Murray State University Athletics
Murray State
Samford
'Breds Swept By Samford In Rainy Double-Header
3/29/2008 5:00:00 AM | Baseball
The Murray State Thoroughbreds had literally seen brighter days, hosting Samford in a three-game Ohio Valley Conference series, beginning with today's double-header. Both games were played under rain and cloudy skies, a suitable setting for the outcome, as Samford won the first game 2-0 and the second game 10-6.
The teams will play the final game of the series on Sunday at 1 p.m. at MSU's Reagan Field.
The first game was a defensive battle, with both pitchers going the distance. While Chris Craycraft was the only MSU batter to go hitless for the day, he more than made up for it on the mound in Game 1. He and the Murray State defense retired nine batters in a row from the third through the sixth innings, then got eight in a row near the end of the game.
Samford (14-8, 5-0 OVC) scored two runs in the second inning on a walk, a hit batter, an error and a hit for the only scoring of the game. The skies opened up just after the fourth inning, when a lightning strike forced the teams off the field. After a 34-minute rain delay, play resumed, although there was intermittent rain throughout the day.
Murray State (8-11, 1-4 OVC) was led by Wes Cunningham, who went 2-for-3. On defense, first baseman Taylor Thieke had a game-high nine putouts, while third baseman Tyler Owen had a game-high five assists.
For the Bulldogs, five batters each had a hit, with Michael Rutledge getting a double, the only extra-base hit of the game. On defense, first baseman Marcus Rodriguez had eight putouts, while shortstop Michael Marseco had four assists.
On the mound, Craycraft (2-1, 0-1 OVC) went the distance but got the loss, allowing two runs (one earned) on five hits, striking out nine and walking two in nine innings of work.
Samford's Jonathan Stephens (4-0, 2-0 OVC) got the complete-game win, allowing no runs on six hits, striking out four and walking one in nine innings.
Game 2 had more bat power behind it, as the teams combined for 27 hits, with Samford scoring in each of the first six innings en route to the 10-6 win.
Murray State trailed 6-0 in the bottom of the fourth when the 'Breds got on the scoreboard. Matt Hon hit a one-out double, then went to third on a flyout and scored on a wild pitch to make the score 6-1.
The Bulldogs scored three runs in the fifth inning, but the 'Breds responded, as Matt Phillips led off with a walk and Kyle Tiernan tripled to center field, scoring Phillips. Elliot Frey singled in Tiernan, and Cunningham drew a walk, moving Frey to second. Both runners moved up a base on a groundout, then Brooks Thornton hit an infield single, scoring Frey to make the score 9-4.
Samford scored a run in the sixth inning, but retired in order in the seventh, and Murray State mounted a comeback effort in the bottom of the seventh. Hon reached on a fielding error, then Thornton doubled him in. Cory Hodskins singled, moving Thornton to third, and Evan Pettit got an infield single, scoring Thornton, but MSU was unable to go any farther, falling 10-6.
Murray State was led by Frey, Hon and Thornton, who each had two hits. Hon, Thornton and Phillips each had a double for the 'Breds, while Tiernan got his first triple of the season. Hon scored twice for MSU, while Thornton had two runs batted in. On defense, first baseman Thieke had nine putouts, while third baseman Hon, second baseman Hodskins and pitcher Daniel Calhoun each had three assists.
For Samford, Bill Whitehead went 3-for-4, while Marseco, Wayne Miller, Bear Burnett, John Morgan and Michael Johnson each had two hits. Miller scored three runs for the Bulldogs, while Burnett had three RBIs. On defense,first baseman Matthew Bennett had 12 putouts, while shortstop Marseco had six assists.
On the mound, Calhoun (1-2, 0-2 OVC) took the loss, allowing nine runs (seven earned) on 13 hits, striking out four and walking two in five innings. Matt McGaha entered in the sixth inning, allowing one run on three hits in two innings.
For Samford, Andrew Jones (3-0, 2-0 OVC) got the win as the starter, allowing three runs on five hits, striking out one and walking three in four-plus innings. Kyle Nichols came on in the fifth and got his second save of the season for Samford, allowing three runs (one earned) on six hits, striking out two and walking one in three innings.
"In the first game, both pitchers pitched very well," said MSU head coach Rob McDonald. "They were able to scrape out a couple of runs early on. I thought there were a couple of plays that we should have made, and I thought that made the biggest difference in that game.
"In the second game, Daniel threw all right. There were some balls that we should have made plays on that extended some innings. Samford had some hits in bunches, but it wasn't like they were just teeing off on our pitchers. They were putting the ball in play. We need to come out tomorrow like we did last weekend and fight hard to get the third game. We've got to swing the bats better and do a better job on defense."
AROUND THE OVC
Saturday's Scores
Samford 2-10, at MURRAY STATE 0-6
at Morehead State 3-2, Eastern Kentucky 2-6 (first game 11 inn.)
Jacksonville State 7, at Austin Peay 6 (12 inn.)
at Tennessee Tech 8-3, Eastern Illinois 3-0 (second game 8 inn.)
Southeast Missouri 19, at UT Martin 6
Sunday's Schedule
(dh - double-header; Sunday double-headers are two seven-inning games)
Samford at MURRAY STATE, 1:00 p.m.
Jacksonville State at Austin Peay, 11:00 a.m. (dh)
Southeast Missouri at UT Martin, 11:00 a.m. (dh)
Eastern Kentucky at Morehead State, noon
Eastern Illinois at Tennessee Tech, 1:00 p.m.
Current OVC Standings (OVC / All)
Samford (5-0 / 14-8)
Southeast Missouri (3-1 / 10-8)
Jacksonville State (3-1 / 10-14)
Tennessee Tech (3-2 / 18-7-1)
Eastern Kentucky (3-2 / 10-10-1)
Eastern Illinois (3-2 / 9-12)
Austin Peay (1-3 / 11-10)
MURRAY STATE (1-4 / 8-11)
Morehead State (1-4 / 7-15)
UT Martin (0-4 / 1-19)
