Eighth-Inning Rally Propels Breds to Victory

Sunday, May 11

Reagan Field

1 p.m.

Murray State

20-28, 12-15

Belmont

22-28-1, 11-15-1

Belmont

Murray State

5/11/2014 4:44:00 PM | Baseball

Box Score

| BOX SCORE (.pdf)

Murray State scored three runs in the bottom of the eighth inning to break a tie game and propel the Breds to a 7-5 victory over Belmont on Senior Day at Reagan Field.

With the score tied at four going into the eighth, Michael Hargrove started the inning with a single through the left side. After a balk moved pinch runner Pokey Harris to second, pinch hitter Clay Fuson squared around to bunt. The Bruins had the wheel play on and Fuson pulled the bat back and hit the ball to where the shortstop would have been playing to put runners on the corners. Derek Yoder then hit a chopper over the head of the third baseman to give MSU the lead. A sacrifice bunt moved both runners up a base, and senior Ty Stetson came through with a two-run single to right field.

The Bruins (22-28-1, 11-15-1 OVC) tried to mount a comeback in the ninth as they got back-to-back singles with one out. A groundout off the bat of Nick Egli scored one run, but senior Tyler Saltsman shut the door there with a flyout to left to end the game.

BEL jumped out to an early 2-0 advantage by scoring a pair of unearned runs in the third inning.

The Breds (20-28, 12-15 OVC) came right back in the home-half of the inning with a four spot. Taylor Mathews singled and Stetson walked to star the inning. Kollin Dowdy then tripled in both runners, before scoring himself on a Tyler Lawrence single to center. Dalton West added the fourth run of the inning with a double to left field.

The Bruins battled back to tie the game as they got a solo home run in the fourth, and then scored on a sacrifice fly in the fifth.

Cody Maerz (2-6) earned the victory as he gave up just one run on three hits over four innings. Saltsman picked up his second save by retiring both hitters he faced.

Lawrence led the 13-hit attack by going 3-for-3 with an RBI and a pair of walks. Mathews added two hits, while Stetson and Dowdy each drove in two runs.

The Breds return to action Tuesday evening as they play host to Kentucky at Brooks Stadium. First pitch is set for 6 p.m.