Breds Roll to 16-6 Victory

Saturday, February 20

Nashville, Tenn.

2 p.m.

Murray State

Lipscomb

2/20/2010 10:00:00 PM | Baseball

Box Score

Freshman third baseman Colton Moore made the most of his first collegiate game as he went 4-for-5 with a pair of RBIs in Murray State's 16-6 victory over Lipscomb in the second game of a three-game series at Dugan Field.

“It was good to see Jake Donze come out today in his first outing and throw well,” said head coach Rob McDonald. “He competed well and we made some good plays behind him. Colton Moore also had a big day in his first outing and we know he is going to be a good player for us.”

The Breds (2-0) rallied with two outs in the first inning to push across two runs. Wes Cunningham reached on a fielder's choice for the second out, and stole second. Daniel Hill drove in the run with a base hit through the left side. Hill took second on the throw home and went to third on a wild pitch. Following a walk to Bryan Propst and a stolen base, Jonathan Craycraft drove in Hill with a base hit through the right side.

MSU added to its lead in the second as Moore started the inning with an infield hit into the hole at short. Moore advanced to third with two outs on a wild pitch and a balk. Kyle Tiernan walked for the second time in the game and stole second. Tiernan stole second and Elliot Frey walked. Ball four was mishandled by the catcher, allowing Moore to score from third on the passed ball. Cunningham made the Bisons pay as he deposited a 2-1 pitch well over the fence in left center to put the Breds up 6-0.

The offense added a run in the third as Propst singed to center and went to second on Moore's single through the right side. Drew Pixley walked to load the bases and Zach Noonan followed with an RBI single through the left side.

A pair of runs crossed the plate for the Breds in the fourth as Hill drew a one-out walk and scored on Propst's double into the gap in left center. Craycraft put runners on the corners with a single to center and Moore drove in Propst with a single back through the middle.

The Bisons (0-2) got on the board in the fourth as Cory Hale doubled to right center to leadoff the inning. Andrew Nickerson followed with a ball that was misplayed by the shortstop, allowing the runner to score. Two more walks loaded the bases and Kyle Henry plated a run by drawing the third-straight base on balls. MSU starter Jake Donze settled down from there as he got the next hitter on strikes and then induced a 6-4-3 double play to end the threat and the inning.

MSU added an unearned run in the fifth as Noonan walked and went to second on Tiernan's single to left field. With one out, Cunningham flied out to center, but the ball was thrown into the 'Breds dugout and Noonan scored from second.

LU added a run in the fifth as Tyler Wilson singled up the middle and went to second on a groundout. Wilson then stole third and scored when the catcher's throw sailed into left field.

The Breds added another run in the eighth as Cunningham singled to third and advanced to second on the throwing error. Hill advanced the runner with a single through the left side. Cunningham scored as MSU executed a double steal with two outs.

MSU scored for the seventh inning in the top of the ninth as Moore singled through the left side and Pixley walked. A wild pitch moved up both runners and Noonan had a run-producing single through the left side. Tiernan followed with an RBI single through the right side. With runners on the corners, Hill delivered a sacrifice fly to center. Propst and pinch hitter Brandon Elliott walked to load the bases before Moore came up for the second time in the inning and drew a bases-load RBI walk.

This Bisons took advantage of the fifth of the day for the Breds to push across three runs in the bottom of the ninth.

Donze (1-0) picked up the victory after allowing three runs, one earned, on five hits and five strikeouts over six innings. Matt McGaha (1) picked up the save after allowing one earned run over the final three innings. Matt Bowling (0-1) took the loss after surrendering six runs on four hits and four walks over two innings.

Tiernan, Cunningham, Hill, Propst, Craycraft, Moore and Noonan each collected multiple hits as the Breds collected 18 in the game.

“We played better as a team today,” said McDonald. “Yesterday, we looked like it was our first time on the baseball field and today we looked more comfortable.”

The two teams close out the three-game series tomorrow afternoon at 1 p.m.