GAME 1 -- (HTML | PDF) | Game 2 -- (HTML | PDF)
JACKSONVILLE, Ala. -- The Morehead State baseball team exploded for a season-high 22 runs and 23 hits to win its series finale over Jacksonville State, 22-3, after falling in game one of a Friday afternoon doubleheader, 5-3, at Ruby Abbott Field.
The Eagles finish the season with a 16-40 overall record and 10-20 mark in Ohio Valley Conference play. The Gamecocks head into the OVC Tournament with 32-24 overall record and wrap up league play 22-8.
“I’ve felt all year that we have had the opportunity to be a much better offensive club, and we showed that today,” Head Coach Mike McGuire said. “Hitting is contagious, both good and bad, and we saw some of that today.”
Morehead State jumped all over the Gamecocks from the start in game two, scoring four runs on three hits in the top of the first. The highlight was a three-run triple from junior first baseman Bobby Burns.
A pair of Eagle errors in the second allowed JSU to plate its first run of the contest on a sacrifice fly.
MSU loaded the bases with no outs in the top of the third, allowing Burns and sophomore designated hitter Chris Robinson to pick up an RBI each before a bases-clearing double from senior catcher Drew Williams drove in three. Sophomore center fielder Duran Elmore capped the six-run frame with an RBI double to make the score 10-1.
The Gamecocks plated one more in both the third and fourth innings, but Morehead State added three in the fifth, four in the sixth and five in the seventh to put the game out of reach. The contest was called in the eighth inning due to rain.
Six Eagles -- Robinson (4-for-5), senior shortstop Chase Greenwell (4-for-5), sophomore right fielder Brandon Rawe (4-for-6), senior left fielder Taylor Pickens (3-for-5), Williams (2-for-4) and Burns (2-for-5) -- registered multiple hits in game two, the most of any game this year.
Sophomore right-hander Blake Smith picked up his second win of the season, allowing only four hits in five innings. JSU sophomore lefty Tony Urban (3-3), who allowed seven runs and four hits in just two innings, took the loss.
In the first game of the doubleheader, the Gamecocks scored one run on a pair of hits in the bottom of the first. JSU added three in the fifth on four singles to extend its lead to 4-0.
MSU responded with three runs on four hits in the top of the sixth to cut the JSU lead to a run. Pickens got things started with a single and came home on a triple by Elmore, his third in the last six games. Sophomore designated hitter Kane Sweeney smashed a double moments later to bring home Elmore and scored on a groundout by Greenwell.
Jacksonville State manufactured an insurance run in the bottom of the eighth to extend its lead to the final score of 5-3.
Pickens went 3-for-4 at the plate, joining Elmore (2-for-5) as the only Eagles with multiple hits in the front end of the twinbill. Seven Gamecocks had multiple hits, paced by a 3-for-5 effort from freshman centerfielder Chase Silvani.
Eagle freshman right-hander Matt Anderson (1-7) took the loss after allowing five runs and 12 hits in 7 2/3 innings. Gamecock junior righty Taylor Shields (8-2) went 5 2/3 innings for the win, and sophomore righty Travis Stout picked up his 17th save of the campaign.
Check MSUEagles.com throughout the off-season for updates on Morehead State baseball.
