Eighth Inning the Differnce in 'Breds Loss

Saturday, May 3

Cookeville, Tenn.

2 p.m.

Murray State

Tennessee Tech

5/3/2008 5:00:00 AM | Baseball

For the second consecutive game, the eighth inning was the difference for Murray State as Tennessee Tech scored five runs to break open a tie game and hand the Thoroughbreds a 12-7 defeat in the first game of a three-game Ohio Valley Conference series at Howell Bush Stadium.

The Golden Eagles started their rally with back-to-back one-out walks before Alex Henry delivered an RBI single to right center. After the bases were loaded, Jake New was hit by a pitch to drive in a run and A.J. Kirby-Jones delivered the back breaker with a bases-clearing double into the gap in left center.

The 'Breds (16-25, 7-11 OVC) got on the board in the first inning as Zach Noonan hit a solo shot to left-center field for his team-leading third long-ball of the season.

The Golden Eagles (30-15-1, 10-9 OVC) answered back in the home-half of the inning as they took advantage of a couple misplayed balls by the MSU infield. The first two runners reached on a single and an error before the runners advanced on a groundout to second. Chris King singled home a run with a check-swing roller just to the left of the mound and a fielder's choice off the bat of Kirby-Jones.

MSU did not stay down long as they responded with four runs in the second inning. Matt Hon started the rally with a single up the middle before Taylor Thieke tucked a two-run home run inside the foul pole in right field. Elliot Frey kept the rally going with a single up the middle and advanced to third on a pair of wild pitches. After a walk to Daniel Miller, the third wild pitch of the inning scored Frey from third. The fourth wild pitch advanced the runner to second and Matt Scheer successfully moved the runner to third with a bunt. Kyle Tiernan drove in the runner with a double to the base of the wall in right center.

TTU got one run back in the bottom of the inning as Sean Reilly started the inning with a solo home run to right field.

The Golden Eagles offense struck quickly in the third as they got an RBI single from Kirby-Jones and a three-run home run from Evan Webb before any outs were recorded.

The 'Breds tied the game in the top of the seventh as they loaded the bases with one out. Frey drove in the first run by being hit by a pitch and Andrew Cella followed with a groudout to first that plated the second run.

Kirby-Jones (2-1) also picked up the victory on the mound as he allowed one hit and struck out four over 2.2 innings. Anthony Stacy (1-4) took the loss after surrendering five runs on one hit and three walks in one-third of an inning.

The 'Breds and Golden Eagles will play the second game of the doubleheader approximately 30 minutes after the completion of the first game.