Murray State
Austin Peay
'Breds Split Twinbill With Top-Ranked Austin Peay
5/12/2007 5:00:00 AM | Baseball
The Murray State Thoroughbreds saw a first-inning 6-0 lead evaporate in the second game of its Ohio Valley Conference double-header against top-ranked Austin Peay, but was able to work its way back into the game, scoring on a wild pitch in the 10th inning to gain a split of Saturday's double-header with a 7-6 win. The Governors won the first game of the twinbill 7-3.
Murray State (17-30, 11-10 OVC) jumped on APSU starter Matt Reynolds in the first inning, as senior first baseman James Akin drew a one-out walk, then senior designated hitter Jason Payton walked. Sophomore third baseman Tyler Owen then singled up the middle, driving in Akin and moving Payton to second.
Senior center fielder Tyler Pittman then stepped up and popped a single to right-center field, driving in Payton and moving Owen to third. That hit gave Pittman his 219th career hit, giving him the new MSU career hits record.
Freshman left fielder Chad Allen was hit by a pitch to load the bases, and senior right fielder Jamie Leidolf slapped a single to right-center field, plating Owen and Pittman and giving MSU a 4-0 lead. Sophomore catcher Daniel Miller then hit the ball to second base, and J.B. Gilbert came home with the throw. The ball kicked off of Allen's foot as he slif into home, allowing Leidolf to score and give the 'Breds a 6-0 lead.
Austin Peay (33-18, 11-10 OVC) was able to score three runs in the third inning and three more in the sixth to knot the game at 6-6.
In the 10th inning, Owen led off with a walk, and Pittman singled him to second. Owen was put out on a fielder's choice, and Leidolf walked to load the bases. Pittman scored on a wild pitch to give Murray State the 7-6 win.
"I'm really proud of the way we started the game, but I'm disappointed in the way we went flat," said MSU head coach Rob McDonald. "There have been plenty of games where we played well enough to win,but didn't get the breaks, so I'm not real sure we should have won this game, but we'll take it."
The defensive story of the game was sophomore left-hander Anthony Stacy (2-0, 1-0 OVC), who came on in the seventh inning and retired the first 11 batters he faced before allowing a walk. He got the win, allowing no runs on no hits, striking out one and walking one in four innings of relief. Lucas Allen started for MSU, allowing three runs on three hits, striking out one and walking three in three innings. Brad Rowland entered in the fourth inning, allowing three runs on six hits and walking one in three-plus innings.
Leading the 'Breds' offense was Pittman, who went 2-for-5 with two runs scored and a run batted in, and Akin, who went 2-for-4 with a run. Leidolf had two RBIs for MSU. Defensively, Akin had a game-high 11 putouts, while sophomore shortstop Justin Yount had four assists.
For Austin Peay, Gilbert went 3-for-5 with a run and an RBI, while Tyler Farrer went 2-for-4 with a run. Will Hogue hit his eighth home run of the season (his second of the day), a three-run shot in the third inning, and Rafael Hill had two RBIs for the Governors. Defensively, first baseman Jake Lane had 10 putouts, while shortstop Levi Cheshire had six assists.
On the mound, Matt Kole (2-1, 0-1 OVC) took the loss in relief, allowing one run on one hit, walking one in one-third of an inning. Reynolds pitched well after a shaky first inning, allowing six runs (five earned) on seven hits, striking out one and walking three in six innings. Ben Wilshire came on in the seventh, allowing no runs on one hit, striking out two and walking one in three-plus innings.
In the first game, Murray State scored first, but had problems with one of the best pitchers in the league, as APSU's Shawn Kelley withstood an early 'Breds storm in MSU's 7-3 loss.
Murray State started off strongly, as senior left fielder Austin Swain led off with a single, then reached second on a fielder's choice. Akin singled up the middle, scoring Swain, then went to second on a wild pitch. Pittman singled in Akin to give MSU a 2-0 lead.
APSU scored a run in the second inning, but the 'Breds responded in the third. Senior second baseman Seth Hudson led off with a single, then Akin singled him to second. Payton singled in Hudson to give MSU a 3-1 lead.
The Govs scored a run in the fourth, then tied the game in the fifth. APSU took the lead in the sixth inning with the help of a costly throwing error, then added two in the ninth for the 7-3 final.
Murray State was led by Hudson, who went 2-for-4 with a double and a run, and Akin, who went 2-for-5 with a run and an RBI. Defensively, catcher Payton had nine putouts, while Hudson and Yount each had three assists.
For Austin Peay, Rafael Hill went 3-for-5 with a double and two RBIs, while Farrar went 3-for-5 and Lane went 2-for-5 with an RBI. Hogue hit a home run, a solo shot in the second inning, and finished with two runs and two RBIs, while Matt Smith doubled and Gilbert scored twice for APSU. Defensively, Lane had 10 putouts, while Gilbert had eight assists at second base.
On the mound, Mike Perconte (5-6, 4-3 OVC) took the loss, allowing five runs (two earned) on nine hits, striking out eight and walking two in 7-1/3 innings. Matt McGaha came on in the eighth, allowing two runs on three hits and walking one in 1-2/3 innings.
For the Govs, Kelley (10-2, 7-0 OVC) got the win, allowing three runs on nine hits, striking out three and walking one in eight innings. Ben Wilshire pitched the ninth, allowing two walks.
The teams will play the rubber game of the series on Sunday at 1 p.m. at MSU's Reagan Field. The game can be heard locally on WOFC (1130 AM, Murray) and worldwide through the live audio link at www.GoRacers.com. Live Stats will also be available through that Web site.
MAGIC RESET: As any baseball fan knows, the problem with trying to predict finishes too early is that anything can happen between now and then. While Murray State's "magic number" to clinch a spot in the O'Reilly OVC Championship Tournament was four over Eastern Illinois going into today, that number was reduced to one, with EIU's two losses this afternoon. However, Tennessee Tech lost twice to Samford, moving the Bulldogs into a tie for sixth with the Golden Eagles at 10-13, with EIU falling into eighth place at 8-14.
So, with a new seventh-place team, the "magic number" has to be refigured. The 'Breds' "magic number" to clinch a berth in the post-season tournament is three over Samford and Tennessee Tech. What that means is that any combination of MSU wins and Samford or TTU losses totaling three (this weekend and next) will keep Murray State ahead of Samford or Tech for the remainder of the season.
MSU's "magic number" over EIU is still one, which means that a win by the 'Breds or a loss by Eastern Illinois will keep MSU ahead of EIU for the rest of the season. By staying ahead of enough teams, the 'Breds should get into the tournament. Murray State has already clinched finishing ahead of Morehead State (8-15 OVC) and Tennessee-Martin (7-15).
The smart thing may be to wait until the end of the season.
RECORD SETTERS: As mentioned before, Tyler Pittman set a new Murray State career hits record, now at 220, surpassing the former record of 218 set by Craig Delk (1995-98). Seth Hudson remains on his heels, getting his 216th career hit this afternoon.
Pittman extended his career at-bats record, becoming the first 'Bred to get 750 career at-bats this afternoon. He also moved into fourth place on the career runs list, now with 137 runs, passing Gary Blaine (1981-84), who had 136 career runs. Hudson now has 129 career runs, just three behind sixth-place Lee Hutson (1981-84).
Jason Payton was hit by a pitch in today's double-header, the 13th time for him to be hit by a pitch this season. He is one short of the MSU single-season record of 14, set by Brett Mullins (2005).
