ATHENS, Ohio -- The Morehead State baseball team's middle infielders were the stars on Tuesday, as Colton Becker and Nick Gooden combined for 11 RBI to clinch a season sweep of Ohio for the second straight season.
Will Grimmett (1-0) picked up the victory out of the bullpen for Morehead State (16-12). The right-hander went two innings, giving up one run on two hits. Luke Lyman also made an impact on the mound for the Eagles, throwing two shutout innings while allowing one hit. Ethan Davis started the game for Morehead State and allowed just one run, while getting the Bobcats to ground into two double plays.
Becker didn't have a home run coming into the game, but smashed a pair of round-trippers (one two-run, one three-run), and finished with five RBI. His double play partner Nick Gooden finished with three hits, and a career-high six RBI. Roman Kuntz drove in three himself, finishing 2-5.
HOW IT HAPPENED
The Eagles got on the board immediately, starting their scoring with one run in the top of the first inning. Morehead State got an RBI single from Kuntz, scoring Ryley Preece from third base.
After the Bobcats rallied to tie the ballgame at one, the Eagles came back to retake the lead in the third inning. Morehead State scored three runs in the frame, buoyed by a two-run homer from Becker, which brought the score to 4-1 in favor of the Eagles.
Ohio narrowed Morehead State's lead to 4-2 before the Eagles stretched the advantage to 10-2 in the fourth inning. The Eagles bats heated up in the inning, scoring six runs, including a three-run home run off the bat of Gooden and a two-run single from Kuntz. Chase Vinson drove in a run as well with a double.
Morehead State held the Bobcats scoreless before building on their lead in the seventh inning. The Eagles scored five runs in the inning, highlighted by a three-run home run off the bat of Becker and a two-run single from Gooden, bringing the score to 15-2 in favor of Morehead State. The score remained 15-2 for the rest of the game, as the Eagles coasted to a run-rule victory.
GAME NOTES
» Tuesday marked the first career two homer game for Becker.
» Morehead State's 13-run win marked the largest margain of victory for the Eagles this season.
» Morehead State took a 1-0 lead in the top half of the first and didn't surrender that lead for the remainder of the game.
» Four Eagles had multiple hits in the ballgame.
» Morehead State hitters hit three dingers in the ballgame.
» The Eagles out-hit the Bobcats at a 12-8 clip.
» Morehead State went 8-for-17 (.471) with runners in scoring position.
» Morehead State pitchers faced 27 Ohio hitters in the game, allowing eight ground balls and nine fly balls while striking out one.
» The Eagles drew six walks from Ohio pitching.
Morehead State has a quick turnaround ahead, as Canisius comes to Allen Field for a three-game set beginning on Thursday.
