Baseball falls in second game of UTM series, 6-4

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MOREHEAD, Ky. -- A pinch-hit, three-run homer by UT Martin's Tanner Wessling ultimately sunk the Morehead State baseball team Saturday as the Eagles dropped the second game of the weekend series to the Skyhawks, 6-4.

MSU saw its 13-game winning streak over UTM come to an end as the Eagles slipped to 20-16 overall and 7-7 in the league. UTM moved to 10-25 overall and 4-13 in the conference.

The Eagles held a 4-2 lead heading to the top of the ninth, but closer Tyler Keele issued three walks, hit a batter, and gave up the long ball to left field to Wessling. UTM also scored on a passed ball in the inning. Only three of the Skyhawks' runs ended up being earned.

"It's disappointing because we had a lot of chances to add runs and put ourselves out in front more," said Head Coach Mike McGuire. "Tyler has been in those situations before, and he has worked out of it more often than not. Today, he got himself in trouble, and too many free bases hurt him in the end."

UTM scatched across a run in the first, but the Eagles erased that deficit right away. Freshman designated hitter Trevor Snyder nailed an RBI double to plate junior third baseman Alex Stephens and freshman shortstop Reid Leonard. MSU added another tally in the fifth when freshman rightfielder Niko Hulsizer doubled home sophomore leftfielder Tyler Niemann.

The visitors trimmed the Eagles to one when they scored on a wild pitch from Keele in the top of the eighth, but freshman catcher Hunter Fain pushed the lead back to 4-2 with his second double of the day to score junior first baseman Jesus Carrera.

MSU connected on 10 hits, led by Snyder and Fain with a pair each. Fain continued his team-high reached-base streak, upping it to all 27 games he's seen a plate appearance. 

The rubber match of the series is set for 1 p.m. ET Sunday at Allen Field. It will be streamed live on the OVC Digital Network.