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MOREHEAD, Ky. -- Rowan County product
Nick Duff went 4-for-5, including a grand slam, against Berea College to help the Eagles to a 12-10 victory Tuesday at Allen Field.
The Eagles (11-10) scored seven of their 12 runs on home runs as Duff and outfielder
Duran Elmore each recorded bases clearing shots.
Berea College (3-18) grabbed a 1-0 lead in the second inning on a dropped relay throw to catcher
Eric Bainer. The Mountaineers added three more runs in the top of the fourth, with two scoring on a single by catcher Ryan Akins.
Right-handed pitcher
Gerardo Arias earned the win in his first Eagle start. He tossed four innings, allowed two earned runs and fanned a career-high seven.
Duff’s grand slam came in the Eagles’ five-run second inning. Senior
Eric Bainer led off the frame with a double to right field and came home on a RBI single up the middle by shortstop
Chase Greenwell. MSU tallied four hits in the inning.
The Eagles added three runs in the third on Elmore’s first collegiate long ball.
Junior Kyle Tibbs made the start for the Mountaineers and suffered his third loss of the season. He gave up seven earned runs on seven hits in two innings.
The Eagles had what looked like a comfortable 12-5 lead, but the Mountaineers plated five runs in the ninth inning and closed within two runs of the MSU lead. The Eagles called on closer
Matt Duncan in the ninth and he recorded the final three outs of the game.
Senior
Andrew Deeds, who entered Tuesday’s game leading the Ohio Valley Conference and hits and ranking second nationally in base-knocks with 37, notched three safeties today. Greenwell finished 3-for-5 with two RBI.
With Tuesday’s victory, the Eagles eclipsed last season’s 10-win mark. The 2011 club did not record its 10
th win until May 15 against OVC rival Murray State.
The Eagles begin their 2012 OVC schedule this Friday as they travel to Murray, Ky., to face the Thoroughbreds in a three-game set.
