FLORENCE, AL -- The Morehead State baseball team secured a series win in breathtaking fashion, breaking a 9-9 tie in the ninth for a 13-9 victory over the North Alabama Lions Sunday.
Hayden Robbins' three-run homer, the first of his career, broke the tie with one out in the ninth inning, and on the very next pitch Ryley Preece hit his second home run of the series. Preece moved into fifth place on the program's all-time home run list, just eight home runs from becoming the all-time leader.
Junior Will Grimmett (1-0) got the win out of the bullpen for Morehead State (4-3). The right-hander went 1.2 innings without giving up a hit. Matt Bettio also pitched well, going 1.1 shutout innings without allowing a hit.
In the batter's box, the Eagles were led by senior Roman Kuntz, who went 2-for-6 on the day with a double, a home run and four RBI. Senior Ryley Preece furnished a noteworthy performance as well, going 4-for-5 with a home run, a walk and an RBI. Freshman Hayden Robbins also helped out for Morehead State, putting together one hit in five trips to the plate while adding a home run and four RBI.
HOW IT HAPPENED
Trailing 2-0, the Eagles first put runs on the board in the third inning. Morehead State scored three runs in the frame, highlighted by a two-run homer from Kuntz.
The Eagles lost the lead they built in the third, but got back on the board in the fourth trailing 4-3. Morehead State scored three runs in the frame, buoyed by a two-RBI double from senior Colton Becker, which brought the Eagles lead to 6-4.
Morehead State's lead had disappeared by the time the sixth inning arrived and turned into a 7-6 North Alabama advantage, when the Eagles re-took control at 8-7. The Eagles pushed two runs across on a two-run double off the bat of Kuntz that scored freshman Davis Germann and Preece.
Morehead State held the Lions scoreless before building on their lead in the eighth inning. The Eagles sent in a run on Isaias Guzman's two-out RBI double, bringing the score to 9-7 in favor of Morehead State.
North Alabama fired back to tie the ballgame at nine before the Eagles reclaimed a 13-9 advantage in the ninth inning. Morehead State hit two home runs in the inning on the way to pushing four runs across. The score remained 13-9 for the rest of the game, as the Eagles coasted to the win.
GAME NOTES
» Preece racked up four hits on the day for Morehead State.
» Freshman Callum McGill struck out five Lions hitters.
» The Eagles power output was led by Kuntz, who picked up two extra base hits in the ballgame.
» Robbins and Kuntz drove in four runs for Morehead State.
» Every Morehead State starter reached base safely in the win.
» Morehead State's highest scoring inning was the ninth, when it pushed four runs across.
» Four Eagles had multiple hits in the ballgame.
» Morehead State hitters hit three homers in the ballgame.
» The Eagles out-hit the Lions at a 13-12 clip.
» Becker stole three bases in Sunday's game.
» The Eagles swiped five bases as a team.
» Morehead State went 7-for-20 (.350) with runners in scoring position.
» Morehead State pitchers limited North Alabama to just 2-for-13 (.154) with runners in scoring position.
» Morehead State pitchers faced 46 North Alabama hitters in the game, allowing three ground balls and 14 fly balls while striking out eight.
» The Eagles drew five walks from North Alabama pitching.
Morehead State is back in action Tuesday, as the Eagles pay visit to Highland Heights, Ky., for a midweek game at Northern Kentucky.
