Preece Homers Thrice as Baseball Cruises Past Saint Peter's in Friday Doubleheader

MOREHEAD, Ky. -- The Morehead State baseball team kept rolling on Friday, treating fans at Allen Field with two victories over Saint Peter's to move to 6-0 on the young season. The Eagles hit seven home runs across the doubleheader, led by three from Ryley Preece, while the pitching staff held the Peacocks to just four runs.

GAME 1 | Morehead State 8, Saint Peter's 2
Luke Helton dominated in the home opener, setting a new career high with 10 strikeouts in his second win of the season.

In addition to his 10 strikeouts, Helton (2-0) went seven innings, giving up two runs, both of them earned, on five hits and walking one for Morehead State (5-0).

HOW IT HAPPENED

Trailing 1-0, the Eagles first put runs on the board in the first inning. Morehead State scored two runs on solo shots from Jackson Feltner and Roman Kuntz.

The Eagles then held the Peacocks scoreless before expanding their lead in the fifth inning. The Morehead State offense exploded for five runs, highlighted by a two-run single off the bat of Logan Castleman and a two-run home run from Preece, which brought the score to 7-1 in favor of the Eagles.

Saint Peter's narrowed Morehead State's lead to 7-2 before the Eagles stretched the advantage to 8-2 in the sixth inning. The score remained 8-2 for the rest of the game, as Morehead State coasted to the win.

GAME NOTES
» Morehead State hitters hit three home runs in the ballgame.
» The Eagles out-hit the Peacocks at a 6-5 clip.
» The Eagles drew six walks from Saint Peter's pitching.

GAME 2 | Morehead State 12, Saint Peter's 2
Junior Ryley Preece put together an outstanding outing at the plate in game two, hitting two home runs to help lead the Morehead State Eagles past the Saint Peter's Peacocks 12-2.

John Bakke (1-0) got the win for Morehead State (6-0). The left-hander went five innings, giving up two runs, one earned, on five hits, allowing two walks and striking out two. Branden Blankenship and Hunter Porter came on and slammed the door on the Peacocks, combining for two shutout innings with two strikeouts a piece. 

Preece went 3-for-4 at the plate, supplementing his two home runs with a double while driving in two runs. Reigning OVC Player of the Week Chase Vinson smashed a two-run homer as well, and Max Power also chipped in for the Eagles, going 1-for-3 with a two-run blast of his own. Colton Becker had himself a day in all facets of the game, swiping two bases and driving in two with a double, all while making a few great plays from his shortstop position. 

HOW IT HAPPENED

The Eagles got the scoring started early, putting one run on the board in the bottom the first inning as Ryley Preece came across on a sacrifice fly by Roman Kuntz to open the scoring. 

The Peacocks failed to push any runs across before the Eagles built on their lead in the third inning. Morehead State hit three home runs (including two from Ryley Preece) in the inning on the way to pushing eight runs aross. which brought the Eagles lead to 9-0.

Saint Peter's narrowed Morehead State's lead to 9-2 before the Eagles stretched the advantage to 12-2 in the sixth inning. The Eagles picked up three runs in the frame, two of them coming across on a two-run homer from Vinson. The score remained 12-2 for the rest of the game, as Morehead State coasted to the win.

GAME NOTES
» Morehead State's highest scoring inning was the third, when it pushed eight runs across.
» The Eagles out-hit the Peacocks at a 12-6 clip.
» Junior Colton Becker stole two bases in Friday's game.
» Morehead State pitchers limited Saint Peter's to just 0-for-7 with runners in scoring position.
» Morehead State pitchers faced 29 Saint Peter's hitters in the game, allowing eight ground balls and six fly balls while striking out six.

Morehead State returns to action Saturday, beginning the second half of the weekend's four game series. Grant Herron is scheduled to take the ball for Morehead State as the Eagles look to move to 7-0.