Morehead, Ky. -- Morehead State scored runs in bunches and got a two-homer day from right fielder
JJ Dutton and held on to defeat Quinnipiac 14-13 in the series finale Sunday at Allen Field, clinching the series two games to one.
Morehead State (6-4) gave up two runs in the first inning and another in the second. In the bottom of the second, the Eagles scored five runs on just one hit, as Quinnipiac starter Matt Alduino (1-1) walked three MSU batters and hit four others. In all, the Eagles sent 11 batters to the plate in the frame.
Quinnipiac (4-6) struck back in the third, scoring three runs on three hits and one MSU error to go back ahead 6-5.
The Eagles got another big inning in the bottom of the third, scoring four runs on four hits, highlighted by a two-run, 409-foot blast over the fence in left center by
JJ Dutton for his first home run of the season.Â
MSU starter
Bradley Poynter (2-0) pitched five and a third innings in picking up the win. He allowed nine runs (six earned), scattering 14 hits and striking out five.
MSU's
Will Grimmett threw the final three and one-third innings scattering six hits, allowing four runs (three earned), striking out three to earn his third save of the season.
Quinnipiac got three runs in the top of the sixth on three hits and a lead-off error by Morehead State to pull to within one run, 10-9.Â
In the bottom of the inning, Morehead State shortstop
Andy Cisneros led off with single up the middle, and
Chance Edmonds lined a single into right. Dutton then sent a pitch over the screen in center field to put MSU ahead 14-9. Dutton finished the day two for five with six runs batted in.
Quinnipiac got lone runs in the seventh and eighth innings to pull to within three. In the top of the ninth, Bobcat third baseman led off with a single to left, and designated hitter Christian Smith hit a home run over the screen in right center to make it a one-run game. Grimmett was able to coax a fly ball out and sandwiched a single to left with two strikeouts to end the game.
BY THE NUMBERS
- Chance Edmonds went 3-4 on the day, scoring two runs and driving in one.
- Andy Cisneros finished the day 2-3 with two runs scored and one RBI.
- Hunter Thomas extended his hitting streak to five games. He has had a hit in nine of his ten games. He was 5-13 (384) with two home runs and 10 RBI in the series. Â
- Center fielder Hayden Robbins was 6-12 (.500) on the weekend, with seven runs scored. He leads Morehead State hitting .357.
- The Morehead State defense committed 11 errors in the series.
