BOX SCORE (HTML) | BOX SCORE (PDF)
CHARLESTON, W.Va. -- The Morehead State baseball team defeated West Virginia Tuesday evening at Appalachian Power Park, 6-5. The game was played at the neutral site, halfway between the two schools.
Freshman Noah Smallwood started the game and excelled on the mound for MSU. He tossed four innings of no-hit baseball and handcuffed Mountaineer batters, striking out four.
“Noah pitched extremely well today,” said coach Jay Sorg. “He may be a freshman, but he did not play like one tonight.”
Righty Josh Schneider replaced Smallwood in the seventh. He earned his first win of the season, tossing 0.2 inning of relief.
MSU (5-19) scored first in the second inning when catcher Eric Bainer grounded out to third base, driving in junior Andrew Deeds from third.
Mountaineer centerfield Mark Dvoroznak drove home the game-tying run in the fifth inning with a single through the right side.
The Eagles retook the lead in the sixth when third baseman Taylor Davis and Deeds began the inning with consecutive hits, a double to centerfield and single to left. Bainer brought home both baserunners with a single up the middle after first baseman Michael Fear was walked to load the bases.
Down 3-1 in the bottom of the sixth, West Virginia tied the game on a two-run home run over the right field wall by designated hitter Jeremy Gum.
Deeds drove in the go-ahead run in the seventh, bringing the score to 4-3. Second baseman Bud Morton scored from second on a single to centerfield.
The MSU offense overcame a one-run deficit in the top of the eighth inning. Eric Bainer started the inning with a base hit and advanced to second on a sacrifice bunt by designated hitter Nick Duff. Bainer scored the tying run on an RBI single by shortstop Austin Haney. Davis earned a walk with the bases loaded to score the game-winning run later in the inning.
Eric Bainer led Eagle hitters and went 3-for-4 Tuesday with three RBI.
“We won today because we played tough,” said Sorg. “When we faced adversity, we played tough and overcame. It was a big win against a very talented West Virginia ballclub”
Reliever Matt Cartwright earned his third save of the season throwing one hitless inning.
The Eagles travel to future Ohio Valley Conference foe SIU Edwardsville, playig Friday at 8 p.m. EDT.
