HTML STATS | PDF STATS | ARCHIVED BROADCASTMOREHEAD, Ky. -- The Morehead State baseball team used a three-run seventh inning and 12-10 win over Jacksonville State on Saturday afternoon to punch its ticket for the Ohio Valley Conference Tournament. MSU will be the No. 5 seed in next week's event, while JSU will be the No. 3.
"I'm happy for our players, assistant coaches and everyone who is associated with this program," Head Coach Mike McGuire said. "We've shown a great deal of improvement this year and deserve to be one of the six schools playing for a conference championship next week in Tennessee."
The Eagles finish the regular season 28-26 overall, while the Gamecocks slip to 30-24. MSU went 16-14 in conference play and 13-8 at home, while JSU closes out league action 18-12 overall and 12-14 on the road. Morehead State also ends up winning nine of its last 11 games at Allen Field.
"We've had a track record of playing well in the final game of conference series, and I'm glad that continued today," McGuire said. "It's always good to finish the weekend on a positive note. We have now won the final game in six straight weekend sets going back to our Indiana trip in mid-April."
Saturday's series finale featured multiple ties and lead changes. MSU junior shortstop Robby Spencer broke a tie game in the seventh by launching a solo homer. Senior designated hitter Bobby Burns smashed a two-run double with two outs to give the Eagles a 12-9 advantage.
Jacksonville State threatened in the eighth and ninth, but junior right-hander Ryan Vansaghi and senior right-hander Dan Hyatt slammed the door on the Senior Day victory. Sophomore right-hander Matt Ellenbest improved to 2-2 with the win, while Hyatt tallied save No. 4.
"We were getting short on arms, with it being our fourth game this week, but our last four guys out of the bullpen stepped up and did a nice job," McGuire said. "Matt (Ellenbest) deserved the win today. Ryan (Vansaghi) and Dan (Hyatt) also recorded some big outs for us in crucial situations."
Junior right fielder Brandon Rawe, who continues to lead the conference and rank nationally in several offensive categories, paced Morehead State with a 3-for-4 performance, one run scored and two RBI. He now has a team-best 29 multi-hit efforts this season, including 13 three-hit games.
Eight of Morehead State's nine starters registered at least one hit, while seven knocked in at least one run. The Eagles managed three runs in the second, two in the fourth and four in the fifth.
Sophomore first baseman Paschal Petrongolo led Jacksonville State by going 4-for-5 with three runs and three RBI. He smashed a solo homer in the eighth, while senior second baseman Eddie Mora-Loera added a solo blast in the fourth. The Gamecocks posted 16 hits on the afternoon.
Senior left-hander Adam Polk, the third of four JSU pitchers, fell to 4-4 with the loss.
Morehead State has already improved by 12 wins over the 2013 campaign (16-40). The Eagles also end up recording eight more home victories and nine more road wins than last season.
Details on the 2014 Ohio Valley Conference Tournament will be available via OVCSports.com and MSUEagles.com on Saturday evening. The Eagles will begin play on Wednesday in Jackson, Tenn.
"All along, I've felt like if we got to the conference tournament, we would have a chance to win it," McGuire added. "I still feel that way, and we're looking forward to this next portion of the season."
