Two-Out Hitting Evens Series With Buckeyes

Saturday, April 19

Columbus, Ohio

2:05 p.m.

Murray State

17-19

Ohio State

22-18

Murray State

Ohio State

Photo by: Don McQuistion

4/19/2014 6:10:00 PM | Baseball

Box Score

| BOX SCORE (.pdf) | PHOTO GALLERY

Murray State scored all seven of its runs with two outs, and Taylor Mathews drove in four runs, as the Breds evened the series against Ohio State with a 7-5 victory Saturday afternoon at Bill Davis Stadium.

Mathews seemed to find himself at the plate in key situations multiple times in the game. And in each situation, the sophomore came through a pair of two-run singles with the bases loaded. He finished the game by going 3-for-5 with four RBIs. The four RBIs tie a career high that he set against SIU Edwardsville last season.

After falling behind 1-0 on a single in the third inning, MSU (17-19) came right back in the fourth inning to take the lead for good. Kollin Dowdy started the inning with a single and stole second. Still standing on second with two outs, Luke Daugherty drove him in with a single up the middle. Matt McGowan and Rick Linton followed with singles to load the bases. Mathews then came threw as he ripped the first pitch he saw into right field for a two-run single.

The Buckeye (22-18) pulled within one run in the fifth inning on an RBI groundout off the bat of Pat Porter.

The seventh inning was the big one for the Breds as they broke open the game with four two-out runs. Anthony Bayus started the inning with a single up the middle. Walks to Tyler Lawrence and Luke Daugherty loaded the bases with two outs. McGowan fell behind 0-2, but sat back on a breaking ball and ripped it into left field for an RBI single. Linton followed by drawing a bases-loaded walk, and Mathews came through again with a two-run single to center field.

MSU struggled defensively in the ninth inning as they committed four errors in helping the Buckeyes score three runs. They scored a run on a fielder's choice, and when the throw to first was wide, a second run scored. Zach Ratcliff drove in the third run with a sacrifice fly to left field.

The pitching staff was not done to be outdone as the duo of Cody Maerz and Brock Downey kept OSU off balance all game. Making just his second start of the season, Maerz allowed two runs on eight hits and two strikeouts over 4.1 innings. Brock Downey (7-1) earned the win in just his second relief appearance of the season. The junior allowed three unearned runs on three hits over 4.2 innings. He lowered his season ERA to 1.79.

Greg Greve (4-3) took the loss for OSU as he allowed three runs on eight hits over 5.0 innings.

The bottom four hitters in the Breds lineup led the way as they combined for all seven RBIs. Daugherty went 1-for-3 with a pair of walks, an RBI and two runs scored hitting in the six hole. McGowan was 3-for-5 with an RBI and two runs scored out of the seven hole, while Linton went 1-for-4 with an RBI out of the eight hole.

The two teams will play the rubber game of the three-game series Sunday at 12:05 p.m.