Late Error Sinks 'Breds at Evansville

Tuesday, April 14

Evansville, Ind.

6 p.m.

Murray State

Evansville

4/15/2009 1:15:00 AM | Baseball

A costly fielding error with two outs in the bottom of the eighth inning led to Greg Wallace's grand slam to right field to cap off Evansville's comeback as the Aces scored six unearned runs in the seventh and eighth innings to hand Murray State an 11-9 defeat Tuesday evening at Braun Stadium.

UE (15-18) looked to go down quietly in the eighth as the first two hitters were retired. Alex Acheson started a rally with a single through the left side. Jim Viscomi followed by being hit by a pitch and Cody Fick reached on a fielding error by the shortstop. Wallace then followed with the big blow, his fifth home run of the season.

The Purple Aces got on the board in the second as Nate Smith walked and went to second on a bloop single to center from Andy Smith. With one out, Alex Acheson was hit by a pitch to load the bases. Viscomi drove in two runs with a single through the right side, ahead of Fick's sacrifice fly to right field.

The 'Breds (20-14) responded with two unearned runs in the third as Elliot Frey reached second on a throwing error by the shortstop. Daniel Hill followed with a fly ball down the right-field line that was dropped. Jason Laws drove in a run with a slow groundout to third before Jonathan Craycraft drove in the second run with a single to right field.

UE got the two runs back in the home-half of the inning as Peter Tountas delivered a two-run home run to straight-away center field.

MSU rudely greeted UE reliever Jared Baehl in the fourth as they pushed across five runs in knocking him out in two-thirds of an inning. Matt Phillips started the frame with a bunt single to third and Kyle Tiernan followed with a single through the left side. After a wild pitch advanced the runners, Frey delivered a two-run single back through the box. A Hill single to left put two runners on ahead of Bryan Propst's two run double to right center. Craycraft drove in his second run of the game with a single through the right side.

The 'Breds off ense continued in the sixth as Tiernan drew a one-out walk and scored on Zach Noonan's triple to right center. A passed ball three pitches later allowed Noonan to score from third.

UE got two runs in the seventh as they took advantage a of mistake in the field from the 'Breds. Viscomi started a rally with a one-out double to left center. Fick followed with a walk and a run scored when the next hitter reached on a fielding error by the pitching covering first. With the bases loaded, Andy Pascoe delivered a sacrifice fly to center field.

Matt McGaha (2-1) took the loss after giving up four unearned runs on four hits over two-thirds of an inning. Corey Davisson (2-0) picked up the victory by pitching a perfect eighth inning. J.R. Carbonell (2) picked up the save after allowing one hit in the ninth.

Noonan led the offense by going 4-for-6 with an RBI and a run scored. Hill added three hits, while Craycraft added two hits and two RBIs.

The 'Breds return to the diamond tomorrow afternoon as they play host to Belmont. First pitch is set for 3 p.m. at Reagan Field.