Murray State University Athletics
Murray State
Kentucky
Breds Knock Off #22 Kentucky
3/15/2010 11:00:00 PM | Baseball
Murray State got an outstanding start from right hander Dan Huff, and first baseman Wes Cunningham drove in four runs as the Breds held off a late Wildcat rally in handing #22 Kentucky a 7-5 defeat Monday afternoon at Cliff Hagan Stadium.
With a three-run leading heading into the bottom of the ninth, MSU turned to ace Chris Craycraft. A pair of walks and a base hit loaded the bases with no outs. Chris Bisson delivered an RBI pinch-hit single.
With the winning run now on first, Craycraft got a chopper to first and Cunningham stepped on first and threw a strike to home where Jason Laws blocked the plate and tagged the runner to complete the double play. The next hitter flew out to left field to end the threat and the game.
"Any time we beat a ranked SEC opponent, it is a good victory," said head coach Rob McDonald. "I am proud of the way our guys competed and kept their composure. The opportunity to do something special is why we schedule teams like UK."
A pair of fielding errors helped the Breds push across an unearned run in the second. Laws reached on a fielding error by the first baseman and Colton Moore followed with a grounder to second that was thrown away, putting runners on second and third with no outs. Bryan Propst grounded out to short to score Laws from third.
The Wildcats (13-3) responded quickly as Braden Kapetyn started the second with a solo home run to left field.
The Breds (7-8) regained the lead in the third as Zach Noonan drew a one-out base on balls and Elliot Frey followed with a single up the middle. Cunningham delivered the big blow with a three-run opposite field home run to left center.
MSU added to its lead in the fourth as Jonathan Craycraft reached on a fielding error and Propst singled through the left side. Cory Hodskins put down a sacrifice bunt and Brandon Elliott blooped an RBI single into right field. Noonan was hit by a pitch to load the bases and Frey drew a bases-loaded walk. Cunningham drove in his fourth run of the game with a run-scoring single to right field.
UK got a run back in the bottom of the fourth as a pair of hits put two runners on with one out. Keenan Wiley hit a chopper to first and the throw hit the runner going to second to load the bases. Michael Williams collected an RBI with a groundout to first.
The Cats added another run in the fifth on Chad Wright's solo home run to right center, before Gunner Glad hit a leadoff homer to left center in the sixth.
Huff (1-2) tossed 130 pitches and allowed four runs, three earned, on a career-best six strikeouts over eight innings. Craycraft earned his first career save. Sam Kidd (1-1) took the loss after allowing seven runs, five earned, on four hits over 3.1 innings.
Cunningham led the offense by going 3-for-5 with a home run and four RBIs.
The Breds return to the diamond Wednesday afternoon as they play host to Southern Illinois. First pitch is set for 2 p.m. at Reagan Field.
