Murray State
Nicholls State
'Breds Take Rubber Game At Nicholls State 13-3
3/2/2008 6:00:00 AM | Baseball
The Murray State Thoroughbreds picked up 12 hits and took advantage of 10 Nicholls State errors to take a 13-3 decision from the homestanding Colonels, winning the three-game series two games to one and improving its record to 4-3.
Although seven runs had already crossed the plate in the game through the first seven innings, the first earned run didn't score until the eighth inning, as the previous runs came across through errors.
Murray State opened the scoring in the second inning, when Taylor Thieke led off and reached on a throwing error. Andrew Cella reached on a throwing error, moving Thieke to second. Tyler Owen then drew a walk to load the bases, and Daniel Miller hit into what looked like a fielder's choice at home, but the throw went wild, allowing Thieke to score, keeping the bases loaded. Elliot Frey singled in Cella, and Brooks Thornton hit a sacrifice fly, scoring Owen. Wes Cunningham singled through the left side, scoring Miller and putting MSU ahead 4-0. The 'Breds sent nine batters to the plate in the inning.
Murray State struck again in the fourth inning. Kyle Tiernan hit a two-out single to center, then went to second on a fielding error. Thornton singled to left, and Tiernan scored on another fielding error to give MSU a 5-0 lead.
Nicholls State (1-7) scored in the bottom of the fourth with the aid of a 'Breds error, but MSU answered in the sixth. Frey led off getting hit by a pitch, then Tiernan got a bunt single, sending Frey to second. Thornton also had a bunt single to load the bases, then Cunningham reached on a wild fielder's choice play. He hit a ground ball to first base, who threw home to get Frey out. Catcher Brett Cook tried to get Tiernan out at third for a double play, but threw it away, allowing Tiernan to score and give MSU a 6-1 lead.
In the eighth inning, Murray State sent 11 batters to the plate, as Tiernan led off with a walk, then Thornton walked. Cunningham singled to load the bases, then Cory Hodskins reached on a fielder's choice, with Tiernan out at the plate. Thieke singled in Thornton, then Matt Phillips doubled in Cunningham and Hodskins, moving Thieke to third. Thieke scored on a groundout, then Miller reached on a throwing error, moving to second and scoring Phillips. Frey was then hit by a pitch for the second time in the game, then Tiernan reached on a fielding error, scoring Miller and giving MSU a 12-0 lead.
Murray State added a run in the top of the ninth inning when Hodskins hit a one-out triple, then Thieke hit a sacrifice fly to score him to push the MSU lead to 13-1. The Colonels were able to plate two runs in the bottom half of the inning for the final score.
Four 'Breds had two hits, including Phillips, who went 2-for-2 with a double, two runs batted in and a run scored; Tiernan, who went 2-for-5 with two runs; Thornton, who went 2-for-4 with a run and two RBIs; and Cunningham, who went 2-for-5 with a run and an RBI. Hodskins had his second triple of the season and scored two runs, while Thieke had two runs and two RBIs and Miller scored twice. On defense, first baseman Thieke had a team-high 10 putouts, while second baseman Hodskins had a team-high four assists.
For Nicholls State, Cook went 2-for-3 with a run scored, while Keith Kulbeth went 2-for-5. A.J. Delaneuville had two RBIs for the Colonels, while Anthony Marino had a double. On defense, Cook had a game-high 11 putouts, while second baseman Zac Bone had a game-high five assists.
On the mound, MSU starter Chris Craycraft (1-0) got the win, allowing one unearned run on five hits, striking out four and walking two in seven innings. Matt McGaha came on in the eighth inning, allowing no runs on two hist in one inning. Bryan Baldini started the ninth inning, allowing two runs on two hits, walking one in two-thirds of an inning, while Drew Leeper closed out the game, retiring the one batter he faced.
For the Colonels, starter Lance Dupuis (0-1) took the loss, allowing five unearned runs on four hits, striking out five and walking two in five innings. Nathan Quebedeaux came on in the sixth inning, allowing one unearned run on two hits, striking out two in one inning, while Drew Erwin entered in the seventh, allowing two runs on one hit, striking out one and walking two in one-plus innings. Ryan Cheramie came on in the eighth, allowing four runs (two earned) on three hits in one inning, while Jacob Sullivan closed the game, allowing one run on two hits in one inning.
Murray State closes out this five-game road swing on Tuesday, when the 'Breds visit Belmont. First pitch is scheduled for 3 p.m.
