GAME 1 - (HTML|PDF) GAME 2 - (HTML|PDF)
MOREHEAD, Ky. -- Behind a solid relief appearance by senior sidearmer Morgan Cirbo in game one and a solo home run in the eighth by junior first baseman Bobby Burns in game two, the Morehead State baseball team swept both ends of its series-opening doubleheader with SIU Edwardsville.
The Eagles (15-29, 9-11 OVC) took game one, 7-5, before downing the Cougars (9-29, 6-17 OVC), 4-2, in the back end of the twin bill. MSU has now won five straight Ohio Valley Conference matchups, and six of its last seven games.
"We are playing really well right now," Head Coach Mike McGuire said. "I really liked how we came out and scored some early runs against one of the best arms in the league in game one, and how we got some good at bats from the bottom of our lineup."
Senior righty Matt Duncan entered game two with a 4-2 lead, and picked up his third save of the season, forcing a game-ending pop-out to work out of a jam after two MSU fielding errors allowed the Cougars come within one.
The game had been tied at 2-2 heading into the eighth before Burns' (3-for-3 at the plate) home run broke up the tie ballgame, followed by sophomore pinch runner Chris Robinson scoring what would become the game winner by stealing home on a suicide squeeze attempt that got away from the catcher.
Morehead State jumped out to a 2-0 lead in third inning, when Burns drove in senior shortstop Chase Greenwell with an double to center before a sacrifice fly from freshman designated hitter Alan Mocahbee. SIUE bounced back in the fourth, manufacturing one run on two hits, before tying it up in the seventh on an MSU throwing error.
Junior right-hander Dan Hyatt (2-1) picked up his second win in as many weeks out of the Eagle bullpen, allowing no hits in his 1.2 innings of work.
Cirbo (2-2) entered game one with two outs in the top of the fifth and allowed just two hits and two runs in 4.1 frames tossed. He improved to 2-2 on the season, while SIUE starter Travis Felax suffered the setback. Entering the contest with a 1.83 ERA, the Eagles chased Felax after just two innings as he allowed nine hits and four earned runs.
The Eagles strung together seven straight singles to start the second inning en route to four runs. They added two in the fifth and a solo score in the eighth. SIUE plated three in the fifth to climb to within 4-3.
Greenwell (4-for-7, 2 RBI) and sophomore right fielder Brandon Rawe (4-for-8) both finished each game with two hits a piece. Sophomore third baseman Kane Sweeney extended his conference-best reached-base streak to 35.
The final game of the series is scheduled for Saturday at 1 p.m. ET. With rain in the forecast for the rest of the weekend, make sure to check MSUEagles.com for any updates to the schedule.
