CAPE GIRARDEAU, Mo. – Late game heroics were not enough Friday night, as the Morehead State baseball team dropped game one of a three-game set vs. SEMO 8-7 in 10 innings.
Unearned runs were the difference in the contest, as five of SEMO's eight runs were unearned. The Eagles (16-20, 5-5 OVC) committed three errors on the night, with the third coming on the final play of the night, which allowed the game-winning run to score.
Morehead State took the lead early, as
Alex Jacobs (2-5, 2 RBI) extended his on-base streak to 34 games with a two-run single to centerfield to put the Eagles up 2-0 in the first.
Jackson Feltner (3-4, RBI) drove home
Brody Shoupe in the third to make the score 3-0.
SEMO pushed a run across in the third and fourth before
Ryley Preece drove in a run on an RBI groundout in the fifth.
Chase Vinson scored on a wild pitch later in the inning, making the score 5-2.
The Redhawks took the lead in the sixth on a two-run homer from Jevon Mason, before plating another run in the seventh and led 7-5 in the ninth.
Colton Becker (2-4) tripled to open the top of the ninth before
Chase Vinson smashed a two-run home run over the right field wall to tie the game 7-7.
John Bakke (L, 2-2) came on in the bottom half and struck out two Redhawks to send the game to extra innings. After a 1-2-3 top half, SEMO loaded the bases with one out in the bottom half before scoring the winning run on a bobbled double-play ball that could have ended the inning.
Starter
Luke Helton threw five innings, giving up four runs (two earned) on seven hits, striking out two along the way. Helton retired the first seven batters of the game, and left in line for the win.
Sunday's finale has been moved to Saturday due to inclement weather, setting up a doubleheader to close the series. First pitch of game one is set for 3 p.m. ET, as the Eagles look to get back above .500 in OVC play.
Alex Kafka will take the ball in game one, with
Grant Herron set to start game two.
Both games are available on ESPN+, with live stats available as well.
