Murray State University Athletics
Murray State
Gardner-Webb
'Breds Lose Rubber Game At Gardner-Webb
3/4/2007 6:00:00 AM | Baseball
Host Gardner-Webb's pitching turned it up a notch in its rubber-game match-up with the Murray State Thoroughbreds, holding MSU to just two hits over the last seven innings en route to its 14-4 win on Sunday.
Murray State (1-8) got on the board first, as freshman left fielder Chad Allen drew a one-out walk, then went to second on a wild pitch. Senior catcher Jason Payton slapped a single to left, moving Allen to third, and senior first baseman James Akin slammed a double to left-center, scoring Allen and Payton and giving Murray State an early 2-0 lead.
In the bottom of the first, the Bulldogs (7-8) scored two runs of their own to tie the score at 2-2, but the 'Breds struck again in the second inning.
Sophomore shortstop Justin Yount laced a one-out single through the left side before senior second baseman Seth Hudson tripled to right, scoring Yount. Allen then singled in Hudson to give MSU a 4-2 lead.
From that point, the Gardner-Webb pitchers knuckled down, and the Bulldog bats picked up the pace, as Gardner-Webb score 10 unanswered runs for the 14-4 final.
For Murray State, seven batters each had one hit, with Akin getting a double and two runs batted in and Hudson picking up a triple.
Defensively, Payton had a team-high eight putouts, while Yount claiming three assists.
For Gardner-Webb, Matt Rizzuto went 5-for-5 with a double, a triple, four runs scored and four runs batted in. Josh Jeremiah Lokken went 4-for-4 with a triple, a run and three RBIs, while Drewery went 3-for-5 three RBIs and Shea Harris went 3-for-4 with a double and three runs scored. Daniel Cookehad his first home run of the season for the Bulldogs.
Defensively, first baseman Lokken had 10 putouts, while catcher Harris had five assists.
On the mound, junior right-hander Lucas Allen (0-1) took the loss, allowing six runs on seven hits, striking out one and walking two in two-plus innings. Matt McGaha came on in the third inning, allowing one unearned run on three hits in two innings. Bryan Baldini entered in the fifth inning, allowing four runs on four hits, walking one in one inning. Brad Rowland came on in the sixth, allowing three runs on six hits, striking out four and walking none in two innings. Charlie Wade made his first appearance of the season, allowing one hit and striking out two of the four batters he faced in the ninth inning.
For Gardner-Webb, Ben Campbell (2-1) got the win, allowing four runs on seven hits, striking out six and walking two in seven innings. Tim Thomas came on in the eighth, allowing no runs on no hits, striking out three and walking one in two innings.
Murray State returns home to begin a five-game homestand, beginning with regional rival Evansville on Tuesday at 2 p.m. The 'Breds then host Southern Illinois on Wednesday at 2 p.m., followed by a three-game series against South Dakota State, with a single game on Friday at 2 p.m. followed by a Saturday double-header, beginning at noon. All games will be played at MSU's Reagan Field.
"We're all looking forward to playing some games in a row at home," said MSU head coach Rob McDonald. "Hopefully, we will play like we are capable of playing, and playing in a familiar environment will help us play better."
