Breds Drop Series Finale to Gamecocks

Sunday, April 14

Murray, Ky.

1 p.m.

Murray State

13-22, 6-12

Jacksonville State

20-16, 12-3

Jacksonville State

Murray State

Photo by: Samantha Mohr

4/14/2013 5:00:00 PM | Baseball

Box Score

Jacksonville State scored four runs in the top of the ninth inning to erase a one-run deficit and hand Murray State a 10-7 defeat Sunday afternoon in the series finale at Reagan Field.

With the Breds holding a one-run lead going to the ninth, Griff Gordon singled up the middle on the first pitch of the inning. Coty Blanchard then followed with the big blow, a two-run home run to left field for the game-winning runs. JSU added two more runs in the inning as twins Andrew and Michael Bishop delivered RBI base hits to left field.

Mike Kozlowski got the Breds on the board in the first inning with a two-out triple into the gap in right center. The triple scored Brandon Eggenschwiler from first after drawing the base on balls with two outs.

The Breds (13-22, 6-12 OVC) used another two out rally in the second inning to scratch across their second run. Nick Paradossi started the rally by drawing a walk. A single to center from Paul Ritzheimer and a hit by pitch by Ty Stetson loaded bases for Brandon Elliott who drew a five-pitch walk to score Paradossi.

The Gamecocks (20-16, 12-3 OVC) got on the board in the third inning with Michael Bishop hitting a single up the middle with two outs. After stealing second and taking third on the bad throw, Chase Silvani delivered an RBI single through the left side.

The two-out scoring continued in the bottom of the third as Dylan Wheeler roped a double into right center and Taylor Mathews followed with an RBI single into left center.

MSU continued to score in every in the fourth, but this time they started with one out and pushed across two runs. Stetson singled to center and stole second. Elliott followed with an RBI single through the left side to extend his hit streak to 14 games. Noah Zipko came through with two outs with a sharp single to center field to score Elliott from third.

JSU threatened for a big inning in the fifth as Stephen Bartlett blooped a double just over the head of first baseman to drive in a run. A hit batter and a walk ended the day for starter Tim Vonder Haar. Cameron Wallace came out of the bullpen and only allowed one runner to score, a sacrifice fly to left field from Gordon.

The Breds got one of the runs back in the seventh with another two-out rally. Mathews started things with a single to center and Paradossi drew a walk. Ritzheimer drove in the runner from second with a single to left field.

The Gamecocks tied the game in the top of the eighth as a pair of bloop hits set up the inning. With runners on the corners, Eddie Mora-Loera drove in a run with a fielder's choice, and then scored on an Andrew Bishop single up the middle. A failed pickoff attempt moved the runner to third, where he scored on a groundout from Stephen Bartlett.

MSU was able to regain the lead in bottom of the eighth as a dropped fly ball with two outs kept the inning alive. Back-to-back hit batters loaded the base and Mathews beat out an field single to short to drive in a run.

Brock Downey (0-3) took the loss after allowing four runs on four hits in just one-third of an inning. Cody Ponder (2-1) earned the victory after tossing a shutout innings, allowing three hits and striking out two. Travis Stout (10) picked up the save after striking out the only hitter he faced.

Elliott and Mathews each went 3-for-5 with a pair of RBIs and a run scored. Stetson and Ritzheimer added two hits each.

The Breds return to action Tuesday evening as the travel to face Memphis. First pitch is set for 6:30 p.m.