LOUISVILLE, KY -- Hunter Thomas and senior Colton Becker each collected two extra base hits to help lead the Morehead State Eagles past the Bellarmine Knights 9-5 on Tuesday.
Freshman Bradley Poynter (3-2) started on the mound and picked up the win for Morehead State (26-19). The right-hander went 5.2 innings, giving up four runs on seven hits, allowing one walk and striking out one. Sophomore Ethan Davis also made an impact on the mound for the Eagles, throwing 3.1 innings, giving up one run on one hit, with one walk and two strikeouts. Davis picked up a save, the first of his collegiate career.
Becker's two extra base hits were the highlight of a 3-for-5 day, and included a double, a home run and five RBI. Thomas made his contribution with a double, a home run, a walk and an RBI, part of a 2-for-3 performance at the plate. Senior Logan Castleman also helped out for the Eagles, putting together three hits in four trips to the plate while adding three RBI.
HOW IT HAPPENED
The Eagles put runs on the scoreboard first, starting the scoring in the second inning. Morehead State's offense started clicking and put up five runs, including a three-run double off the bat of Becker and a two-run single from Castleman.
The Knights failed to push any runs across before the Eagles offense got back to their scoring ways the next inning. Morehead State picked up a run on Thomas' two-out solo home run off of senior Devin Ecklar, which brought the Eagles lead to 6-0.
Bellarmine narrowed Morehead State's lead to 6-1 before the Eagles stretched the advantage to 7-1 in the fourth inning. The Eagles scored once on an RBI single off the bat of Becker.
The Knights fought back, closing the gap to 7-4 until Morehead State added some insurance in the seventh. The Eagles recorded a run on Becker's one-out solo home run off junior Arren Hash, bringing the Morehead State advantage to 8-4.
The Eagles kept Bellarmine without a run before building on their lead to 9-4 the following inning. Morehead State scored once on an RBI single off the bat of Castleman. Bellarmine put one run on the scoreboard before the game was over, but the Eagles still coasted to the 9-5 win.
GAME NOTES
» Morehead State got three-hit games from both Becker and Castleman.
» The Eagles had both Thomas and Becker smack multiple extra-base hits in the ballgame.
» Becker drove in five runs for Morehead State.
» Morehead State's highest scoring inning was the second, when it pushed five runs across.
» The Eagles had control of the rest of the game after moving ahead of the Knights 5-0 in the top of the second.
» The Eagles out-hit the Knights at an 11-8 clip.
» Morehead State went 4-for-13 (.308) with runners in scoring position.
» Morehead State pitchers limited Bellarmine to just 1-for-5 (.200) with runners in scoring position.
» Morehead State pitchers faced 37 Bellarmine hitters in the game, allowing 11 ground balls and 12 fly balls while striking out three.
» The Eagles drew four walks from Bellarmine pitching.
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Morehead State finished the road trip with a 3-2 record, and returns home this weekend for three games vs. UT Martin.
