Fast start doesn't hold up for Baseball in 8-6 loss at EKU

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RICHMOND, Ky. -- Despite a 5-0 lead in the top of the first inning, the Morehead State baseball team was limited to just four hits the rest of the way, and the Eagles fell 8-6 at Eastern Kentucky in the opening contest of a three-game series Friday at Turkey Hughes Field.

EKU moved to 12-14 overall and 2-5 in the Ohio Valley Conference, while MSU slipped down to 16-10 and 5-5 in the league.

The Colonels scored seven of their eight runs in the first five innings, finally taking a lead they never relinquished in the fifth.

"It didn't show it, but I thought we actually had quite a few quality at-bats in the second through sixth innings," said Head Coach Mike McGuire. "We hit the ball hard but pretty much right at them. However, we struck out five times in the last nine outs and did not get good at-bats. We have to come back tomorrow and get back at it and forget this one."

The Eagles erupted for a five-spot in the first, propelled by freshman designated hitter Trevor Snyder's three-run homer, his fifth of the season and second three-run bomb this week. Junior first baseman Jesus Carrera and freshman shortstop Reid Leonard added RBI doubles in the scoring outburst. MSU has now scored 76 runs in the first or second innings this season.

A pair of Eagle fielding errors to open the first and second innings eventually allowed the frames to be extended, and the Colonels cut their deficit to 5-4 after two. EKU third baseman Mandy Alvarez cranked a two-run homer in the second.

MSU took a 6-5 cushion into the bottom of the fifth when Carrera and Leonard executed a delayed double-steal, allowing Carrera to score. But, Colonel leftfielder Kyle Nowlin put his team on top for good with a two-run single in the bottom of the fifth.

EKU reliever Brian Mroz, who was credited with his third save, tossed the final four innings and only allowed one hit while striking out five. Luke McGee (1-2) got the win, despite only facing one batter and getting one out to end the MSU fifth.

Eagle lefty Curtis Wilson (0-2) was charged with the loss, surrendering three runs in 2.1 innings. Starter Matt Anderson walked five but only was charged with one earned run allowed in the first four frames.

Snyder led the Eagles with a 3-for-4 effort and now has seven hits this past week. While not getting a hit, freshman catcher Hunter Fain extended his team-best reached-base streak to 20 games.

The teams will play game two of the series in Richmond on Saturday at 4 p.m. ET.