Murray State
Morehead State
'Breds Split Double-Header At Morehead State
4/21/2007 5:00:00 AM | Baseball
Murray State split its Ohio Valley Conference double-header at Morehead State on Saturday, winning the first-game slugfest 16-12, but losing the second-game pitchers' duel, 5-3.
The 'Breds (13-23, 7-5 OVC) scored the first 11 runs of its first game at Morehead State (10-26, 4-10 OVC), but still had to hold on, as Morehead State rebounded with 10 unanswered runs of its own, but the 'Breds prevailed, 16-12.
Murray State jumped on the scoreboard early, as senior second baseman Seth Hudson hit a one-out single, collowed by a single by senior first baseman James Akin. Senior catcher Jason Payton singled in Hudson, then senior center fielder Tyler Pittman walked to load the bases. Sophomore third baseman Tyler Owen drove in Akin with a sacrifice fly, then junior designated hitter Andrew Cella singled in Payton to give the 'Breds a 3-0 lead in the first inning.
In the second inning, senior left fielder Austin Swain reached on a walk, went to second on a single by Hudson, went to third on a walk to Akin and scored when Payton was hit by a pitch to increase the Murray lead to 4-0.
In the third inning, the 'Breds took advantage of a Morehead miscue, scoring six runs, only two of those earned, to balloon their lead to 10-0. Owen led off with a single, then Cella hit his first home run of the season to push the score to 6-0. Senior right fielder Jamie Leidolf then walked, and sophomore shortstop Justin Yount reached when his sacrifice bunt was mishandled. Akin hit a two-out double, scoring Leidolf, and Payton was again hit by a pitch to load the bases. Pittman hit a two-run single, then Owen singled in Payton to make it 10-0.
A solo home run by Swain -- his second in as many games -- gave Murray State an 11-0 lead in the middle of the fourth,but that's where the host Eagles mounted their comeback. In the bottom of the fourth, a Murray State error led to five unearned runs, cutting the 'Breds' lead to 11-6.
In the fifth inning, Morehead State plated four runs to pull within 11-10, scoring 10 unanswered runs.
In the top of the seventh, Swain led off with a double off of the right-field netting, then Hudson was hit by a pitch. Both runners advanced on a sacrifice by Akin, then Pittman drove them both in with a single. Owen then singled, and Cella laced a two-run double down the right-field line to expand the Murray State lead to 15-10.
Morehead State tacked on two runs in the eighth, but Murray State added its own in the ninth, when Pittman led off with a double, moved to third on a groundout and scored on a single by Leidolf to close out the scoring at 16-12.
Murray State was led by Cella, who went 3-for-6 with a double, a home run, a run scored and five runs batted in. Pittman went 3-for-5 with a double, two runs and four RBIs, while Owen went 3-for-4 with two runs and two RBIs and Hudson went 3-for-5 with two runs scored. Swain went 2-for-4 with a double, a home run, three runs and an RBI, while Akin went 2-for-4 with a double, two runs and an RBI and Leidolf went 2-for-5 with a run and an RBI.
For Morehead State, Dustin Miles went 3-for-5 with two runs and two RBIs, while Nick Bobrowski went 2-for-4 with a triple, two runs and four RBIs, and Nick Nail went 2-for-3 with two runs and two RBIs.
On the mound, Matt McGaha (2-4, 2-0 OVC) got the win in relief, allowing three runs (one earned) on four hits, striking out three and walking one in 3-1/3 innings. Brad Rowland got his third save of the season, allowing no runs on no hits, striking out three and walking one in 1-1/3 innings. Mike Perconte started for the 'Breds, allowing nine runs (four earned) on eight hits, striking out three and walking one in 4-1/3 innings.
For Morehead State, Quentin Morgan (0-6, 0-3 OVC) took the loss, allowing 10 runs (six earned) on nine hits, striking out one and walking four in 2-2/3 innings. Tyler Bess came on in the third and finished the game, allowing six runs on 10 hits, striking out six and walking two in 6-1/3 innings.
In the second game, Murray State again scored in the first inning, as Swain led off with a walk and Hudson was hit by a pitch. Akin legged out a bunt single to load the bases, and all of the runners advanced on a wild pitch, scoring Swain. Hudson scored on a single by Pittman, giving the 'Breds a 2-0 lead.
Morehead State scored twice in the bottom of the first inning, then tacked on another run in the second to take its first lead of the day, 3-2. The Eagles scored two more in the fourth to take a 5-2 lead.
In the fifth inning, Payton hit a one-out single that went past the center fielder, allowing Payton to move to third base. Payton scored on a double by Pittman, closing out the scoring at 5-3.
Four Murray State batters had two hits apiece, as Hudson, Akin, Payton and Pittman each had two hits in the game, with Pittman getting a double.
For Morehead State, Trent Hanna went 2-for-3.
On the mound, Lucas Allen (2-3, 2-1 OVC) came up short in a pitchers' duel, allowing five runs (four earned) on eight hits, striking out three and walking one in six innings, going the distance.
For Morehead State, Henry Mabee (3-4, 2-2 OVC) went the distance, allowing three runs (two earned) on 11 hits, striking out nine and walking two in seven innings.
The rubber game of the series will be played on Sunday, beginning at noon CT. That game can be heard locally on WOFC (1130 AM, Murray) or worldwide through the live audio link at www.GoRacers.com. Live Stats is also available through that site.
