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SAN DIEGO, Calif. – Junior pitcher Aaron Goe tossed 6.2 innings while allowing just five hits, and senior designated hitter Nick Newell crushed a seventh-inning grand slam to highlight a 10-3 victory for the Morehead State baseball team against San Diego in the 2015 season opener for both clubs Friday night at Fowler Park.
Goe, who made his first start since Feb. 23, 2013, coaxed 10 fly outs, struck out three and issued no walks in collecting his first victory since Feb. 15, 2013. He missed a majority of the 2013 campaign and the entire 2014 season with an arm ailment.
"Aaron pitched very well against a great ball club," Head Coach Mike McGuire said. "We feel like anytime he is on the mound, we have a great chance to win. We didn't give him any extra outs either."
San Diego was ranked 34
th in the
Collegiate Baseball preseason top-40 poll.
"We played extremely well," McGuire said. "I think we only walked two batters and did not make an error. Anytime you can do that, it's a recipe for success. I think for us to be a good offense, we have to get contributions from one through nine (in the lineup), and tonight we did that. Nick hadn't done much his first three at-bats, and then comes in and gives us a huge home run."
Newell, who also added a double and scored twice, broke open a 4-1 game with his one-out round-tripper that plated senior shortstop Robby Spencer, senior right fielder Brandon Rawe and senior first baseman Kane Sweeney.
Senior left fielder Chris Robinson, who finished 3-for-4 at the plate, drove in the Eagles' first three runs and scored the fourth on a USD wild pitch. Sweeney added a pair of hits, while freshman second baseman Evan Warden collected two doubles.
Morehead State's offense recorded 12 hits, including six extra-base knocks.
Torero leadoff hitter Kyle Holder finished 3-for-4 with a pair of RBI, including a ninth-inning solo home run. Third baseman Jerod Smith was 2-for-3 with a double.
San Diego starter David Hill, the first of five Torero hurlers, was tagged with the loss. He was charged with six runs, five earned, off seven hits in 6.1 innings to go along with seven strikeouts. Reliever Hunter Parkinson gave up Newell's grand slam.
"Their starting pitcher is very good," McGuire added. "We saw several scouts here tonight, but I think we were patient at the plate. We will definitely have our hands full the next three games here."
MSU cracked open a 1-1 tie with three runs in the fifth. Robinson laced a two-run double to score Warden and sophomore center fielder Ryan Kent. Four plays later, with Newell in the batter's box, Robinson raced home on a wild pitch.
Robinson added a sacrifice fly in the eighth inning, and sophomore catcher Jimmy Wright rapped an RBI single in the ninth to push the MSU cushion to 10-1.
The teams are scheduled to play a doubleheader on Saturday. The first game will start at 5 p.m. ET with the second to follow 30 minutes afterwards. Live audio, video and stats links will be available on MSUEagles.com.
