Breds Drop Tough 7-6 Decision to Kentucky

Tuesday, March 15

Lexington, Ky.

3 p.m.

Murray State

8-8

Kentucky

10-7

Murray State

Kentucky

Paul Ritzheimer hit a three-run home run in the third inning against Kentucky.

Photo by: Samantha Mohr

3/15/2011 7:04:39 PM | Baseball

Box Score

Murray State heads to Georgia State for three-game series

BOX SCORE

Murray State jumped out to an early lead, but were not able to make the lead stand up as Kentucky rallied for a 7-6 victory Tuesday afternoon at Cliff Hagan Stadium in Lexington.

The Breds (8-8) got on the board in the second inning as Jacob Rhodes doubled to left field and went to third on Paul Ritzheimer's single up the middle. With one out, Colton Moore's high fly to right field fell to the ground in right field for an RBI fielder' choice.

MSU added to the lead in the third with Elliot Frey singling into the hole at short and went to second on the throwing error. Two batters later, Brandon Elliott drove in Frey with a single down the right-field line. Travis Isaak followed with a single to left field and Ritzheimer delivered a three-run blast to left field, the first of his career.

The Wildcats (10-7) got the offense going in the fourth as a single and a hit batter were followed by a wild pitch put runners on second and third with one out. Dallen Reber drove in both runners with a single up the middle. A double and a walk loaded the bases for what appeared to be an inning-ending 4-6-3 double play, but Chad Wright was called safe at first, allowing the third run of the inning to score.

UK added a run in the fifth as Luke Maile double to right center and later scored on a sacrifice fly to right center, a ball that was caught on a full-extension dive by Zach Noonan.

The Breds got a run back in the sixth as Brandon Eggenschwiler reached on a fielding error and went to third on Moore's single to right center. Ty Stetson plated the runner from third with a fielder's choice to first.

The Cats took their first lead of the game in the sixth as a pair of walks and stolen bases with two outs put two on for J.T. Riddle to flare a two-run single to left center. After another stolen base, Reber plated the go-ahead run with a single to left field.

Mark Roberts (0-1) took the loss after allowing three runs on four hits in one inning of work. Walter Wijas (2-0) earned the victory in relief by allowing one hit and striking out two over one inning. Mike Kaczmarek (3) earned the save by getting a dobule play off the bat of the only hitter he faced.

Ritzheimer led the offense by going 2-for-4 with three RBIs. Elliott added three hits, while Rhodes chipped in a pair.

The Breds return to the diamond Friday afternoon as they open a three-game series at Georgia State. First pitch is set for 5 p.m. on Friday, followed by a 12 p.m. first pitch on Saturday and Sunday.