Tiernan Drives in Career-Best Five as Breds Win Opener

Friday, February 19

Nashville, Tenn.

4 p.m.

Murray State

Lipscomb

Tiernan Drives in Career-Best Five as Breds Win Opener

2/20/2010 2:08:00 AM | Baseball

Box Score

Murray State senior Kyle Tiernan drove in a career-best five runs as the 'Breds jumped out to a lead and held on for an 8-7 victory over Lipscomb in the 2010 season opener Friday afternoon at Dugan Field.

Tiernan, who was playing second after starting the previous 107 games at shortstop, gave the 'Breds their first lead of the game with a two-run single fifth, and later delivered a three-run double into the gap in left center to give MSU the lead for good.

The Bisons (0-1) got on the board in the fourth inning after Cory Hale was hit with the second pitch of the inning. After a groundout advanced the runner to second with two outs, Andrew Nickerson reached on an error as his line drive hit off the glove of the shortstop, allowing the run to score.

The Breds (1-0) wasted little time in answering back on the scoreboard as Bryan Propst belted a leadoff home run on the third pitch of the inning. Jonathan Craycraft followed with a single up the middle and advanced to third on Zach Noonan's one-out double to right field. Kyle Tiernan drove in both runners with a line-drive base hit to left center.

A leadoff walk and a tough call at first helped the Bisons push across a pair of runs in the home-half of the fifth. M.L. Williams started things with a walk and stole second. With two outs and Williams on third, Cory Hale's grounder was stabbed by Cory Hodskins at third. His throw was scooped out of the dirt by Wes Cunningham, but Cunningham was ruled off the bag by the umpire. Hale scored from first as Zach Messer's line drive to left field was lost in the lights and dropped.

MSU brought the offense in the sixth as Propst singled through the left side with one out. Jonathan Craycraft walked and Hodskins was hit by a pitch to load the bases. Noonan drew a walk to give the 'Breds a one-run lead and Tiernan followed with a bases-clearing double to left center.

LU got two runs back in the bottom of the inning Lee Wilson delivered an RBI single through the right side and later scored on Tyler Wilson's double to left center.

MSU got one run back in the seventh Daniel Hill and Jason Laws singled to start the frame. Jonathan Craycraft loaded the bases with a walk and Hodskins drove in Hill with a base hit back through the middle.

The Bisons continued the scoring in the bottom of the seventh as Hale doubled to center to start the inning and scored on Andrew Nickerson's single through the left side.

LU threatened again in the ninth as Hale doubled to left center and came around to score on a passed ball with two outs. With the tying run on second, Dan Huff got the next hitter to fly harmlessly to center field to end the game.

Chris Craycraft (1-0) picked up the victory after allowing five runs, three earned, on six hits and seven strikeouts over six innings. Huff (1) picked up the safe after giving up two runs, one earned, on four hits and three strikeouts over the final three innings. Mike Grace (0-1) was saddled with the loss after allowing five earned runs on four hits and a pair of walks in 1.1 innings.

Tiernan paced the offense by going 3-for-5 with five RBI. Cunningham also collected three hits, while Propst added two.

The two teams play the second game of the three-game series tomorrow afternoon at 2 p.m.