GAME 1 | Morehead State 14, SIU-Edwardsville 3
Senior Colton Becker collected three extra base hits to help propel the Morehead State Eagles over the SIU-Edwardsville Cougars 14-3 on Thursday.
Luke Helton (8-2) started on the mound and picked up the win for Morehead State (31-22, 15-10). The right-hander went eight innings, giving up two runs, both of them earned, on five hits, allowing no walks and striking out seven.
Becker's three extra base hits were the highlight of a 3-for-6 day, and included two doubles, a home run and three RBI. Nick Gooden compiled a standout effort as well, going 2-for-3 with a home run, a walk and three RBI. Senior Logan Castleman also contributed for the Eagles, putting together two hits in three trips to the plate while adding a home run, two walks and an RBI.
HOW IT HAPPENED
The Eagles put runs on the scoreboard first, starting the scoring in the fourth inning.
The Eagles then held the Cougars scoreless before getting back on the board the very next inning. Morehead State hit two home runs in the inning on the way to pushing five runs aross. which brought the score to 8-0 in favor of the Eagles.
SIU-Edwardsville narrowed Morehead State's lead to 8-1 before the Eagles stretched the advantage to 9-1 in the sixth inning.
The Cougars fought back, closing the gap to 9-2 until Morehead State added some insurance in the seventh. The Eagles scored twice on back-to-back home runs from Becker and senior Roman Kuntz, bringing the Morehead State advantage to 11-2.
The Eagles kept SIU-Edwardsville scoreless before expanding their lead to 14-2 the following inning. Morehead State scored three runs in the frame, buoyed by a two-run homer from Gooden. SIU-Edwardsville put one run on the scoreboard before the game was over, but the Eagles still coasted to the 14-3 win.
GAME NOTES
» Becker had three base knocks in the game for Morehead State.
» Helton struck out seven Cougars hitters.
» Morehead State got a fantastic power hitting day from Becker, who reached safely with three extra base hits.
» Morehead State's highest scoring inning was the fifth, when it pushed five runs across.
» Helton put together eight innings of two-run ball for the Eagles.
» Four Eagles had multiple hits in the ballgame.
» Morehead State hitters hit four dingers in the ballgame.
» The Eagles out-hit the Cougars at a 12-8 clip.
» Morehead State went 5-for-13 (.385) with runners in scoring position.
» Morehead State pitchers limited SIU-Edwardsville to just 1-for-10 (.100) with runners in scoring position.
» Morehead State pitchers faced 37 SIU-Edwardsville hitters in the game, allowing 11 ground balls and seven fly balls while striking out eight.
» The Eagles drew eight walks from SIU-Edwardsville pitching.
» Becker led the Eagles at the plate, going 3-for-6 with two doubles, a home run and three RBI.
GAME 2 | Morehead State 19, SIU-Edwardsville 1
Roman Kuntz and senior Colton Becker each hit two home runs to help power the Morehead State Eagles over the SIU-Edwardsville Cougars 19-1 on Thursday.
Sophomore Carter Owens (3-3) started on the mound and picked up the win for Morehead State (32-22, 16-10). The right-hander went five shutout innings while giving up two hits, allowing three walks and striking out two. Sophomore Hunter Porter also made an impact on the mound for the Eagles, throwing one shutout inning while allowing no hits, with no walks and two strikeouts.
Kuntz's 7 RBI put him to 91 RBI on the season, with his grand slam shattering the OVC single season RBI record. Kuntz now has 31 HR and 91 RBI, both OVC single season records.Â
Becker added a double and three RBI to his two homer day and Kuntz supplemented his own two big flies with a walk and seven RBI for the Eagles. Senior Logan Castleman also contributed for Morehead State, putting together three hits in four trips to the plate while adding a double, a home run, a walk and two RBI.
HOW IT HAPPENED
The Eagles scored in six different innings on the way to victory. Morehead State broke a 0-0 tie and took the lead for good at 1-0 in the first inning on Becker's one-out solo home run off of sophomore Garrett Helsel.
GAME NOTES
» Becker and Kuntz each hit multiple home runs in the ballgame.
» Morehead State got three-hit games from five different hitters.
» The Eagles had three players put together games with multiple extra-base hits.
» Kuntz drove in seven runs for Morehead State.
» Every Morehead State starter reached base safely in the win.
» Morehead State's highest scoring inning was the third, when it pushed six runs across.
» Morehead State took a 2-0 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 five dingers in the ballgame.
» The Eagles had a total of 21 hits.
» The Eagles out-hit the Cougars at a 21-4 clip.
» Freshman Davis Germann stole two bases in Thursday's game.
» Morehead State went 8-for-17 (.471) with runners in scoring position.
» The Eagles got two hits in five at-bats with the bases loaded.
» Morehead State pitchers limited SIU-Edwardsville to just 0-for-5 with runners in scoring position.
Morehead State goes for the series win in the regular series finale Friday.Â
