Murray State
Indiana State
'Breds Take 12-4 Loss To Indiana State
3/18/2007 5:00:00 AM | Baseball
Just as the Murray State Thoroughbreds were narrowing the gap in their game against visiting Indiana State, the Sycamores sprang for seven runs in the ninth inning to keep the game out of reach in the 12-4 decision.
Murray State (3-14) trailed 5-0 going into the bottom of the sixth inning when the 'Breds got on the scoreboard. Senior catcher Jason Payton hit a one-out infield single, then senior first baseman James Akin tripled him in to cut the ISU lead to 5-1.
MSU added more runs in the seventh inning when freshman third baseman Kyle Tiernan drew a one-out walk, then went to second on a wild pitch. Freshman left fielder Chad Allen drew a two-out walk, then senior center fielder Tyler Pittman slapped a double down the left-field line, scoring Tiernan and Allen and trimming the ISU lead to 5-3.
Indiana State (8-7) scored seven runs -- only one of them earned -- in the top of the ninth inning to take a 12-3 lead, but Murray State was not quite done.
In the bottom of the ninth, Tiernan led off with a walk, then went to third on a wild pitch. Senior second baseman Seth Hudson singled him in, but that would end the scoring at 12-5.
"We were in the game right up until the end," said MSU head coach Rob McDonald. "Jake Donze and Brad Rowland pitched well for us. As we go deeper into the bullpen, we need to start getting people out.
"We're going to lift weights tomorrow and have a good day of practice on Tuesday before our game at SIU. We aren't playing well consistently enough. We're playing well at times, but we still need to make the big play or get the big hit."
Hudson led the 'Breds, going 2-for-3. Pittman had a double and two runs batted in, while Akin had a triple. Tiernan scored twice for MSU. Defensively, Akin had a game-high nine putouts, while sophomore shortstop Justin Yount had a game-high five assists.
For Indiana State, Dave Brumagin went 4-for-5 with a double, a run and an RBI, while Ryan Bond went 3-for-5 with three runs and two RBIs. Brett Siegmund and Nick Ciolli each had doubles for the Sycamores. Defensively, catcher Sean Osborne had six putouts, while second baseman Ryan Strausborger had four assists.
On the mound, freshman left-hander Donze (1-3) took the loss, allowing four runs on six hits, striking out two and walking none in 3-1/3 innings. Freshman righty Rowland came on in the fourth, allowing four runs (one earned) on six hits, striking out three and walking one in 5-1/3 innings. Freshman lefty Matt McGaha came on in the ninth, allowing four unearned runs on two hits and walking one, while junior right-hander Drew Leeper closed out the game, allowing no runs on one hit, striking out one and walking one in one-third of an inning.
For ISU, Skyler Pearson (1-0) got the win, allowing one run on two hits, striking out four and walking four in 5-1/3 innings. Josh Varno came on in the sixth, allowing one run on one hit, striking out two and walking one in 1-1/3 innings, while Andrew Strange entered in the seventh inning, allowing one run on no hits and walking one. Adam Lindsay entered in the seventh inning, allowing one hit in 1-1/3 innings, and Chad Dawson closed the game, allowing one run on one hit and walking one in the ninth inning.
Murray State visits regional rival Southern Illinois (15-6) on Wednesday at 2 p.m. The Salukis have gone 6-1 since MSU beat them here 9-8 on March 7.
