Box Score (PDF) | Archived Audio
JACKSON, Miss. -- Despite a home run by sophomore outfielder
Niko Hulsizer in his second straight outing to start 2017, the Morehead State baseball team fell behind 7-0 after two innings and ultimately dropped a 10-5 decision to Jackson State Saturday afternoon.
The Eagles slipped to 1-1, while JSU won its season opener.
Hulsizer, who went 2-for-4, cranked a mammoth homer to left field in the eighth inning to set the final at 10-5.
The Eagles got a rough outing from starting pitcher
JC Hatcher, a junior college transfer making his first start. He only lasted 1.2 innings and gave up just four hits but walked four and hit two batters to absorb the loss.
"We gave up too many free bases, and at the same time, we didn't capitalize on some opportunities," said head coach
Mike McGuire. "I thought our two freshmen relievers did a nice job in their first times out."
Freshman righty
Jake Ziegelmeyer tossed the middle 4.1 frames, allowing three runs with two strikeouts. Fellow freshman righty
Alex Garbrick pitched the final two scoreless innings and only allowed a ground-ball single.
The Tigers put a five-spot on the scoreboard in the first inning after three walks and added two more in the second. Morehead State generated four runs in the sixth after it trailed 9-0. Four straight hits, highlighted by senior right-fielder
Will Schneider's two-run double, were the benchmark of that frame.
JSU starter Johnathan Aponte surrendered just three earned runs in five innings for the win.
Sophomore shortstop
Reid Leonard also had a multi-hit effort with a pair of singles.
The Eagles return to action at JSU tonight at 7:30 p.m. ET against Jacksonville, a team they beat 5-2 Friday.
