MOREHEAD, KY -- Nick Gooden and Colton Becker each collected two extra base hits to help power the Morehead State Eagles past the Western Illinois Leathernecks 16-5 on Sunday, securing a series victory.
Freshman Callum McGill (1-0) started on the mound and picked up the win for Morehead State (19-16, 6-6). The right-hander went five innings, giving up four runs on eight hits, allowing three walks and striking out five.
Becker's two extra base hits were the highlight of a 2-for-5 day, and included a double, a home run and three RBI. Gooden made his contribution with a double, a home run, two walks and two RBI, part of a 3-for-3 performance at the plate. Freshman Hayden Robbins also contributed for the Eagles, putting together one hit in three trips to the plate while adding a home run, a walk and four RBI.
HOW IT HAPPENED
The Eagles got on the board immediately, starting their scoring with two runs in the bottom of the first inning. Morehead State's offense started clicking and put up five runs, including a two-run home run off the bat of Becker.
The Leathernecks failed to push any runs across before the Eagles offense got back to their scoring ways the next inning. Morehead State scored three runs in the frame, buoyed by a two-RBI double from senior Gabriel Sepulveda, which brought the Eagles lead to 8-0.
Western Illinois narrowed Morehead State's lead to 8-1 before the Eagles stretched the advantage to 9-1 in the third inning.
Morehead State held the Leathernecks scoreless before their offense got back in action the next inning. Sepulveda crossed home plate with the lone run of the inning for the Eagles, bringing the score to 10-1 in favor of Morehead State.
Western Illinois got within 10-4 until the Eagles scored again in the sixth inning to stretch its lead to 16-4. Morehead State hit two home runs in the inning on the way to pushing six runs across. Western Illinois put one run on the scoreboard before the game was over, but the Eagles still coasted to the 16-5 win.
GAME NOTES
» Morehead State got three-hit games from both Gooden and senior Ryan Grabosch.
» McGill struck out five Leathernecks hitters.
» The Eagles had both Gooden and Becker smack multiple extra-base hits in the ballgame.
» Robbins 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 sixth, when it pushed six runs across.
» Morehead State took a 5-0 lead in the bottom half of the first and didn't surrender that lead for the remainder of the game.
» Six Eagles had multiple hits in the ballgame.
» Morehead State hitters hit three dingers in the ballgame.
» The Eagles had a total of 16 hits.
» The Eagles out-hit the Leathernecks at a 16-9 clip.
» Morehead State went 6-for-17 (.353) with runners in scoring position.
» Morehead State pitchers limited Western Illinois to just 2-for-11 (.182) with runners in scoring position.
» Morehead State pitchers faced 37 Western Illinois hitters in the game, allowing four ground balls and nine fly balls while striking out eight.
» The Eagles drew 10 walks from Western Illinois pitching.
» Gooden led the Eagles at the plate, going 3-for-3 with a double, a home run and two RBI.
Morehead State plays five games this week, beginning with a road game at Marshall on Tuesday.
