Cunningham Ties School Record as Offense Erupts Against Mid-Continent

Wednesday, March 25

Murray, Ky.

1 p.m.

Murray State

Mid-Continent

Cunningham Ties School Record as Offense Erupts Against Mid-Continent

3/25/2009 5:00:00 AM | Baseball

Wes Cunningham went 3-for-3, including becoming the 10th 'Bred to record two tiples in a game, as Murray State errupted for a 17-3 victory over Mid-Continent in the first game of a doubleheader Wednesday afternoon at Reagan Field.

Cunningham, who drove in one and scored four runs, was not hte only hitting star for MSU as Jason Laws went 2-for-3 with three RBIs and three runs scored, and Bryan Propst was 2-for-3 with three RBIs.

The Cougars (8-23) got on the board in the first inning as Daniel Williams singled through the left side and later scored on a groundout to short off the bat of Adam Connor.

The 'Breds (15-7) got the run back in the home half of the inning as Cunningham singled to right center with two outs, extending his streak to 29-straight games reaching safely. After a wild pitch moved the runner to scoring position, Tyler Owen plated the runner with an infield single to second.

MSU gained the lead in the second as Propst doubled to right field and Daniel Miller walked. Elliot Frey drove in both runners with a triple into the right-center gap.

MCU strung four-straight hits together in the third inning and Connor made the 'Breds pay as his single through the left side plated two runners.

The 'Breds again had an answer as Cunningham started the inning with a triple to center field and scored on Laws' single through the right side. Daniel Miller extended the lead by driving in two runners with a single to center field after fouling off four-straight pitches.

MSU took control of the game in the fourth as a costly Cougar error helped the 'Breds push across five runs. Kyle Tiernan started things with a base on balls and scored on Cunningham's triple into the gap in left center. After walks to Owen and Laws loaded the bases, Jonathan Craycraft hit a one-hopper that was booted by the shortstop allowing two runs to score. The throw to third ende up near the dugout, allowing the third run to score and Craycraft to reach third. Propst plated the runner from third with a sacrifice fly down the right-field line.

The MSU offense continued to swing the bats in the fifth as Tiernan doubled down the left field line, Noonan singled to second and Cunningham walked to load the bases with one out. Laws drove in two runs with a single back through the box and Craycraft hit the next pitch through the left side for an RBI single. Propst drove in two runs with his second double of the game, this time to straight-away center field.

The 'Breds continued to score in every inning in the sixth as Frey singled to center and went to second on a balk. Zach Noonan drove in Frey with a double to the base of the fence in left center.

Anthony Stacy (1-1) earned the victory after giving up three runs on seven hits in a pre-determined three innings of work. Sean Aldrich (2-4) took the loss after giving up six runs on seven hits over three innings.

The two teams will play the second game of the doubleheader 30 minutes after the conclusion of the first game.