Breds Let One Slip Away Against Eagles

Saturday, March 24

Murray, Ky.

12:15 p.m.

Murray State

13-11, 1-1

Morehead State

12-11, 1-1

Morehead State

Murray State

Photo by: Samantha Mohr

3/24/2012 5:12:00 PM | Baseball

Box Score

BOX SCORE | PHOTO GALLERY

A costly error in the top of the ninth inning allowed two runs to score and proved to be the game winning runs as Morehead State rallied for an 11-10 victory over Murray State Saturday afternoon at Reagan Field.

The Eagles (11-11, 1-1 OVC) started the inning with a leadoff walk and a sacrifice bunt. After a single off the pitcher put runners on the corners, Drew Williams hit what looked to be an inning-ending double play ball to short that turned into an RBI as the ball went through the legs of the shortstop. Jeff Birkofer followed by putting down a sacrifice bunt to score the second run of the inning.

The Breds (13-11, 1-1 OVC) tried to mount a comeback in bottom of the inning as Luke Daugherty reached second on a throwing error by the shortstop. After going to third on an unlucky hop off the bag of the mound on a grounder up the middle, Paul Ritzheimer delivered a sacrifice fly to left field.

The Eagles jumped on the board early as Nick Duff hit the first pitch of the game over the fence in right field for a solo home run.

MOR took advantage of a bobble in the field to push across another run in the second. With a runner on first and one out, a taylor-made double-play ball was mishandled, allowing the runner to reach second and turning into a 6-4-3 out at first. Jeff Birkofer made the Breds pay as he delivered an RBI single up the middle.

The Eagles added a run in the third as Andrew Deeds started the inning with a double to left field, and scored on Chase Greenwell's double to left center with two outs.

The Breds got the bats going with two outs in the third inning as Ty Stetson was hit by a pitch to start the rally. Brandon Elliott followed with an RBI double that took a bounce over the shoulder of the shortstop, and then scored on a Travis Isaak single up the middle. Mike Kozlowski tied the game with a double to right field.

MOR regained the lead in the fifth as they strung together three-straight hits to start the inning with the third being an RBI base hit to left off the bat of Eric Bainer.

MUR put together another three-run inning in the fifth as Kozlowski drew a one-out walk and went to second on a Cody Larson bunt single. Jacob Rhodes drove in both runners with a double left center, before Noah Zipko chopped a ball over the head of the third baseman for an RBI single.

The Breds continued to put runs on the board in the sixth as Brandon Eggenschwiler blooped a single to left field. After a successful sacrifice bunt and a walk to Isaak, Kozlowski singled through the left side to score one run. When the ball was misplayed in the outfield, Isaak was able to score from first and Kozlowski advanced to third. Larson hit the first pitch he saw in left field to score Kozlowski.

The Eagles stormed back in the seventh inning as they collected five-straight hits and pushed across five runs to tie the game. Kane Sweeney, Eric Bainer and Greenwell each drove in runs with base hits, before Cole Cleveland delivered a two-run double just inside the third-base line.

Alex Gordon (1-2) was saddled with the loss after he allowed two runs, one earned, on two hits and two strikeouts over three innings. Morgan Cirbo (3-0) earned the win after allowing two hits over two shutout innings. Matt Duncan (4) picked up the save after allowing an unearned run in his one inning of work.

Larson led the offense by going 4-for-5 with an RBI and a run scored. Kozlowski added three hits and two RBIs, while Eggenschwiler and Isaak each scored a pair of runs.

The two teams close out the three-game series tomorrow afternoon at 1 p.m.