Murray State
Eastern Illinois
'Breds shut down in last four innings, fall 9-4
4/9/2006 5:00:00 AM | Baseball
The Murray State Thoroughbreds were winning the first half of their Ohio Valley Conference game against Eastern Illinois 3-0 after five innings, but EIU reliever Chris Vaculic came on and shut the 'Breds down, allowing the Panthers to score nine runs over the last four innings en route to their 9-4 win.
'Breds starter Andrew Bishop started out well for Murray State, allowing no runs on two hits through the first five innings, allowing MSU to get a lead on the Panthers.
In the fourth inning, MSU (8-24, 1-8 OVC) got on the scoreboard when Tyler Pittman led off with a single, but was forced out on an attempted sacrifice by Jason Payton, who reached first on the play. Austin Swain singled up the middle to move Payton to second, and Jamie Leidolf singled down the left-field line to score Payton and move Swain to second, giving the 'Breds a 1-0 lead.
In the fifth inning, Chaz Ebert slapped a one-out double, then Seth Hudson singled, leaving Ebert on second. Payton singled through the right side to score Ebert and move Hudson to third, then Eastern Illinois brought in Vaculik. Swain greeted him with a single down the left-field line, scoring Hudson and giving MSU a 3-0 lead.
In the top of the sixth inning, EIU (15-13, 5-4 OVC) scored four runs on four hits off of Bishop, and West Harris was called in for relief. He allowed an infield single before coaxed an inning-ending popup. The Panthers scored three more runs in the eighth inning and two in the ninth to forge a 9-3 lead.
In the bottom of the ninth, the 'Breds mounted a rally, as Ebert led off with a walk and went to second on a groundout. Pittman hit a single back through the box, ricocheting off of Vaculik towards the shortstop. Ebert stayed at second, and EIU brought in reliever Alex Guttosch. Swain hit a two-out single to score Ebert, but MSU couldn't get anything else going, falling 9-4.
Swain had a co-game-high three hits and two runs batted in for Murray State. Ebert had two hits, including a double, and two runs scored, while Pittman, Payton and Leidolf each had two hits.
EIU was led by Erik Huber and Keiji Szalo, who had three hits apiece. Bret Nommensen, Ryan Campbell and Pete Stone had two hits each, while Campbell scored two runs and Jason Cobb had two RBIs.
In the field, first baseman Leidolf had a game-high 15 putouts -- tying a team season-high -- while second baseman Hudson and third baseman Tyler Owen had a game-high five assists apiece. For the Panthers, catcher Cobb had eight putouts, while shortstop Adam Varrassi had three assists.
Bishop (1-5, 0-3 OVC) took the loss, allowing four runs on six hits, striking out one and walking one in 5-2/3 innings. Harris came on in the sixth, allowing five runs (four earned) on nine hits, striking out three and walking none in 3-1/3 innings.
For EIU, Vaculik (4-4, 1-2 OVC) got the win, allowing one run on four hits, striking out four and walking two in 3-2/3 innings. Drew Gierich started for the Panthers, allowing three runs on seven hits, striking out two and walking two in 4-2/3 innings. Guttosch closed out the game, allowing one hit and striking out two of the three batters he faced in two-thirds of an inning.
Murray State will visit Memphis on Tuesday for a 6:30 p.m. game.
