Baseball comes up short in SIUE series opener, 2-0

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EDWARDSVILLE, Ill. – Morehead State senior pitcher Matt Anderson struck out 11 Friday night at SIU Edwardsville, but the offense could not come up with any run support as the Eagles fell 2-0 in the opening contest of a three-game series versus the Cougars at Simmons Complex.
 
MSU slipped to 21-18 overall and 8-8 in the league, while SIUE moved to 8-26 overall and 5-14 in the OVC.
 
"Matt pitched exceptionally well, and we just had a couple of swinging bunts, to be honest, go against us," said head coach Mike McGuire. "Our approach at the plate was not where it needed to be overall. We had some hits, but we did not have timely hitting. We have to forget about this, not feel sorry for ourselves, and come back ready to win Saturday."
 
The Cougars scratched across the only runs in the fifth inning. With two outs, Mario Tursi chopped a ball down the third base line and beat it out for a single. Kailer Smith followed with a single to right field, and then Alec Skender connected on a chopper to shortstop and barely beat out the throw to load the bases. Logan Andersen plated the game's only pair next with a single up the middle.
 
Anderson, who ranks in the top five nationally in strikeouts, recorded his fourth double-digit K effort this year and scattered eight hits in a complete-game, eight-inning outing. The tough-luck setback puts him at 5-2 in 2016.
 
MSU managed seven hits, including three by freshman shortstop Reid Leonard. But, the Eagles also bounced into three double plays.
 
SIUE starter P.J. Schuster moved to 1-5, going seven frames and allowing all seven hits. Zach Malach walked one in the ninth but collected his third save.
 
The teams will play the second game in the series Saturday at 3 p.m. ET.