HTML STATS (G-1) | PDF STATS (G-1) | HTML STATS (G-2) | PDF STATS (G-2) | ARCHIVED BROADCASTS (GAME 1 | GAME 2)
SAN DIEGO, Calif. – The Morehead State baseball team used late-inning rallies in both ends of a doubleheader at San Diego Saturday to sweep the Toreros, 8-5 and 4-2.
Morehead State improved to 3-0 and insured itself of winning the USD series. San Diego, which entered the season ranked No. 34 by Collegiate Baseball, fell to 0-3.
"I have to give our guys a lot of credit," Head Coach Mike McGuire said. "We are seeing some really great pitching arms from San Diego, but our hitters are making things happen and giving us a chance to win. I think the question coming into the season was our starting pitching, but we have received three quality starts already, and our bullpen has been very good too."
In the opener, Morehead State scored two runs in the eighth and ninth frames to erase a 5-4 deficit. In the nightcap, the Eagles saw three players cross the plate in the top of the ninth to cancel out a 2-1 USD cushion.
Junior closer Craig Pearcy, who had a team-best eight saves in 2014, recorded saves in both contests, nailing down his first by getting the final six outs in the opener and working the ninth frame in the second contest.
In game one, sophomore Alex Stephens crushed an RBI triple in the eighth and later scored the go-ahead run when freshman designated hitter Tyler Niemann walked. In the ninth, sophomore center fielder Ryan Kent raced home on a wild pitch, and senior catcher Chris Robinson scored on senior right fielder Brandon Rawe's single to right field.
The Eagles plated three runs in the third, highlighted by senior left fielder Nick Newell's two-run triple.
Aiden Stinnett nailed a two-run double for the hosts in the first inning, who also plated solo runs in the fifth, sixth and seventh innings.
Junior righty Tyler Keele picked up his first win of the year, tossing 1.1 innings. Sophomore right-hander Luke Humphreys started and allowed three runs in five innings with five walks issued.
USD relief pitcher Jonathan Teaney was pinned with the loss, allowing the go-ahead run in a 2.2-inning assignment.
Stephens led a seven-hit attack with a 2-for-5 effort.
In game two, junior pitcher Matt Anderson struck out a career-best 10 batters in his first start of 2015. Senior righty Blake Smith faced just one USD hitter in the eighth inning but was credited with his initial victory.
Stephens started the final-inning rally with an RBI ground out to score senior shortstop Robby Spencer with the tying tally. Sophomore catcher Jimmy Wright then crushed a run-scoring triple to right field to plate Newell, who had singled earlier. Wright scored the fourth run on freshman second baseman's Evan Warden's sacrifice fly.
Wright had two of the Eagles' eight hits.
Anthony McIver was nailed with the loss after allowing three runs on three hits in 2.1 innings.
The teams will close the series on Sunday with a single game at 4 p.m. ET. MSU freshman right-handed pitcher David Calderon is expected to make his collegiate debut.
"Two nine-inning games takes a lot out of our guys, especially in this warm weather we aren't used to," McGuire added. "But we are enjoying being out here, and we are playing well. We'll look to keep up our success on Sunday. San Diego is a quality program, and we have a lot of respect for them. They will continue to compete as well, so we have to be prepared for another good battle."
