Breds Overcome Early Deficit, Pull Away From Austin Peay

Friday, April 13

Clarksville, Tenn.

6 p.m.

Murray State

18-17, 4-6

Austin Peay

20-13, 7-2

Murray State

Austin Peay

Photo by: Samantha Mohr

Breds Overcome Early Deficit, Pull Away From Austin Peay

4/13/2012 10:36:00 PM | Baseball

Box Score

BOX SCORE | PHOTO GALLERY

Murray State scored three runs in the eighth inning, and then added five more runs in the ninth inning as the Breds overcame an early deficit to hand Austin Peay a 13-7 defeat Friday evening in the series opener at Raymond C. Hand Park.

With the score tied 5-5 in the top of the eighth, Dylan Wheeler hit an opposite-field double to left field with one out. Colton Speed and Paul Ritzheimer each walked to load the bases. Ty Stetson plated two runs with a double just inside the bag at third. With two outs and the bases loaded, Mike Kozlowski beat out an infield single to drive in the third run.

The Govs came back in the home-half of the inning as a leadoff throwing error extended the inning for Jordan Hankins to deliver a two-run double to left field.

The top of the ninth was an inning to forget for the Governors. Brandon Elliott was hit by a pitch before Wheeler and Speed each reached as their sacrifice bunts were thrown away. With the bases loaded, Ritzheimer drove in a run with a single through the right side. Ty Stetson followed with a two-base fielding error on the first baseman, allowing two more runs to score. Travis Isaak walked to load the bases for Kozlowski to drive in a run with a fielder's choice. Brandon Eggenschwiler drove in the final run of the inning as the first baseman came off the bag on the throw from the catcher.

The Govs (20-13, 7-2 OVC) got on the board in the first inning as Jon Clinard drew a one-out walk and scored on a Hankins double to right center.

The Breds (18-17, 4-6 OVC) tied the game in the second with a two-out rally as Wheeler singled up the middle and went to third on a Speed bunt single and throwing error. Ritzheimer followed by beating out an infield single to third on a chopper off the plate.

APSU regained the lead in the home-half of the inning as Cody Hudson drew a walk and scored on Rolando Gautier's two-run home run to right field.

MSU pushed across another run in the third as Isaak drew a one-out walk and went to third on a Jacob Rhodes single to left center. The next pitch found its way to the backstop, allowing Isaak to slide home safely.

The Breds took their first lead of the game in the fourth inning as Elliott started a rally with a single through the right side on an 0-2 pitch. Wheeler followed with a double to left center, and Speed drove in Elliott with a single to center field. Wheeler later scored on the second wild pitch of the inning. A grounder off the bat of Isaak was misplayed, allowing the third run of the inning to score.

The Govs got one run back in the bottom of the fourth as Tyler Childress led off the inning with a solo home run to left field.

APSU tied the game in the sixth as Michael Blanchard double to left center and went to third on a wild pitch. Clinard followed with an RBI chopper over the head of a drawn-in second baseman.

Cameron Finch (3-1) earned the victory in relief after allowing three runs, one earned, on four hits and four strikeouts over 4.1 innings. Will Handlin came on to pitch a perfect ninth inning.

Ryan Quick (3-1) suffered the loss after giving up seven runs, six earned, on 10 hits, four walks and seven strikeouts over 7.1 inning.

The bottom of the order led the way for the Breds as Wheeler went 3-for-5 with four runs scored, Speed went 3-for-3 with an RBI and three runs scored and Ritzheimer went 2-for-3 with two RBIs and two runs scored.

The two teams play the middle game of the three-game series tomorrow afternoon at 2 p.m.