Murray State
Bradley
'Breds Swept In Season-Opening Twinbill
2/23/2008 6:00:00 AM | Baseball
The Murray State Thoroughbreds battled visiting Bradley to two close games, each with opportunities to win in the last inning, but falling short, 2-1 in the first game and 5-3 in the second game. Both games of the double-header were seven-inning games. The games were the first of the season for both teams.
In the first game, Bradley plated two runs in the top of the second inning, but the 'Breds countered in the fourth.
Cory Hodskins hit a one-out single to right center, then stole second. He reached third base on a groundout, then scored on a single by Taylor Thieke. MSU had runners on base in the fifth, sixth and seventh innings, but were unable to capitalize, falling 2-1.
Hodskins, Thieke and Brooks Thornton each had singles for Murray State. Catcher Daniel Miller led the 'Breds with eight putouts, while second baseman Hodskins and pitcher Daniel Calhoun each had a team-high two assists.
Colby Luttrell, Kevin Sullivan and Kori Jensen each had singles for the Braves, while Luttrell and Jim Clayton each scored and Tommy Fitzgerald had a run batted in. First baseman Grant Escue had a team-high eight putouts, while shortstop Fitzgerald had five assists.
On the mound, Mike Perconte (0-1) started and took the loss, allowing two runs on two hits, striking out five and walking three in five innings. Calhoun came on in the fifth inning, allowing no runs on one hit, striking out three and walking none in three innings of work, facing just one more than the minimum number of batters.
Brad Altbach (1-0) got the complete-game win for Bradley, allowing one run on three hits, striking out five and walking three in seven innings.
In the second game, Bradley pushed out to a 5-0 lead through the middle of the seventh inning before Murray State mounted a comeback.
Chris Craycraft led off with a double, then Kyle Tiernan walked. Elliot Frey walked to load the bases, then Blake Helm legged out an infield single, scoring Craycraft. Brooks Thornton then laced a single through the left side to score Tiernan and Frey. Relief pitcher Tyler Thornton was able to coax a game-ending double play and give the Braves the 5-3 win.
Murray State was led by Helm, who went 2-for-4 with an RBI. Brooks Thronton had two RBIs, while Craycraft had a double. On defense, first baseman Thieke had a team-high six putouts, while Hodskins had three assists at second base.
For Bradley, Luttrell had two hits and a run, while Dan Brewer had a double, a run and an RBI. On defense, catcher Nick Mitidiero had nine putouts, while second baseman Matt Fritz had three assists.
On the mound, Jake Donze (0-1) took the loss as the starter, allowing three runs on one hit, striking out four and walking three in 4-1/3 innings. Marc Harmon came on in the fifth, allowing no runs on three hits in 1-1/3 innings. Anthony Stacy closed out the game, allowing two runs on one hit, striking out one and walking two in 1-1/3 innings.
For Bradley, Rob Scahill (1-0) got the win as the starter, allowing no runs on one hit, striking out eight and walking one in six innings. Kori Jensen entered in the seventh inning, allowing three runs on three hits, striking out one and walking two in one-third of an inning. Tyler Thornton earned his first save of the season, allowing no runs on no hits in two-thirds of an inning.
"It was good for us to get outside and play some real opposition," said MSU head coach Rob McDonald. "We played pretty good baseball. We didn't swing the bats very well, and we had some good opportunities. Bradley's pitching was very good."
Murray State concludes the three-game series with Bradley on Sunday at 1 p.m. at MSU's Reagan Field.
