Murray State
Eastern Illinois
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'Breds Get First OVC Win, But Squander Lead In Game 2
4/8/2006 5:00:00 AM | Baseball
The Murray State Thoroughbreds got back on the winning side with an 8-4 win over visiting Eastern Illinois in Game 1 of the Ohio Valley Conference double-header, but squandered a 9-3 lead in the last inning of Game 2, falling 11-9.
In the first game, Eastern Illinois (14-13, 4-4 OVC) got on the scoreboard first with a run in the second inning and a run in the third before Murray State responded in the bottom of the third inning. Brett Mullins reached on a fielding error before Chaz Ebert singled him to third. Seth Hudson singled in Mullins and moved Ebert to second. Tyler Pittman then singled up the middle to score Ebert, then Austin Swain singled to left. Hudson just beat the throw home to put the 'Breds ahead 3-2.
EIU scored a run in the top of the fourth to tie the game at 3-3, but MSU wasn't through yet, as Jamie Leidolf led off the fourth with a single, then went to second on a sacrifice bunt. Mullins then walked, and he and Leidolf advanced a base on a groundout. Hudson's single plated Leidolf and Mullins to give Murray State a 5-3 lead.
The Panthers scored a run in the eighth to pull to within 5-4, but in the bottom of the eighth, Justin Yount hit a one-out single, then Mullins singled him to second. Ebert picked up a single to load the bases, and Hudson singled in Yount. Mullins scored on a fielder's choice, then a single by Jason Payton scored Ebert for the final 8-4 score.
Hudson went 3-for-4 with a run and four runs batted in, while Swain went 3-for-4 with an RBI. Ebert went 2-for-4 with two runs scored, while Mullins scored three times and Pittman had two RBIs.
Eastern Illinois was led by Bret Nommansen and Blake Meyer, who had three hits each.
In the field, first baseman Leidolf had nine putouts, while second baseman Hudson and third baseman Tyler Owen had four assists apiece. For EIU, first baseman Erik Huber had 10 putouts, while second baseman Meyer had five putouts.
Kalen Gibson (1-6, 1-2 OVC) finally got some offensive support, have allowed six earned runs in his previous four starts (1.97 ERA), but taking the loss in each of those games. Gibson allowed four runs (three earned) on 12 hits, striking out seven and walking two in eight innings. Jon Newton pitched the ninth inning, facing the minimum three batters.
Brandon Murphy (1-4, 1-2 OVC) took the loss, allowing seven runs (five earned) on 10 hits, striking out four and walking three in 7-1/3 innings. Alex Guttosch closed the game, allowing one run on three hits in two-thirds of an inning.
In the second game, EIU jumped out to a quick 3-0 lead in the top of the second inning, but the 'Breds posted eight runs in the bottom half of the inning on just four hits, using three walks, a hit batter, two errors and a passed ball on an intentional walk in the monster inning. Murray State tacked on another run in the fifth inning to take a 9-3 lead into the seventh and last inning.
The 'Breds led 9-5 with two outs and the bases loaded when Adam Varrassi reached on a fielder's error to keep the inning alive.Two walks and two singles later, a two-run inning ballooned into an eight-run crusher, as MSU fell 11-9.
Owen broke out of his own slump to go 3-for-4 with two runs and two RBIs to lead Murray State. Hudson and Lincoln Kent each had two hits and a run, while Mullins drove in two runs.
EIU was paced by Mark Chagnon, who went 4-for-5 with two runs and three RBIs. Jordan Kreke went 2-for-2 with three RBIs for the Panthers.
In the field, catcher Payton had eight putouts, while Yount had a game-high four assists at shortstop. EIU's Huber had nine putouts, while two Panthers had two assists each.
Daniel Calhoun (1-3, 0-1 OVC) took the loss in relief, facing three batters in the seventh, allowing two unearned runs on one hit and walking two. Michal Perconte started the game and tried to get his fourth complete game of the season, but was relieved in the seventh, allowing nine runs (four earned) on 11 hits, striking out seven and walking two in 6-2/3 innings. Charlie Wade closed out the game, allowing one hit in one-third inning.
Ross Jeske (2-1, 1-0 OVC) got the win, allowing one hit, striking out one and walking one in the sixth inning. Chris Vaculik was the fifth and final Panther pitcher, getting his third save of the season by striking out two of the three batters he faced in the seventh inning.
"Our guys came out ready to play, and Kalen pitched well," said MSU head coach Rob McDonald. "We made some plays and got some hits when we needed them.
"Michal pitched well (in the second game). You could see around the last inning that he kind of got tired, and we went with him as long as we could. Then, it was like the roof caved in, but it wasn't our pitchers' fault. Calhoun came in and threw the ball pretty well. We had some opportunities to make some plays, and we didn't, and they were able to pull it out."
The rubber game of this series will be played tomorrow (Sunday) at 1 p.m. at MSU's Reagan Field.
