Murray State
Nicholls State
Ninth-Inning Drama Doesn't Work At Nicholls State
2/29/2008 6:00:00 AM | Baseball
In their last two games, the Murray State Thoroughbreds were able to push across the game-winning run in the ninth inning, but it wasn't meant to be tonight, as host Nicholls State held on for the 3-2 win. The game was the first of a three-day, three-game series with the Colonels.
Nicholls State (1-5) held the 'Breds to five hits in the game, but managed only seven itself, as MSU pitching did the job, but the offense could not come through.
Nicholls State scored two runs in the second inning, and that was it until the top of the seventh, when Murray State (2-3) responded. Andrew Cella led off with a walk, then Matt Scheer pinch-ran for him. Daniel Miller sacrificed Scheer to second, then Scheer took third on a wild pitch. A groundout RBI by Zach Noonan plated Scheer and brought the 'Breds to within 2-1.
NSU scored a run in the eighth to push ahead 3-1, but the ninth inning showed promise for Murray State. Wes Cunningham led off with a single up the middle, then Matt Hon doubled down the right-field line, moving Cunningham to third. Chris Craycraft hit a sacrifice fly to score Cunningham and pull the 'Breds to within 3-2, but that was all the offense could muster.
Kyle Tiernan led the MSU offense with two hits. Hon picked up a double for the 'Breds. On defense, catcher Miller had a team-high eight putouts, while shortstop Tiernan had a co-game-high four assists.
Nicholls State was led by Brandt Boudreaux, who went 2-for-2, and Anthony Wray, who scored two runs and had a double. On defense, catcher T.J. Menerey had a game-high 11 putouts, while shortstop Keith Kulbeth had four assists.
On the mound, Mike Perconte (0-2) took the loss, allowing three runs on seven hits, striking out eight and walking none in 7-2/3 innings. Anthony Stacy came on in the eighth, retiring the only batter he faced.
For the Colonels, Seth Webster (1-0) got the win as the starter, allowing no runs on three hits, striking out seven and walking two in five innings. Dale Dickerson got his first save of the season, allowing one run on two hits in one inning. Bryan Myers pitched the sixth through eighth innings for NSU, allowing one run on no hits, striking out four and walking one in three innings.
Murray State will play the second game of this three-game series on Saturday, beginning at 3 p.m.
THE 'BRED SPREAD
Murray State Thoroughbreds (2-3)
at Nicholls State Colonels (1-5)
Ray Didier Field (1,000) || Thibodeaux, La.
Murray State: 1-1 away, Nicholls State 1-4 home
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