Breds Stumble in Series Opener

Friday, April 11

Jacksonville, Ala.

6:30 p.m.

Murray State

Jacksonville State

Tyler Saltsman allowed just two hits over four shutout innings of relief.

Photo by: Samantha Mohr

4/11/2014 8:54:00 PM | Baseball

Box Score

| BOX SCORE (.pdf)

For the second time in as many games, it was the fourth inning that hurt Murray State as Jacksonville State scored five runs in the frame in a 7-2 victory Friday evening at Rudy Abbott Field.

JSU (20-13, 10-3 OVC) jumped out to an early advantage in the first as they got a sacrifice fly from Paschal Petrongolo and an RBI single to right field from Ryan Sebra.

The Breds (14-17, 8-8 OVC) got a run back in the fourth as Tyler Lawrence walked with one out, and was followed by a Kollin Dowdy single through the left side and a Luke Daugherty walk. Michael Hargrove drove in a run with a fielder's choice to second.

The bottom of the fourth got off to a rough start as Andrew Bishop homered to left center on the first pitch. Following a double and a hit by pitch, a sacrifice bunt back to the mound was thrown down the right-field line, scoring two and advancing the batter third. Eddie Mora-Loera drove in the runner with a single to center, before scoring on a Griff Gordon triple to left center.

Dowdy helped to get the Breds back on the board in the sixth as he followed a Lawrence single through he right side with a double just inside the bag at third. Daugherty followed with an RBI single into the hole at short.

Cameron Finch (3-4) took the loss after allowing seven runs, six earned, on eight hits and four strikeouts over four innings. Adam Polk (4-1) earned the victory after giving up two runs on four hits and four strikeouts over six innings. Graham Officer (2) picked up the save, tossing three shutout innings without allowing a hit.

Tyler Saltsman did his part to keep the Breds in the game as he gave up just two hits over four shutout innings. He struck out three and threw 30 of his 37 pitches for strikes. It was the second longest outing of Saltsman's career, only bested by the 4.1 innings he tossed against Eastern Kentucky on May 18, 2012.

Dowdy paced the offence by collecting two of the team's four hits.

The two teams will play the middle game of the series Saturday afternoon at 1 p.m. The Breds will send left hander Brock Downey (5-1, 2.17 ERA) to the mound, while JSU will counter with right hander Zachary Fowler (4-2, 3.32 ERA).