Baseball sweeps Tech to run winning streak to five

BOX SCORE (GAME 1 | GAME 2) | AUDIO ARCHIVE (GAME 1 | GAME 2)

MOREHEAD. Ky. – The Morehead State baseball team got nine strikeouts from both starting pitchers and scored more than 60 percent of the total runs in the second innings en route to a doubleheader sweep (11-6, 5-4) of Tennessee Tech Friday at Allen Field.
 
The Eagles (11-3, 2-0 Ohio Valley Conference) secured a series win over TTU (6-7, 0-2) for the second straight season and ran their winning streak to five. Game one starter Luke Humphreys improved to 3-0 by fanning nine over six innings, and game two starter Patrick McGuff sat down nine in six frames for his first win in 2016.
 
Morehead State pitchers combined for 28 strikeouts on the day as sophomore lefty Aaron Leasher fanned five and collected a three-inning save, his first of the year, in the opener. Senior righty Tyler Keele nailed down the final five outs in the nightcap for his third save of 2016.
 
"With the exception of maybe one bad inning, our starters were lights out today," said Head Coach Mike McGuire. "It's hard to sweep a doubleheader from any team, let alone a great club like Tech, so we are happy to be where we're at right now. We also continue to get production from a variety of players in the lineup."
 
The hosts took advantage of three TTU throwing errors in the second frame of the opener to score six times. Tech crept to within 6-4 in the third on a pair of home runs, but an RBI double by sophomore leftfielder Tyler Niemann, a run-scoring single from freshman catcher Hunter Fain, and another error allowed MSU to distance itself with three more in the eighth.
 
Junior centerfielder Ryan Kent led a 16-hit attack in the opener with three hits, while five others connected on two hits.
 
Tech starter Chase Burkett (1-2) took the loss, allowing 12 hits and eight runs (only two were earned) in five frames.
 
In the second contest, The Eagles again erupted in the second inning, thanks to a three-run homer by freshman designated hitter Trevor Snyder.
 
After MSU added a run in the fifth, The Golden Eagles began to rally, albeit with runs of the unearned variety. TTU scored once in the sixth when a fly ball was dropped and added a pair in the seventh when a two-out ground ball was misplayed.
 
After TTU plated another in the eighth, Keele got a strikeout and a spectacular double play on a scorching ball up the middle to end the threat and the game. Freshman shortstop Reid Leonard, who started that double play, finished 3-for-3 with a double.
 
Travis Moths, the TTU starter, was tagged with the loss.
 
The teams will conclude the series with a solo game Saturday at 1 p.m. ET.