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CINCINNATI, Ohio – Morehead State led most of the way, but gave up a huge six-run bottom of the eighth to Cincinnati and lost 9-7 Wednesday evening.
Matthew Robertson pitched seven quality innings, allowing just three runs and #J.D. Ashbrook# went 3-for-4 to lead the Eagles.
MSU (17-15) jumped out to a 4-0 lead with a four-run top of the second that featured doubles from
Michael Fear,
Taylor Davis and
Andrew Deeds. Davis' double to center drove in Fear, while Deeds' double to the gap in left center drove in Davis and
Cameron Flynn - who was aboard after being hit by a pitch. Deeds then scored on a failed pickoff attempt by UC’s Jimmy Jacquot that sailed into left field.
Robertson was rolling in the early going as he allowed just two hits in the first four innings before the Bearcats were able to score three in the fifth to make it 5-3 MSU.
Robertson recovered, getting UC (14-12) in order in both the sixth and seventh to preserve the MSU lead.
The Bearcats struck in the eighth as reliever Josh Schneider looked to have induced a double play ball that shortstop
Drew Lee took off his shoulder. The ball rolled all the way to shallow right field to allow Mikel Huston to score from first on the play, and the floodgates were open. T.J. Jones then homered to right to give the Bearcats the 6-5 lead. UC would plate three more runs in the inning via small ball to take a 9-5 lead after eight.
Luke Bainer stroked his third home run of the season in the top of the ninth, a two-run shot to right, to pull the Eagles back within two. After Ashbrook was plunked,
Daniel Pugh struck out swinging to end the game and give the victory to the Bearcats.
Ashbrook was the only Eagle with multiple hits, singling three times, while Deeds and Bainer each drove in a pair. Robertson gave up just three earned runs in seven innings in his best start of the season.
MSU returns to action this weekend when it travels to Eastern Illinois for a three game Ohio Valley Conference set starting with a 1 p.m. Saturday doubleheader. All three games are slated to be carried on the Eagle Sports Network as internet-only broadcasts.
