Cunningham Big Fly Gives 'Breds 11-7 Victory

Sunday, March 29

Murray, Ky.

12 p.m.

Murray State

SIU Edwardsville

3/29/2009 5:00:00 AM | Baseball

Wes Cunningham's three-run home run in the bottom of the sixth inning broke a tie game and propelled Murray State to an 11-7 victory in the first game of a doubleheader Sunday afternoon at Reagan Field.

Kyle Tiernan started the inning with a single to left center and Zach Noonan followed with a walk. With runners on the corners, Cunningham jacked the 3-2 pitch well over the fence in right center. Jason Laws followed with a double to left field and scored the fourth run of the inning on Jonathan Craycraft's single to right field.

The Cougars (4-14) took advantage of the third 'Breds error of the game to push across four unearned runs in the second inning. With two on and two outs, Michael Hopkins blooped a two-run single over the head of the shortstop. Josh Street followed with a wind-aided home run to center field.

A two-out rally got the 'Breds (18-7) back into the game in the second as Craycraft singled up the middle and Bryan Propst doubled off the fence in left field. Daniel Miller drove in both runs with a single back through the box.

SIUE added a run in the third as Dustin Brooks started the inning with a double down the left-field line and scored on Brett Keeler's two-out double to right center.

MSU got the offense rolling in the third as they pushed across five runs to take their first lead of the game. Noonan started the frame with a base on balls. Cunningham followed with a single through the right side that went through the legs of the right fielder allowing Noonan to score and Cunningham end up at third. A wild pitch scored Cunningham, ahead of base hits from Laws and Craycraft, and a hit by pitch of Propst. Miller delivered his second big hit of the game as he cleared the bases with a double into the gap in left center.

The Cougars tied the game in the sixth as Zach Hawkins doubled to left field and scored on Keeler's home run to right field.

Daniel Calhoun (6-0) picked up the victory despite not having his best outing of the season. He allowed seven runs, three earned, on 10 hits and seven strikeouts. Josh Hoguet (1-1) took the loss after surrendering seven runs on six hits and three walks in 3.1 innings.

Cunningham led the offense by going 3-for-4 with three RBIs. Miller collected two hits and drove in a career-best five runs. Craycraft added three hits and scored a pair of runs.

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