Speed Throws Out Runner at Plate to Preserve 5-4 Victory

Friday, April 20

Jacksonville, Ala.

6:30 p.m.

Murray State

19-20, 5-8

Jacksonville State

14-22, 8-5

Murray State

Jacksonville State

Speed Throws Out Runner at Plate to Preserve 5-4 Victory

4/20/2012 9:54:00 PM | Baseball

Box Score

BOX SCORE

Murray State right fielder Colton Speed threw a strike to home plate, and catcher Jacob Rhodes blocked the plate to prevent the tieing run to score and secure the victory for the Breds, 5-4, over Jacksonville State Friday evening at Rudy Abbott Field.

The ninth inning started with Scott Underwood beating out an infield single and going to second on the throwing error. After a strikeout and a flyout left the runner on second with two outs. Kyle Bluestein singled through the right side with what everybody thought was the game-tying hit, but Speed came up with the throw to end the game.

The Breds (19-20, 5-8 OVC) got on the board in the third inning as Travis Isaak beat out a slow roller to short. Mike Kozlowski singled through the left side with two outs before Brandon Eggenschwiler blooped an RBI single to left field.

The middle of the order helped MSU extend its lead in the fifth as Isaak singled through the left side and Kozlowski walked with two outs. Eggenschwiler drove in Isaak for the second time with a bloop single to center field. Brandon Elliott followed with the big blow as he hit an 0-2 pitch over the left-field fence for a three-run home run, his second of the season.

The Gamecocks (14-22, 8-5 OVC) climbed back into the game in the home-half of the inning as Coty Blanchard tripled to right center and scored on a Scott Underwood sacrifice fly to left field. After a walk to Sam Eberle, Ben Waldrip hit a two-run home run to right field.

JSU added another run in the sixth after a single to center and a bloop single to right put runners on the corners with one out. Blanchard followed with a sacrifice fly to right that scored just ahead of the throw.

Will Handlin (4-3) earned the win in relief after allowing one run on six hits and four strikeouts over the final 4.1 innings. For Handlin, it was the eighth-straight game he has appeared. Aaron Elias (2-4) took the loss after allowing five runs on nine hits and seven strikeouts over 5.1 innings.

Elliott led the offense by going 2-fo-4 with a home run and three RBIs, while Eggenschwiler went 2-for-4 with a pair of RBIs. Isaak also added two hits and scored two runs.

The two teams play the middle game of the series tomorrow afternoon at 2 p.m. MSU will send right hander Tyler Beers to the mound, while JSU will counter with LHP Daniel Watts.