EVANSVILLE, Ind. -- The Morehead State baseball team capitalized on two dominant starting pitching performances Sunday, sweeping both games of the doubleheader to complete a series sweep of Southern Indiana to move into a three-way-tie for first place in the OVC after the first weekend of conference play. The sweep marked the first 3-0 start in conference play for Morehead State since 2017.
GAME 1 | Morehead State 11, Southern Indiana 4
Jackson Feltner tied a career high with four hits in Morehead State's first of two wins on Sunday, going 4-5 with a walk and a two-run home run (his seventh of the season) to put the game out of reach in the ninth inning.
Grant Herron (3-1) got the win for Morehead State (12-10, 2-0). The right-hander went 5.2 innings, giving up three runs, two earned, on seven hits, allowing one walk and striking out five. Riley Bradshaw also pitched well, going 2.1 innings, surrendering one run on two hits, walking none and striking out three. Matt Bettio closed the game out in the ninth, getting three Screaming Eagles to fly out to end the game.
Feltner wasn't the only Eagle dialed in at the dish, as Colton Becker's second two-run triple of the week netted him two of his three RBI. Chase Vinson smashed a solo home run in the win, his sixth of the season, and Carter Owens posted his first career double as part of a 2-4 day.
HOW IT HAPPENED
Morehead State broke a scoreless tie in the third after Colton Becker and Roman Kuntz drew back-to-back bases loaded walks. Two runs scored in the fourth after Ryley Preece reached on an error. Chase Vinson's solo blast in the fifth moved the score to 5-0 after the top of the fifth inning. USI got a run back in the home half, but MSU posted a three spot in the sixth after Becker's two-run triple, before the Eagle shortstop scored on a wild pitch. USI cut the deficit to 8-4, but Carter Sakamoto's RBI sacrifice bunt gave the Eagles momentum, and Feltner effectively ended the game with his two-run blast in the ninth.
GAME NOTES
» Morehead State scored in six different innings.
» The Eagles out-hit the Screaming Eagles at an 11-10 clip.
» Morehead State went 4-for-13 (.308) with runners in scoring position.
» Morehead State pitchers faced 39 Southern Indiana hitters in the game, allowing five ground balls and 13 fly balls while striking out eight.
» The Eagles drew seven walks from Southern Indiana pitching.
GAME 2 | Morehead State 5, Southern Indiana 1 (F/8)
Game two of the doubleheader was a scheduled seven inning affair, but a pitcher's duel proved that seven innings were not enough and the game moved to extra innings. A four run eighth inning proved to be the difference as Morehead State won its fourth straight game and clinched the series sweep of Southern Indiana.
Jarrett Miller (1-2) got the win out of the bullpen for Morehead State (13-10, 3-0). The right-hander came on in the seventh with two outs and the winning run at third base in a 1-1 tie, and struck out Evan Kahre to send the game into extras. Luke Helton dominated on the mound for Morehead State, going 6.2 innings while allowing only one run on two hits and four walks, finishing with five strikeouts in a great bounce back start.
Freshman Carter Owens led the way offensively for the Eagles, going 2-for-3 in the ballgame with two doubles and a walk. Nick Gooden compiled a standout performance at the plate as well, going 1-for-4 with a double and two RBI. Senior Carter Sakamoto also contributed, going 0-for-1 for Morehead State with three walks and an RBI.
HOW IT HAPPENED
After four scoreless innings, Ryley Preece grounded into a fielder's choice, but a great slide from Carter Sakamoto netted the first run of the game for Morehead State.
The Screaming Eagles then tied the ballgame at one before the Eagles came back to reclaim their advantage in the eighth inning. A four-spot gave Morehead State a 5-1 lead, highlighted by a bases loaded walk from Colton Becker and a two-run double from Nick Gooden. Jarrett Miller returned to the mound in the eighth and shut down the Screaming Eagles for the win.
GAME NOTES
» The Eagles power output was led by Owens, who had two extra base hits in the ballgame.
» Helton put together 6.2 innings of one-run ball for the Eagles.
» The Eagles out-hit the Screaming Eagles at a 7-3 clip.
» Sakamoto stole two bases the game.
» Morehead State went 3-for-10 (.300) with runners in scoring position.
» Morehead State pitchers held Southern Indiana hitless with runners in scoring position (0-5).
» Morehead State pitchers faced 32 Southern Indiana hitters in the game, allowing 10 ground balls and five fly balls while striking out eight.
» The Eagles drew seven walks from Southern Indiana pitching.
Morehead State hits the road once again on Tuesday, heading west on I-64 to Richmond, Ky., to face arch-rival Eastern Kentucky. First pitch is set for 6:00 p.m.
