Morehead, Ky. -- Catcher
Hunter Thomas got just enough of a pitch in the top of the 11
th inning to push Morehead State to a 4-2 win over Arkansas State in Jonesboro, Ark., in the season opener for both clubs.
MSU center fielder
Hayden Robbins led off the inning with a single to right to lead off the inning. The Richmond, Ky., product went four for five on the day with a triple and scored twice. Thomas then lifted a fly ball to left-center that just cleared the wall over the outstretched glove of Arkansas State center fielder Ashton Quiller. Thomas finished the day one for five with three runs batted in.
Will Grimmett (1-0) got the win for Morehead State. He threw four innings out of the bullpen, giving up one run on four hits. Morehead State starter
Hunter Porter threw four innings, allowing two runs on three hits. He struck out four Redwolves batters and walked three.
Josh Furtado gave Morehead State three innings of one-hit baseball with two strikeouts.
In the bottom of the 10
th, with the score tied at 2-2, designated hitter Jake Henry Williams led off with a single up the middle. Arkansas State catcher Kaden Amundson bunted to the right side that Grimmett misplayed. Leadoff hitter Wil French then bunted up the third base line for a base hit to load the bases. Grimmett then enticed two ground balls to second baseman
Aubrey Kearns to force runners at the plate. The Eagles got out of the inning with a grounder to shortstop
Andy Cisneros to force the runner at second.
Arkansas State opened the scoring on a walk and a RBI single in the bottom of the second inning. The Redwolves struck again when Williams slammed a home run to left to put Arkansas State ahead 2-0.
Morehead State's offense broke through in the seventh. Designated hitter
Caden Sheridan led off with a single to left. First baseman
Alex Kean followed with a single to right, moving Sheridan to third.
Andy Cisneros scored Sheridan with a safety squeeze bunt single up the first base line to pull the Eagles to within one at 2-1.
Morehead State struck again in the eighth.
Hayden Robbins lined a one-out triple to left center. Hayden Thomas plated Robbins with a grounder up the middle to tie the game.
Arkansas State starter Collin Maloney went 5.1 innings allowing two hits. He struck out six Eagles, walked one and hit two MSU batters.
Game two of the series is scheduled for 4:00 p.m. ET Saturday.
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