Cunningham's Career Day Fuels Breds Sweep Over Colonels

Sunday, May 9

Murray, Ky.

1 p.m.

Murray State

Eastern Kentucky

Cunningham's Career Day Fuels Breds Sweep Over Colonels

5/9/2010 9:00:00 PM | Baseball

Box Score

Murray State senior first baseman Wes Cunningham drove in a career-best six runs as he set or tied three single-season and career records Sunday afternoon as the Breds completed a three-game sweep over Eastern Kentucky with an 18-5 victory at Reagan Field.

Cunningham finished the game 2-for-4 with a double, triple and six RBIs. The two hits give him 81 on the season, tying him with Craig Delk (1998). His six runs batted in raised his season total to 72, breaking the old mark of 69 set last season by teammate Daniel Hill. The triple in the sixth inning was the 13th of his career, breaking the tie with former major leaguer Jack Perconte for the all-time record.

“It's obvious the type of season and career he has had,” said head coach Rob McDonald. “Today, he showed why he is so outstanding as he came up and got some big hits when we really needed him, with the game still tight. He helped break the game open with his two hits today with clutch hits. It's not like he is up their feeding off when it is easy in a lopsided win.”

The Colonels (22-22, 8-10 OVC) got on the board in the first inning a pair of hit batters and a walk loaded the bases with one out. Ryan Faidley drove in the only run of the inning with a sacrifice fly to right center.

The Breds (24-21, 11-5 OVC) got on the board in the third inning after Cory Hodskins drew a leadoff walk and went to second on a wild pitch. Kyle Tiernan drove in Hodskins with an RBI single through the left side.

MSU broke the game wide open in the fifth inning as Jason Laws reached second on a throwing error by the shortstop. Hodskins drove in the runner with a single to left field. With two outs, Elliot Frey and Zach Noonan walked to load the bases. Brandon Elliott walked to score a run and Cunningham cleared the bases with a double into the gap in left center. Bryan Propst and Laws followed with RBI base hits and Colton Moore closed out the scoring with a two-run single to center field.

EKU got three runs back in the sixth as Matt Phipps drove in two runs to left with a triple that took a bad bounce and rolled to the fence. Bryce Labhart drove in the third run with a single up the middle.

The Breds responded in a big way again in the sixth as they pushed across nine more runs, all with two outs. Frey was hit by a pitch and Elliott singled to right field. Cunningham stepped to the plate and ripped a 3-0 pitch into the corner in right field to drive in both runners and set the career mark with his 13th career triple. The two RBIs also set the single-season mark, set just last year by teammate Daniel Hill.

Propst continued the rally with an RBI single to right center, and was followed by and RBI double from Laws, run scoring single from Moore, two-run double from Tiernan, run-scoring single from Frey and a bases loaded walk to Cunningham.

“We stress and talk a lot about the inning is never over until its over,” said McDonald. “The emphasis on two-out hits and staying focussed through the inning. I think our guys have done a real good job most of the year, and today it was very evident.”

The Colonels scored their fifth run of the game in the seventh as Faidley drew a one-out walk and scored on Michael Garcia's double to left field.

Alex Love (6-0) picked up the victory after allowing four runs on nine hits over 5.2 innings. Stephen Hefler (3-4) took the loss after surrendering eight runs, one earned, on four hits and five walks over 4.2 innings.

Cunningham, Propst, Laws, Moore, Tiernan and Frey each collected two hits as the Breds recorded 15 as a team. Moore and Tiernan each drove in three, while Propst added two RBIs.

The Breds return to action Tuesday evening as they travel to face Arkansas State at 6:30 p.m. at Tomlinson Stadium.