Breds Fall 6-3 in Series Opener

Friday, April 5

Charleston, Ill.

3 p.m.

Murray State

12-17, 6-7

Eastern Illinois

8-18, 1-8

Murray State

Eastern Illinois

Photo by: Murray State Sports Information

4/5/2013 6:06:00 PM | Baseball

Box Score

The scoring struggles continued for the Murray State offense as the Breds dropped a 6-3 decision to Eastern Illinois in the first game of a three-game series Friday afternoon at Coaches Stadium. The loss is the fifth-straight for the Breds.

The Breds (12-17, 6-7 OVC) got on the board quickly in the first inning as Ty Stetson started the game with a double to right center. A Taylor Mathews flyout to deep center moved the runner to third, and Brandon Eggenschwiler followed with a sacrifice fly to right center. Mike Kozlowski started a two-out rally with a single up the middle. Dylan Wheeler drew a walk and Noah Zipko plated Kozlowski with a bloop double to left field.

The Panthers (8-18, 1-8 OVC) got a run back in the home-half of the first as a hit batter and single to center, set up a Nick Priessman to deliver an RBI single to center field.

MSU pushed the lead back to two in the fifth as Brandon Elliott doubled just inside the bag at third to leadoff the inning. After going to third on a sacrifice bunt, Stetson delivered an RBI single through the left side.

EIU wasted little time in tieing the game as a leadoff walk was followed by a two-run home run to left center off the bat of Mitch Gasbarro.

After the Breds failed to score with runners on second and third and no outs, the Panthers found themselves in the same situation in the seventh. A pair of ground balls to shortstop pushed across two runs and gave EIU its first lead of the day.

The Panthers added an insurance run in the eighth as a pair of singles and a walk loaded the bases with one out. The run came into score as Treysen Vavra drew a bases-loaded walk.

MSU threatened to score again in the ninth as the first two hitters reached on base hits. Greg Guest followed with a pinch hit grounder up the middle that was snared by the second baseman for a double play. A strikeout ended the game.

Cameron Finch (3-2) took the loss after allowing five runs on nine hits over six-plus innings. George Kalousek (1-0) earned the victory after pitching 2.2 shutout innings. Jake Johansmeier (1) picked up the save after allowing two hits in a scoreless ninth.

Stetson led the offense by going 3-for-4 with an RBI. Kozlowski, Elliott and Zipko each added a pair of hits.

The two teams play the middle game of the three-game series tomorrow afternoon at 1 p.m.