NORFOLK, Va. -- The Morehead State baseball team kicked off the 2023 season a day later than expected but came away with two one-run victories on Saturday over Norfolk State, pushing the Eagles' all-time record against the Spartans to 5-0. Saturday marked the first time Morehead State has won a season opener since 2019, and the first 2-0 start since 2016.
GAME 1 | Morehead State 7, Norfolk State 6
Chase Vinson's sixth inning grand slam gave the Morehead State baseball team a lead it never surrendered in game one on Saturday, with Riley Bradshaw and John Bakke shutting down Norfolk State in the final four innings in the season opener.
Senior Luke Helton (1-0) started on the mound and picked up the win for Morehead State (1-0). The right-hander went five innings, giving up five runs, three earned, on eight hits, allowing one walk and striking out four. John Bakke also made an impact on the mound for the Eagles, throwing 3.2 innings, giving up one run on one hit, with one walk and seven strikeouts on his way to the save.
Junior Ryley Preece compiled a noteworthy performance at the plate as well, going 2-for-5 with a triple, a walk and two RBI. Junior Roman Kuntz also chipped in for Morehead State with an RBI double.
HOW IT HAPPENED
The Eagles were trailing 2-0 in the second inning when they put their first run of 2023 on the board on a Ryley Preece triple that scored Ryan Grabosch.
The Eagles deficit grew to 5-1 before their offense got back on the scoreboard, taking over the lead in the sixth inning. The Morehead State offense exploded for five runs, highlighted by a grand slam off the bat of Vinson, which brought the Eagles lead to 6-5.
Morehead State kept Norfolk State without a run before expanding their lead to 7-5 the following inning on an RBI single off the bat of Preece. Norfolk State put one run on the scoreboard before the game was over, but Morehead State still held on for the 7-6 win.
GAME NOTES
» Bakke's save puts him in a tie for second in Morehead State history in saves with 16. Two more saves will give him the school record.
» Vinson drove in four runs for Morehead State.
» The Morehead State pitching staff combined to strike out 12 Norfolk State hitters.
» The Eagles drew eight walks from Norfolk State pitching.
GAME 2 | Morehead State 3, Norfolk State 2
Junior Grant Herron had everything working on Saturday, punching out nine Norfolk State hitters over five innings of work to help propel the Morehead State Eagles over the Spartans 3-2.
In addition to his nine strikeouts, Herron (1-0) threw five innings, giving up two runs, both of them earned, on two hits and walking six for Morehead State (2-0). Jarrett Miller also made an impact on the mound for the Eagles, throwing two shutout innings while allowing no hits, with one walk and three strikeouts.
Preseason OVC Player of the Year Jackson Feltner led the way offensively for the Eagles, going 1-for-3 in the ballgame with a first inning two-run homer. Junior Roman Kuntz furnished a standout performance at the dish as well, going 1-for-3 with an RBI double. Kuntz doubled in both games. Freshman Davis Germann also helped out, going 1-for-1 for Morehead State with a triple. Ryley Preece unfortunately saw his 37 game on-base streak end in Game Two after an 0-3 performance.
HOW IT HAPPENED
The Eagles got on the board immediately, scoring three runs in the first inning, highlighted by a two-run homer from Feltner. Norfolk State answered with two runs in the bottom half of the inning, but Grant Herron and Jarrett Miller shut down the Spartan lineup from there on the way to the second victory of the day.
GAME NOTES
» Morehead State pitchers limited Norfolk State to just 1-for-9 (.111) with runners in scoring position.
Morehead State will look to win and possibly sweep the series Sunday, with two seven inning games beginning at 11 a.m.
