Murray State
South Dakota State
South Dakota State Holds Off 'Breds 10-7
3/9/2007 6:00:00 AM | Baseball
Despite getting behind 7-1 in the third inning, Murray State mounted a comeback with four runs in the third, one in the sixth andone in the ninth. With the game-winning run at the plate in the bottom of the ninth, South Dakota State pitcher Jacob Kougl was able to entice a strikeout and preserve the 10-7 win for SDSU.
Senior second baseman Seth Hudson led the offense for the 'Breds, going 5-for-5 with a double and two runs batted in.
South Dakota State (7-8) opeend the game with two unearned runs in the first inning. Murray State (2-10) answered in the second inning when senior designated hitter Jason Payton led off with a walk, went to second on a wild pitch, then scored when sophomore third baseman Tyler Owen popped a double to left-center field to cut the SDSU lead to 2-1.
The Jackrabbits tallied five runs in the third inning -- only one of them earned -- but MSU responded in the bottom half of the inning. Junior right fielder Matt Scheer led off with a double, then went to third on a fielding error. Hudson singled in Scheer, then freshman left fielder Chad Allen reached on a fielder's choice that erased Hudson. Senior center fielder Tyler Pittman singled Allen to third, then senior first baseman James Akin singled in Allen. Owen drew a walk to load the bases, then sophomore catcher Daniel Miller singled in Pittman and Akin to cut the deficit to 7-5.
South Dakota State scored three runs in the fourth to take a 10-5 lead, but Murray State scored again in the sixth when sophomore shortstop Justin Yount laced a double down the right-field line, went to third on a groundout, then scored when Hudson singled to right to trim the SDSU lead to 10-6.
The 'Breds mounted one final attack in the ninth inning.Pittman led off with a walk, then went to second on a wild pitch. Payton walked, and the Jackrabbits brought in Kougl for Isaac Johnson on the mound. Akin advanced the runners with a sacrifice bunt, then senior Austin Swain drew a two-out walk to load the bases. Yount also drew a walk to score Pittman, making the score 10-7, the bases still loaded, and senior right fielder Jamie Leidolf at the plate, but Kougl was able to finesse a strikeout and end the threat.
"This was a good ball game," said MSU head coach Rob McDonald. "A couple of defensive plays hurt our pitching. Lucas Allen came in and gave us a chance to get back in it; he really pitched well in the middle innings.
"We battled to the very end. We got ourselves in a position to win it, but we just can't give up so many big innings."
Lucas Allen entered the game in the fourth inning and closed uot the game for the 'Breds, allowing no runs and scattering six hits, striking out two and walking one in 5-1/3 innings.
For Murray State, Payton got a triple and Owen, Yount and Scheer each picked up doubles. Pittman scored twice, while Miller had two runs batted in.
Defensively, Akin had six putouts, while Hudson, Owen and Yount each had two assists.
For South Dakota State, Jake Rogers went 4-for-6 with a home run and a double, while Craig Parry went 2-for-3 with a double and three RBIs.
Defensively, catcher Tony Martin had 10 putouts, while shortstop Rogers had five assists.
On the mound, Jake Donze (1-2) took the loss, allowing seven runs (one earned) on five hits, walking tow in 2-2/3 innings. Drew Leeper came on in the third inning, allowing three runs on three hits and walking three in one inning.
For the Jackrabbits, Johnson (1-0) got the win in relief, allowing two runs on five hits, striking out seven and walking four in 5-1/3 innings. Erik Bess started for SDSU, allowing five runs on seven hits, walking two in 2-2/3 innings. Kogul finished with his fifth save of the season, striking out two and walking two in the ninth.
These teams will face each other in a Saturday double-header, beginning at noon at MSU's Reagan Field. Live Stats for both games will be available through www.GoRacers.com.
