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SAN DIEGO, Calif. – The San Diego baseball team scored three runs in the bottom of the ninth Sunday to hand the Morehead State Eagles a 6-5 defeat at Fowler Park.
Morehead State, which slipped to 3-1, still claimed the series with wins on Friday and Saturday. The Toreros, who were ranked No. 34 in the
Collegiate Baseball preseason poll, moved to 1-3.
"I thought we played really well today, despite the outcome," Head Coach Mike McGuire said. "We really wanted to get all four, but I couldn't be be prouder of how we played this weekend. San Diego is a very tough team, and it's almost impossible to beat a team four straight times, especially on the road, so give them credit. We found a way to win the first three games, and today we just ran out of gas in the end."
Morehead State took a 5-3 cushion into the final inning, but USD designated hitter Aiden Stinnett knocked a two-out, two-run single to right field to score the tying run, and right fielder Connor Jauch executed a bunt single down the third base line to score the winning run off MSU junior closer Craig Pearcy.
"I still have all the confidence in the world in Craig," McGuire added. "We put him out there three straight games, and that's not the norm for closers, but if we played tomorrow and he said he wanted to pitch again, I would put him out there."
Pearcy, who collected saves in both wins Saturday, fell to 0-1. USD left-hander Jacob Hill (1-0) was credited with the win, surrendering just one hit in the eighth and ninth frames.
Stinnett, shortstop Kyle Holder and catcher Colton Waltner led the Toreros with two hits apiece. The host club produced 10 hits off four Morehead State pitchers.
Freshman pitcher David Calderon made his first career start for the Eagles, throwing five innings and allowing six hits and three runs.
MSU's hitters had 12 hits as every player in the starting lineup registered at least one. Senior first baseman Kane Sweeney's 3-for-4 day highlighted the stat sheet, including his first homer of the year in the ninth inning. Freshman second baseman Evan Warden notched two hits, and senior shortstop Robby Spencer delivered a two-run home run in the fifth that put his team on top 4-3.
"This weekend showed the kind of team we can have, and we are excited. We went toe-to-toe with one of the best programs in the country, and we are extremely thrilled about the prospects for the 2015 season."
Morehead State is scheduled to host Mid-American Conference foe Bowling Green for a three-game series next weekend. The opener is slated for Friday at 3 p.m. ET. Check MSUEagles.com, Twitter (@MSUAthletics) and Facebook (MSUEagles) for the latest schedule updates.
