Cunningham Sets Single-Season Home Run Mark in Victory Over SEMO

Sunday, May 2

Cape Girardeau, Mo.

2 p.m.

Murray State

Southeast Missouri

Cunningham Sets Single-Season Home Run Mark in Victory Over SEMO

5/2/2010 11:00:00 PM | Baseball

Box Score

Senior first baseman Wes Cunningham established a new single-season home run mark at Murray State when he delivered a three-run home run in the top of the fourth inning to help the Breds complete a doubleheader sweep over Southeast Missouri, 13-9, Sunday afternoon at Capaha Field.

The Breds (21-21, 8-5 OVC) continued their momentum from the first game into the first inning of the second game as they sent 10 hitters to the plate in scoring seven runs on six hits. Zach Noonan started the game with a double off the wall in left center and went to third on Brandon Elliott's bunt single. Cunningham drove in Noonan with a single through the right side. Bryan Propst's grounder to short was misplayed, allowing another run to score. Jason Laws loaded the bases with a single through the left side before Colton Moore chased the starting pitcher with a two-run double into the gap in right center.

After a fielder's choice put runners on the corners, Jonathan Craycraft delivered a sacrifice fly to center field. Elliot Frey capped off the scoring with a two-run blast to left field, his third of the season.

The Redhawks (26-17, 10-6 OVC) got on the board in the second as Louie Haseltine singled to third and went to second on a throwing error. A single through the left side by Blake Slattery put runners on the corners. Tim Rupp drove in a run with a sacrifice fly to left field and Ky Burgess added the second run on a single to right center.

SEMO continued to creep back into the game in the third as Michael Adamson and Jim Klocke singled to start the inning. Casey Jones drove in a run with a double to left field and Haseltine delivered a sacrifice fly to left field.

MSU struck again in the fourth as Frey doubled off the wall in right field and went to third on Elliott's single through the right side. Cunningham wasted little time in clearing the bases as he hit the first pitch he saw over the wall in right center to establish a new single-season home run record at MSU.

The Redhawks added one run in the fourth as Tim Rupp hit a solo home run to left center to leadoff the inning.

The Breds added an unearned run in the fifth as Craycraft singled to right center with two outs. Frey followed with a single to left field that found its way through the legs of the left fielder and allowed Craycraft to score from first.

SEMO continued to battle back in the fifth as a hit by pitch, single and a walk loaded the bases with one out. Jesse Tierney drove in the only run of the inning with a single to right field.

The Redhawks moved within two runs in the sixth as Blake Slattery drew a bases-loaded walk, Brett Russell delivered a run-scoring single to right and Rupp drove in a run with a fielder's choice.

MSU got a pair of much-needed insurance runs in the seventh as Frey reached on a fielder's choice and scored ahead of Noonan's two-run home run to left field.

Will Handlin (1-1) earned the victory in relief after allowing no hits and two walks over 1.1 innings. Dan Huff (4) earned the save after striking out the only hitter he faced in the seventh. Jordan Underwood (4-4) took the loss after allowing six runs, three earned, on five hits without retiring a hitter.

Cunningham led the offense by going 3-for-4 with a homer and four RBIs. Elliott and Frey also added three hits, while Noonan added a pair of extra-base hits.

The Breds will take a week off for final exams before returning to the diamond May 8-9 against Eastern Kentucky. The doubleheader gets underway at 1 p.m. at Reagan Field.