BOX SCORE
NORFOLK, Va. – Making just his second career start, Morehead State baseball redshirt junior left-hander
Cory Conway turned in his best career outing en route to earning Morehead State its first series sweep of the season.
The Westfield, Ind. native crafted his first career complete game, shutting out Norfolk State (2-5) as the Eagles (3-4) capture the series finale 11-0. Conway scattered nine hits and navigate two walks while tying a career-high with five punchouts—two of which came in his final inning of work. He also induced three double plays on the afternoon.
At the plate, Morehead State racked up nine hits with four going for extra bases to record 11 total runs in the game. On the bases, the Eagles stole four total bases, including three from senior centerfielder
Ryan Layne to apply further pressure to their opponent.
Morehead State returns home next weekend for its home opener, welcoming in Southern Illinois for a three-game, non-conference set. Game times are set for 3 p.m. ET Friday, 2 p.m. Saturday, and 1 p.m. Sunday.
HOW IT HAPPENED
T4: Doubling off the rightfield wall and stealing third base—his first of three steals on the afternoon—, Layne scored from third thanks to a groundball from redshirt junior shortstop Logan Goodnight to open the Eagles' scoring.
T5: Opening the inning with a double to right-center, junior rightfielder Peyton Dillingham advance to third on a single from senior leftfielder Arthur Sells. A well-executed safety squeeze from junior designated hitter Jack Gardner and a single to left-center from redshirt junior catcher Brody Shoupe brought in Dillingham and Sells to expand the lead.
T6: Reaching third thanks to a dropped fly ball Layne scored from third on a groundout from redshirt junior Stephen Hill before an inside-out swing resulted in a double into the rightfield corner for senior first baseman Dom Peroni to score another run. Shoupe then plated another two runs with a double down the rightfield line.
T7: Singling to open the frame, Layne stole second and third to earn himself into scoring position before another groundout from Hill brought him in. Another run scored following a dropped fly ball by Norfolk State's rightfielder.
T8: Taking a hit by pitch in his at-bat to open the eight, Gardner raced home following a wild pitch from Spartan reliever Scott Mahoney to finalize the Eagles' 11-run advantage.
NOTABLE
In just his second career start, Cory Conway recorded his first career complete-game shutout, tossing a career-high 96 pitches while tying a career-high with five strikeouts.
Conway's complete-game shutout is the first complete game for a Morehead State pitcher since Jason Goe against Murray State in last season's OVC Tournament and the first complete-game shutout since Dalton Stambaugh versus Jacksonville State last April.
Morehead State's three double plays turned behind Conway were the most since turning three twin-killings against Marshall last March.
Ryan Layne swiped three bags Sunday as Morehead State tallied four thefts in the game, both the highest totals for the Eagles' since Jake Hammon stole three bags as part of a four-steal team effort against Tennessee Tech last May.
