Murray State
Jacksonville State
'Breds End Season With 7-4 Loss At JSU
5/20/2006 5:00:00 AM | Baseball
The Murray State Thoroughbreds closed out their 2006 season with a 7-4 Ohio Valley Conference loss at Jacksonville State this afternoon. Junior center fielder Tyler Pittman ended the season sharing the MSU single-season record for doubles, slapping 21 two-baggers this season.
Pittman tied the record held by Brett McCutchan, who had 21 doubles in 2003.
The game at Jacksonville State seesawed early on, with Jacksonville State (32-22, 19-8 OVC) scoring a run in the first inning before the 'Breds rebounded in the second.
Jason Payton led off the inning with a double, then Tyler Owen followed with a single, moving Payton to third. Jamie Leidolf singled in Payton and moved Owen to third on a fielding error, then Owen scored when Brett Wilson hit into a double play to give MSU a 2-1 lead.
JSU scored two runs in the bottom of the second to retake the lead, 3-2, but Murray State (15-40, 8-19 OVC) retook the lead in the third inning.
Chaz Ebert hit a one-out single, then James Akin singled him to second, but Ebert overran the base and was tagged out. Pittman singled Akin to second, then Payton doubled in Akin and Pittman to give MSU the 4-3 lead.
The Gamecocks thrust the final dagger with three runs in the fourth inning and an insurance run in the eighth for the final 7-4 score.
Leidolf led the 'Breds, getting a game-high three hits with a run batted in. Payton had two doubles, scoring a run and driving in two, while Ebert also had two hits. Four Jacksonville State batters had two hits apiece.
In the field, first baseman Wilson had a game-high 10 putouts, while third baseman Owen and shortstop Justin Yount had three assists. For JSU, first baseman Eric Beck had nine putouts, while second baseman Bert Smith and shortstop Bret Pettus had five assists each.
On the mound, starter Marc Harmon (1-2, 0-1 OVC) took the loss, allowing six runs (two earned) on seven hits, striking out one and walking one in 3-2/3 innings. Andrew Bishop came on in the fourth, allowing no runs on one hit in 2-1/3 innings. West Harris closed out the game, allowing one run on two hits, striking out two and walking one in two innings.
For JSU, Clark Jinks (3-1) got the win in relief, allowing no runs on no hits, striking out one and walking one in two innings.
"We came out ready to play, obviously. We came out and got a lead," said MSU head coach Rob McDonald. "Our guys hit the ball hard. We're playing -- no question -- one of the top teams of our league. Marc pitched well for us. I felt like our kids came out ready to play, and I was proud of their effort.
"Obviously, we're disappointed with our record. However, I'm undaunted as far as where we are going and where our program is. We had a really good recruiting year this year, got a bunch of good, young freshmen. The guys that we have in our program are quality kids that give us a good effort. We had one of the best years academically in the history of the program. I feel like our program is on the right track."
