MSU ahead 5-3.
In the bottom of the ninth, Arkansas State's Michael Williams fought off 10 pitches from MSU pitcher Jon Newton to draw a leadoff walk, and former ASU pitcher Andrew Bishop came on to pitch for the 'Breds.Bishop struck out his first batter, then gave up a single to pinch-hitter Jeremy Lyons, moving Williams to second. Guy Brown then drew a walk to load the bases, and Todd Boucher hit a towering fly ball to right-center field. The runners had to be cautious, not knowing if the ball would be caught or not, and when the ball landed in the field, they could only advance one base. Williams scored, and the bases remained loaded. Elliot Jacobs then laid down a bunt to first, and MSU first baseman Jamie Leidolf just beat him out for the putout, but Lyons scored on the sacrifice to tie the game at 5-5 with Brown on third and Boucher on second and two outs.
Brett Kinning then hit a grounder to shortstop and beat out the throw, allowing Brown to score the winning run and give Arkansas State the 6-5 win.
"We did a lot of things that we hadn't been doing," said MSU head coach Rob McDonald. "We got some two-out RBIs, we had some good at-bats in clutch situations. What it comes down to is: If we don't walk any batters in the ninth inning, we win the game."
Pittman, Payton and Leidolf each had a co-game-high two hits to lead Murray State, with Payton legging out his third triple of the season, Pittman getting his 12th double of the year and Leidolf also getting a double. Payton had a co-game-high two runs batted in for MSU.
Josh Yates had two hits for Arkansas State, including a double, while Josh Allison and Tyler Doke also doubled for the Indians. Kinning had two RBIs for ASU.
In the field, catcher Payton had a co-game-high eight putouts, while third baseman Owen had a co-game-high four of MSU's seven assists. For Arkansas State, first baseman Jacobs had eight putouts, while shortstop Kinning and second baseman Williams had four assists each.
On the mound, Bishop (1-4) took the loss, allowing two runs on three hits, striking out one and walking one in two-thirds of an inning. Daniel Calhoun started for Murray State, allowing three runs (two earned) on four hits, striking out five and walking two in five innings. Newton came on in the sixth, allowing one run on one hit, striking out two and walking one in three-plus innings.
For ASU, Brandon Eller (2-0) got the win in relief, allowing two unearned runs on two hits, striking out one in two innings. Nicholas Lambert started, allowing three runs on six hits, striking out three and walking one in 4-1/3 innings. Brian Schuck came on in the fifth, allowing no runs on two hits in 2-2/3 innings.
Murray State returns home to pick up its Ohio Valley Conference schedule, as the 'Breds host Eastern Illinois in a three-game series this weekend. The action begins with a Saturday double-header at 1 p.m., followed by a Sunday game at 1 p.m., all at MSU's Reagan Field. You can hear the play-by-play coverage locally on WRKY (1130 AM) or worldwide through the link at www.GoRacers.com.
