FLORENCE, AL -- The Morehead State Eagles put together a spirited comeback, scoring four runs in the ninth inning, but the late-game rally came up short and they fell 9-6 to the North Alabama Lions Saturday.
Senior Grant Herron (0-1) got the ball to start for Morehead State (3-3) and took the loss. The right-hander went five innings, giving up seven runs, two earned, on six hits, allowing three walks and striking out six. Sophomore Zach Taylor was a bright spot for the Eagles, coming out of the bullpen and throwing one shutout inning, allowing no hits, with no walks and one strikeout.
In the batter's box, the Eagles were paced by Isaias Guzman, who went 2-for-4 on the day with a double, a walk and two RBI. Senior Colton Becker put together a standout performance at the plate as well, going 3-for-4 with a walk. Nick Gooden also chipped in for Morehead State, putting together two hits in five trips to the plate while adding an RBI.
HOW IT HAPPENED
The Eagles were trailing 9-0 in the eighth inning when they first put runs on the board. Morehead State managed to push across two runs in the inning.
The Eagles kept the Lions off the board before narrowing the gap further in the ninth. The Morehead State offense exploded for four runs, highlighted by a two-run double off the bat of Guzman, which brought the score to 9-6 in favor of the Lions. The Eagles brought the tying run to the plate with nobody out, but the ballgame ended with that ninth inning rally falling short.
GAME NOTES
» Becker led the Eagles, picking up three hits in the ballgame.
» Morehead State's highest scoring inning was the ninth, when it pushed four runs across.
» Morehead State left 11 runners stranded on base in the loss.
» The Eagles out-hit the Lions at an 11-7 clip.
» Morehead State pitchers faced 40 North Alabama hitters in the game, allowing eight ground balls and six fly balls while striking out 10.
» The Eagles drew five walks from North Alabama pitching.
» Guzman led the Eagles at the plate, going 2-for-4 with a double and two RBI.
Morehead State will look for the series win in Sunday's finale, with the rubber match beginning at 2:00 p.m. ET.
