MOREHEAD, Ky. -- The Morehead State baseball team split the series-ending doubleheader vs. Eastern Illinois on Saturday, taking the series win and moving to 12-6 in the OVC.
GAME 1 | Eastern Illinois 10, Morehead State 4
Colton Becker went 2-for-3 with a home run and two RBI for the Morehead State Eagles in a 10-4 loss to the Eastern Illinois Panthers on Saturday.
Riley Bradshaw (1-2) came out of the bullpen for Morehead State (28-18, 11-6) and took the loss. The southpaw went 3.2 innings, giving up one run on three hits, allowing two walks and striking out two.
Becker led the way offensively for the Eagles, going 2-for-3 in the ballgame with a home run, a walk and two RBI. Junior Roman Kuntz provided a standout day at the plate as well, going 1-for-4 with a home run and an RBI. Freshman Carter Owens also helped out, going 1-for-3 for Morehead State with a double and a walk.
HOW IT HAPPENED
Trailing 2-0, the Eagles first put runs on the board in the first inning. Junior Jackson Feltner came across to score the lone run of the inning for Morehead State and get them on the board.
The Panthers expanded their lead to 3-1 before the Eagles offense got back to work, tying it up in the fourth. Morehead State scored twice on Becker's two-run homer, which evened the score at 3-3.
Eastern Illinois busted up the tie and grabbed a 9-3 lead heading into the eighth, when Morehead State closed the gap to 9-4. The Eagles scored a run on Kuntz's leadoff home run off senior Ryan Ignoffo. The Eagles were unable to get any closer, as Eastern Illinois added one run to their tally on the way to a 10-4 final.
GAME NOTES
» Morehead State's highest scoring inning was the fourth, when it pushed two runs across.
» Morehead State pitchers faced 49 Eastern Illinois hitters in the game, allowing nine ground balls and 11 fly balls while striking out five.
» The Eagles drew six walks from Eastern Illinois pitching.
» Becker led the Eagles at the plate, going 2-for-3 with a home run and two RBI.
GAME 2 | Morehead State 9, Eastern Illinois 6
Morehead State received contributions from every part of their lineup, as all nine starters reached base safely, helping the Eagles put nine runs on the board and defeat the Eastern Illinois Panthers 9-6 Saturday.
Senior Joe Rotkis (6-1) got the win for Morehead State (29-18, 12-6). The right-hander went five innings, giving up two runs, both of them earned, on six hits, allowing two walks and striking out one.
At the plate, the Eagles were paced by Nick Gooden, who went 2-for-4 on the day with two doubles and an RBI. Carter Owens put together a noteworthy day at the dish as well, going 1-for-3 with a home run and an RBI. Carter Sakamoto also contributed for Morehead State, putting together one hit in four trips to the plate while adding a home run and an RBI.
HOW IT HAPPENED
The Eagles were trailing 1-0 in the first inning when they first put runs on the board. Morehead State's offense started clicking and put up five runs, including a one-run single off the bat of junior Kyle Bartman.
The Eagles then held the Panthers scoreless before expanding their lead in the fourth inning. Morehead State picked up a run on Sakamoto's one-out solo home run off of junior Jackson Nichols, which brought the Eagles lead to 6-1.
Eastern Illinois narrowed Morehead State's lead to 6-2 before the Eagles stretched the advantage to 7-2 in the fifth inning.
Morehead State held the Panthers scoreless before their offense got things moving the next inning. Sakamoto's solo shot provided the lone run of the inning for the Eagles, bringing the score to 8-2 in favor of Morehead State.
Eastern Illinois got within 8-3 until the Eagles scored again in the seventh inning to stretch its lead to 9-3. Morehead State picked up a run on Owens' one-out solo home run off of junior Colton Coca. Eastern Illinois put three runs on the scoreboard before the game was over, but the Eagles still held on for the 9-6 win.
GAME NOTES
» Every Morehead State starter reached base safely in the win.
» Morehead State's highest scoring inning was the first, when it pushed five runs across.
» Morehead State took a 5-1 lead in the bottom half of the first and didn't surrender that lead for the remainder of the game.
» Morehead State went 5-for-11 (.455) with runners in scoring position.
» Morehead State pitchers faced 41 Eastern Illinois hitters in the game, allowing seven ground balls and 15 fly balls while striking out four.
» Gooden led the Eagles at the plate, going 2-for-4 with two doubles and an RBI.
Morehead State closes out the homestand with a midweek game against Marshall on Wednesday.Â
