Murray State University Athletics
Murray State
Lipscomb
'Breds Fall At Lipscomb 4-3
3/25/2008 5:00:00 AM | Baseball
Back-to-back doubles in the fifth inning gave homestanding Lipscomb the lead, then an unearned run in the sixth inning turned out to be the deciding run, as Murray State dropped a 4-3 decision in Nashville tonight. The teams will face each other again on Wednesday, this time at MSU's Reagan Field, with first pitch scheduled for 3 p.m.
Murray State (7-9) broke open a scoreless tie in the third inning when Elliot Frey hit a two-out single to right field. The fielder misplayed the ball, and Frey was able to circle the bases for the first run of the game. Wes Cunningham popped an infield single of his own, then Taylor Thieke singled up the middle, moving Cunningham to third. Matt Hon singled in Cunningham on an 0-2 pitch, giving the Thoroughbreds a 2-0 lead.
Lipscomb (12-9) scored a run in the bottom half of the third, then took the lead in the fifth inning when Allen Bolden drew a two-out walk, then Caleb Joseph doubled him home. Justin Sanders then doubled in Joseph to give the Bisons a 3-2 lead. Lipscomb then plated an unearned run in the sixth to push the lead to 4-2.
Murray State got a run back in the seventh inning when Matt Scheer was hit by a pitch, then went to third when Kyle Tiernan hit a one-out single and was thrown out at second. Frey picked up his second hit of the day when his single to center plated Scheer and cut the Bisons' lead to 4-3.
In the top of the ninth inning, the 'Breds mounted a comeback effort, as Matt Phillips hit a one-out pinch-hit infield single, but a double play erased the effort and ended the game.
Frey, Tiernan and Cunningham each had two hits to lead Murray State. Frey had a run and a run batted in, while Cunningham and Scheer each scored a run and Hon drove in one. On defense, first baseman Thieke and catcher Daniel Miller each had a team-high six putouts, while third baseman Hon had a co-game-high three assists.
For Lipscomb, Shane Simpkins had three hits, with a double and a run scored, while Caleb Joseph had two hits, with a double, a run and two RBIs. Allen Bolden scored twice for the Bisons. On defense, catcher Joseph had 13 putouts, while shortstop Jorge Gutierrez and second baseman Ben Williams each had three assists.
On the mound, starter Marc Harmon (0-2) took the loss for Murray State, allowing four runs (three earned) on eight hits, striking out four and walking three in 5-2/3 innings. Brad Rowland made his first appearance of the season and finished the game, allowing no runs on one hit, striking out one and walking none in 2-1/3 innings. Rowland came on in the sixth with two runners on and left them on base.
For Lipscomb, starter Josh Smith (1-2) got the win, allowing three runs on eight hits, striking out nine and walking one in seven innings. Rex Brothers pitched the ninth inning and earned his first save of the season, allowing one hit and striking out one, facing the minimum three batters for the inning. Kyle Tognazzini pitched the eighth inning, striking out all three batters he faced.
