Breds Strikeout 20 in 17-Inning Victory

Friday, March 2

Conway, Ark.

6 p.m.

Murray State

7-3

Central Arkansas

3-5

Team	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8	9	10	11	12	13	14	15	16	17	Runs R	Hits H	Errors E
Murray State	0	1	3	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	1	0	1	6	17	2
Central Arkansas	1	1	0	2	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	1	0	0	5	15	2

Photo by: Samantha Mohr

3/3/2012 12:41:00 AM | Baseball

Box Score

BOX SCORE

Four Murray State pitchers combined to strike out 20 Central Arkansas hitters, but it was Mike Kozlowski's two-out RBI single up the middle in the top of the 17th inning that proved to be the difference as the Breds won their fifth-straight game, 6-5, in the series opener Friday evening.

Ty Stetson started the 17th inning by blooping a double just inside the left-field line. After a sacrifice bunt and a strikeout left Stetson at third with two outs, Kozlowski took the 1-1 pitch and took right back up the middle for the game-winning hit.

Relief pitching was the story for the Breds as three relievers combined to allow one unearned run on seven hits and 16 strikeouts over 13 innings. Luke Shuemaker entered the game in the fifth inning and struck out a career-high nine over his six innings of work. Will Handlin (2-0) followed by throwing a career-long six innings, allowing an unearned run and striking out six. Tyler Saltsman (1) earned the save by striking out one in his one inning of work.

“That was about as much of a see-saw game for such a long time,” said head coach Rob McDonald. “The game was tight the whole way and from the ninth inning on it seemed like somebody had a chance to win. Our guys really battled and the attitude they had was great. We showed a lot of courage and we had a lot of guys do heroic things.”

The Bears (4-4) got on the board in the first inning as a walk and a single put runners on the corners with no outs. Ethan Harris drove in a run with a single through the right side. After the next hitter hit into a fielder's choice to retire a runner at the plate, the Breds got out of the inning as a runner tried to advance on a fly ball to center field and was tagged out at third to end the inning.

The Breds (7-3) got on the board with a two-out rally in the second as Luke Daugherty was hit by a pitch. After a single to center by Paul Ritzheimer, Stetson drew his second walk in as many at-bats to load the bases. A wild pitch to the next hitter allowed Daugherty to trot home with the first run.

UCA took advantage of a hit by pitch and a pair of infield singles to add a run in the second inning. With runners on the corners and one out, Blake Marchal beat out a bunt to load the bases. Forrestt Allday followed with a slow roller to first that turned into an RBI single as he beat the pitcher to the bag.

MSU took their first lead of the game in the third with Travis Isaak and Kozlowski starting the inning with infield singles. Jacob Rhodes reached on an error with one out to put runners on the corners. Dylan Wheeler walked with two outs to load the bases and Daugherty followed with a two-run single back up the middle. Ritzheimer followed by blooping a single into right center to drive in the third run.

The Bears tied the game in the fourth as Garrett Brown was hit by a pitch and then went to third on a failed pickoff attempt. An infield single scored him from third before Jonathan Davis plated the second run with a sacrifice bunt to the right side.

MSU took the lead again in the 14th as Stetson drew a leadoff walk and went to second on Brandon Elliott's sacrifice bunt. Isaak drove in Isaak with a double into the gap in right center.

UCA answered back in the home-half of the inning as a leadoff hit by pitch came around to score on a fielder's choice play at the plate.

Isaak, Kozlowski and Ritzheimer each had three hits. Daugherty finished the game with two hits and two RBIs. Stetson drew four of the team's eight walks, while Elliott had three sacrifice bunts.

The Breds and Bears play the middle game of the three-game series tomorrow afternoon at 4 p.m. The Breds will send RHP Cameron Finch to the mound, while UCA will counter with RHP Caleb McClanahan.