'Breds Use Three Big Innings to Sweep Away Skyhawks

Sunday, May 11

Murray, Ky.

1:00 p.m.

Murray State

UT Martin

5/11/2008 5:00:00 AM | Baseball

The Murray State baseball team put its postseason fate into its own hands as the Thoroughbreds took care of business on Sunday afternoon by completing a three-game sweep of UT Martin with a 13-4 victory. The three-game Ohio Valley Conference sweep was the first for the 'Breds since sweeping Eastern Kentucky on April 9-10, 2005.

The Skyhawks (10-37, 5-17 OVC) got an unearned run in the top of the first as Mark Hartsfield singled to left with one out and went to third on two-straight passed balls. Miles Hartsfield drove him in with a groundout to short.

The 'Breds (20-26, 11-12 OVC) figured things out in the third inning as they took advantage of three walks and a hit batter to push across six runs in the frame. Cory Hodskins started things with a single to right center and Daniel Miller and Matt Scheer walked to load the bases. Kyle Tiernan drew the third-straight walk to push across the first run and Zach Noonan was hit by a pitch for the second run. The second passed ball of the inning pushed across the third run before Wes Cunningham delivered an RBI single to left center. Tyler Owen delivered the fifth run of the stanza with a sacrifice fly to right field. Elliot Frey capped off the scoring with a run-producing double off the fence in right center.

UTM pushed across a run in the fifth as Drew Mason drew a leadoff walk and came around to score on a Scott Gladstone single to center.

MSU pushed its advantage to seven runs in the bottom of the fifth as Noonan drew a leadoff walk and went to third on Cunningham's single up the middle. Owen scored Noonan with a groundout to shortstop. Cunningham broke for third on the play and was scored as the first baseman's throw sailed passed the third baseman. With two outs Frey doubled just inside the bag at third and scored on Hodskins' single through the left side.

The Skyhawks were able to string together four-straight hits in the top of the eighth to push across two runs.

The 'Breds added plenty of insurance in the bottom of the eighth as Frey was hit by a pitch, Hodskins singled through the left side and Matt Scheer singled to short to load the bases. Tiernan drew back-to-back RBI walks before Cunningham delivered a two-run single to center field.

Chris Craycraft (4-4) picked up the victory as he gave up four runs, three earned, on 11 hits over eight innings. Shawn McElyea (0-6) took the loss after giving up six earned runs on three hits and three walks in 2.2 innings.

Cunningham led the offensive charge with three hits and three RBIs. Hodskins also collected three hits, while Tiernan, Noonan and Owen each drove in a pair of runs.

The 'Breds return to the diamond tomorrow evening as they take on Kentucky at 6 p.m. at Brooks Stadium in Paducah.