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MURRAY, Ky. -- Morehead State baseball rallied from a five-run deficit in the late innings to defeat the Murray State Thoroughbreds 11-10 Saturday at Reagan Field.
“It’s always important to get the first conference win because they always seem to be the hardest” said Head Coach Jay Sorg. “Today was especially important because we battled back from a deficit.”
Morehead State (12-11, 1-1 OVC) outfielder
Nick Duff continued his torrid performance at the plate with a leadoff home run in the first inning. He planted the first pitch he saw from Murray State (13-11, 1-1 OVC) starter Cameron Finch over the right field wall, recording his second round-tripper this week and his fourth this season.
Junior shortstop
Chase Greenwell scored on a single up the middle by second baseman
Jeff Birkofer in the second inning, as the Eagles extended their lead to 2-0.
Eagle starter
Noah Smallwood worked through the first two frames before allowing three runs in the third. He ran into trouble after hitting left fielder Ty Stetson in the back with a pitch. Following an extended injury delay, the 'Breds plated runs on a pair of doubles and a single.
First baseman Mike Kozlowski led the Breds at the plate, going 4-for-5 with a double and an RBI.
The Eagles regained the lead in the fifth inning and forced a call to the 'Breds bullpen. Designated hitter
Eric Bainer drove in the go-ahead run after consecutive singles by senior
Andrew Deeds, who was 4-for-5 with a double, and freshman
Kane Sweeney.
Finch left the game with Murray State trailing 4-3 in the fifth. He allowed eight hits, four earned runs and issued three free passes.
Smallwood yielded three runs in the fourth to put the Thoroughbreds back on top 6-4. Two runs scored on a Jacob Rhodes' double to left, and another came home on a single by shortstop Noah Zipko. Smallwood finished the game with 4.1 innings tossed, six earned runs allowed and three strikeouts on the books.
Morehead State surrendered three more runs in the sixth and trailed 9-4 entering the seventh inning.
The Eagles rallied in the top half of the seventh with five runs on five hits. First baseman
Cole Cleveland accounted for two runs when he roped a double down the left field line. Morehead State recorded five consecutive hits, including Cleveland’s double, following an
Eric Bainer walk to tie the score 9-9.
Junior
Morgan Cirbo entered the game in the seventh, kept the game tied over two scoreless frames of relief, and earned his third win.
Morehead State plated two runs in the ninth inning to go ahead 11-9.
Eric Bainer walked to start the inning and was replaced by infielder
Bud Morton. Morton moved to third on a sacrifice bunt by Greenwell and a single by Cleveland, his second of the day. Catcher
Drew Williams grounded a ball through the legs of shortstop Zlpko and scored Morton, giving the Eagles the one-run lead. Birkofer squeezed home the second run as pinch runner
Duran Elmore scampered home from third and gave Morehead State an 11-9 lead.
Closer
Matt Duncan came into the game in the ninth and slammed the door on the 'Breds to collect his fifth save. He allowed a run but it was unearned.
The Eagles will look for a rubber-match win Sunday at 2 p.m. ET at Reagan Field.
