Breds Score Early and Often in Series Opener Against UT Martin

Friday, April 2

Murray, Ky.

1 p.m.

Murray State

UT Martin

Breds Score Early and Often in Series Opener Against UT Martin

4/2/2010 8:00:00 PM | Baseball

Box Score

Murray State scored 11 runs in the first three innings and that was more than enough for starter Chris Craycraft as the Breds eased their way to an 20-2 victory over UT Martin in the first game of a doubleheader Friday afternoon at Reagan Field.

Craycraft (5-2) allowed just one run on six hits and seven strikeouts over eight innings. The one run he allowed in the sixth put an end to his streak of 16-straight shutout innings against the Skyhawks. The victory was the 20th in the career for the senior, making him just the sixth Breds pitcher to reach 20 wins and the first since Kirk Rueter in 1991.

The Breds (14-11, 2-2 OVC) to the offense in gear in the first inning as Kyle Tiernan singled to center with one out and went to second when the ball was misplayed. Wes Cunninghamm followed with a run-scoring double into the corner in left field. After moving to third on a groundout, Jason Laws walked and Cunningham scored when ball four was wild and got by the cater. Bryan Propst put two runners in scoring position with a double just inside the bag at third. Colton Moore plated both runners with a single back through the middle.

MSU continued to swing the bats in the second as Brandon Elliott doubled down the left-field line and scored on Zach Noonan's single to left field. Tiernan singled through the right side and Cunningham walked to load the bases. Daniel Hill plated two runners with line-drive double over the head of the center fielder. Following a Laws sacrifice fly to left field, Propst hit his eighth home run of the season to left field.

The Breds added a run in the third as Cunningham drew a walk and stole second. Laws drove him in with a single to left center.

MSU continued to the offensive onslot in the fifth as they pushed across seven more runs. Tyler Monkman started the inning with a solo home run to left center, the first in a Breds uniform. Tiernan followed with a single up the middle and Cunningham walked. With one out, Laws comebacker was thrown into center field, allowing one run to score and two runners in scoring position. Propst followed with a sacrifice fly to right center that was dropped. Moore struck out, but reached on a wild pitch to load the bases with one out. Elliot Frey's sacrifice fly to center field. Elliott drove in another run with a double to right field. The final run of the inning scored on Monkman's infield single that was mishandled at first and allowed the run to score.

The Skyhawks (12-13, 1-3 OVC) got on the board in the sixth as Trey Karlen singled through the left side and stole second. Karlen later stole third and scored when the throw reached left field.

The Breds added to runs in the eighth as Cunningham doubled to right center and scored on Hill's home run to left center, his first of the season.

UTM scored its second run of the game in the ninth as Pat Jones doubled to left field and later scored on a single and an error.

Coty Green (4-2) took the loss after allowing nine runs on eight hits in one inning.

Hill went 3-for-6 with a pair of doubles, a home run and four RBIs. Tiernan and Propst each added three hits, while Cunningham tied a career-high with five runs scored.

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