Breds Complete Season-Opening Sweep of Lipscomb

Sunday, February 21

Nashville, Tenn.

1 p.m.

Murray State

Lipscomb

2/21/2010 8:00:00 PM | Baseball

Box Score

Bryan Propst drove in three runs and Wes Cunningham added two more RBI as Murray State completed its first three-game season-opening series sweep since 1963 with an 8-3 victory Sunday afternoon at Dugan Field.

The last three-game sweep came on March 21-23, 1963 at Delta State. MSU won the games by scores of 8-3, 14-4 and 10-6.

“I was very happy with the way the team competed all weekend,” said head coach Rob McDonald. “We got solid efforts from everybody in the lineup and our pitchers were able to work themselves out of some jams. We need to use this weekend as momentum for the upcoming games.”

The Breds (3-0) got on the board in the first as Cunningham reached one a one-out walk and went to second on a wild pitch. Daniel Hill followed with a chopper to third and the throw was up the line. The first baseman applied the tag, but dropped the ball and allowed Cunningham to score from second.

The Bisons (0-3) were able to tie the game in the fourth as Cory Hale drew a one out walk and Andrew Nickerson followed with a single through the left side. A wild pitch advanced both runners before a fielder's choice allowed the runner to score from third.

MSU quickly regained the lead in the fifth as Elliot Frey singled into the hole at short and went to second on a wild pitch. Kyle Tiernan walked before Cunningham ripped an 0-2 pitch through the right side for an RBI base hit. Hill was hit by a pitch before the second wild pitch of the inning plated the second run. Propst delivered the big shot of the inning as he plated two runs with a single back up the middle.

The Breds added another run in the sixth as Jonathan Craycraft walked and Zach Noonan was hit by a pitch. Tiernan was hit by a pitch with one out and Cunningham plated Craycraft with a sacrifice fly to left field.

LU got one run back in the home half of the inning as Hale hit a solo home run to left center.

The Bisons threatened to tie the game in the bottom of the seventh as a leadoff single and a wild pitch put a runner at second with no outs. Antonio Butler plated the runner with a single up the middle and took second on the throw. Tyler Wilson singled through the left side to put runners on the corners with one out. MSU starter Marc Harmon settled in from there and got the next hitter swinging and then ended the inning with a grounder to second.

MSU added an insurance run in the eighth as Noonan singled up the middle and was sacrificed to second by Elliot Frey. Tiernan drew a walk and Hill drove in Noonan with and RBI single up the middle.

Propst was back at it in the ninth as he hit the first pitch of the inning over the fence in left field for his second home run of the season.

Harmon (1-0) picked up the victory after allowing three runs on seven hits over seven innings. Davey Hackett (0-1) took the loss after allowing five runs on five hits and three walks over 4.2 innings.

The Breds return to the field Wednesday afternoon as they travel to take on Kentucky. First pitch is scheduled for 3 p.m. central time.