Cunningham's Two Home Runs Not Enough in OVC Opener

Saturday, March 27

Clarksville, Tenn.

1 p.m.

Murray State

Austin Peay

3/27/2010 8:00:00 PM | Baseball

Box Score

Murray State senior first baseman hit a pair of solo home runs, but it was not enough as Austin Peay defeated the Breds, 11-8, in the first game of the Ohio Valley Conference doubleheader Saturday afternoon at Raymond C. Hand Park.

The Govs (12-9, 1-0 OVC) got on the board in the first inning as Jon Clinard started the inning with a triple just inside the bag at first base. Jared DeLong drove in the runner with a sacrifice fly to center field on a great diving catch by Elliot Frey.

The Breds (11-10, 0-1 OVC) got the offense going in the second as Jason Laws doubled to right center to start the inning. Colton Moore drove in him in as he hit the next pitch of the top of the wall in left center for another double. Moore later scored on a double-play groundout before Jonathan Craycraft hit a solo home run to straight-away center field.

APSU added an unearned run in the second as Adam Browett was hit by a pitch. Browett advanced to third as the next hitter grounded out to first and the attempt to get the runner at second sailed into left field. John Hogan made the Breds pay as he delivered a sacrifice fly to left field.

MSU added a run in the third as Wes Cunningham hit a solo home run to right field with two outs, his team-leading 10th of the season.

The Govs scored a single run in the third-straight inning as Clinard reached on a fielder's choice and advanced to third on a wild pitch that almost rolled into the dugout. DeLong delivered his second sacrifice fly of the game to score the runner from third.

APSU gained a four-run advantage in the fourth as they pushed across five runs in the inning. Hogan started the scoring with an RBI double to right field. Shayne Martin plated two runners as he slapped an 0-2 pitch down the left-field line to score two runners. Clinard drove in the fourth run with a single to center before coming around to score on DeLong's infield single.

MSU climbed back into the game in the fifth as Craycraft walked and went to third as he stole second and ball sailed into center field. Zach Noonan would walk ahead of Frey's sacrifice fly to center field. Cunningham drew the third base on balls to put a pair of runners on and Laws plated Noonan with a single through the right side. Moore drove in the third run of the inning as he fouled off numerous pitches before pushing and RBI base hit through the right side.

The Govs got one run back in the bottom of the inning as Cody Hudson hit a solo home run to center field.

APSU continued to score in every inning as Reed Harper hit the first pitch of the sixth inning over the wall in left field. Martin followed with his second double of the game and DeLong drove in his fourth run of the game with a single off the leg of the pitcher.

Cunningham hit his second solo home run of the game in seventh as he hit a no-doubt shot to straight-away center field.

Chris Craycraft (4-2) took the loss after allowing 11 runs, 10 earned, on 13 hits over 5.1 innings. Ricky Marshall (4-2) picked up the victory after allowing eight runs on nine hits over 6.2 innings.

Cunningham, Laws, Moore and Jonathan Craycraft each collected two hits in the loss.

The two teams play the second game of the doubleheader approximately 30 minutes after the conclusion of the first game.