Beers Effort Not Enough in Loss to Red Wolves

Tuesday, February 22

Jonesboro, Ark.

3 p.m.

Murray State

0-4

Arkansas State

1-3

Murray State

Arkansas State

Tyler Beers allowed just one unearned run on two hits and eight strikeouts over five innings

Photo by: Arkansas State Sports Information

2/22/2011 7:15:22 PM | Baseball

Box Score

Home opener set for Friday at 2 p.m. against Bowling Green

BOX SCORE

Murray State starting pitcher Tyler Beers allowed just one unearned run on two hits and eight strikeouts over five innings, but it was not enough as Arkansas State rallied in the sixth inning to hand the Breds a 8-4 loss Tuesday afternoon at Tomlinson Stadium.

Making his second start of the season, Beers was dominant from the first pitch as he struck out a pair of hitters in the first, one in the second, two in the third, two in the fourth and one in the fifth. He needed only 64 pitches, 41 strikeouts, to get through those five innings.

The Breds (0-4) got on the board in the second inning as Paul Ritzheimer and Ty Stetson delivered back-to-back one-out singles. With two outs, Elliot Frey scored the runner from second with a single through the left side.

The Red Wolves (1-3) tied the game in the fifth as Jordan Castaldo singled to right center and was at second when a fly ball was dropped in shallow left field. With two outs, Logan Uxa hit a grounder through the right side for an RBI base hit.

MSU answered back in the sixth as Travis Isaak doubled to straight-away center field on the first pitch of the inning and scored when Jacob Rhodes followed with a single up the middle.

A bunt base hit on the first pitch of the bottom of the sixth inning helped spark ASU to a four-run inning to take a three-run lead. Zach Maggio drove in a run with a single, and Ryan Emery later drove in a pair of runs with a single through the right side. The fourth run scored on a groundout to third.

The Red Wolves grew the advantage in the seventh as they added three more runs on a sacrifice fly, double by Emery and a groundout.

The Breds did not go quietly in the ninth as Frey singled to right center and went to second when Brandon Elliott was hit by a pitch. Isaak's fly ball to right field was lost in the lights to load the bases and Rhodes drove in a pair of runs with a single back through the middle.

Kyle Cornett (0-1) took the loss as he allowed four runs on two hits and two walks without retiring a batter. John Koch (1-0) earned the victory in relief after allowing just one hit over 1.2 innings.

Isaak led the offense with three hits, while Rhodes went 2-for-5 with three RBIs. Stetson and Frey added two hits as eight of the nine players in the lineup had at least one hit.

The Breds return to action Friday afternoon as they open a three-game home series against Bowling Green. First pitch is set for 2 p.m. at Reagan Field.