Murray State University Athletics
Murray State
Jacksonville State
McGaha Pitches Breds to Comeback Victory in Series Finale
4/11/2010 9:00:00 PM | Baseball
Senior left hander Matt McGaha allowed just one run on two hits over three innings to keep Jacksonville State at bay as Murray State scored seven runs over the final three innings to take the final game of the series, 9-6, Sunday afternoon at Rudy Abbott Field.
McGaha (2-0) needed only 33 pitches to earn his second victory of the season. He allowed a one-out single in the seventh and a solo home to start the eighth, but did not allow another runner to reach. He also hit for himself to lead off the ninth inning, drawing a walk, and eventually coming around to score.
"I was very proud of our guys this weekend," said head coach Rob McDonald. "The guys overcame a lot of adversity. Jacksonville State is a very difficult place to go to and win a series. We had many players come through with clutch plays and performances."
The Breds (18-13, 6-3 OVC) got on the board in the second as Colton Moore and Cory Hodskins singled to start the inning. After a sacrifice bunt from Jason Laws, Jonathan Craycraft plated a run with a sacrifice fly to center field.
MSU added one run in the fourth as Hodskins led off the inning with a solo home run to left center, his second of the season.
The Gamecocks (17-15, 6-3) gained the lead in fifth as a pair of singles and a walk loaded the bases with no outs. After a flyout, Bert Smith drove in two runs with a single through the right side and Andrew Edge drove in a run with a groundout to third.
JSU added to the lead in the sixth as Daniel Adamson hit the first pitch of the inning over the fence in left center. With one out, Sharrock singled up the middle and later scored on Todd Cunningham's double into the gap in left center.
The Breds got two runs back in the seventh as Moore singled through the left side and went to third on Hodskins single down the left-field line and error on the left fielder. Jason Laws drove in Moore with a sacrifice fly to left center. Kyle Tiernan drove in the second run when he beat out a single into the hole at second.
MSU regained the lead in the eighth as they needed only one hit to push across three runs. Wes Cunningham started the inning with a walk and Daniel Hill was hit by a pitch. Bryan Propst put down a sacrifice bunt that was thrown passed the third baseman, allowing Cunningham to score and the other two runners to advance. Moore drove in a run with a groundout to short and Laws drove in the third run with a single through the right side.
The Gamecocks got a run back as Adamson hit his second leadoff home run of the game.
The Breds rallied again in the ninth as McGaha hit for himself and drew a walk on a full-count pitch. After moving to second on a wild pitch, McGaha advanced to third on Zach Noonan's flyout to right center. Cunningham drove in McGaha with a single to center and then scored on Hill's double just inside the bag at third.
Hodskins led the offense by going 3-for-5 with an RBI and two runs scored. Cunningham, Hill and Moore each collected two hits.
The Breds return to action Tuesday afternoon as they open a two-game midweek series against Evansville. First pitch is set for 3 p.m. at Reagan Field. The two teams will play at Evansville on Wednesday evening at 6 p.m.
