Morehead, KY -- Morehead State pounded out 12 hits, but the Eagles couldn't overcome costly errors and fell to SIUE 10-7 Sunday afternoon at Roy E. Lee Field in Edwardsville, Ill.
Morehead State (8-14/ 0-3 OVC) committed four fielding errors, leading to four unearned runs in the game. After the Eagles plated a go-ahead run in the top of the eighth inning, a two-out error on a grounder up the middle by second baseman
Austyn Peak left open the door and the Cougars responded with three runs capped by SIUE third baseman Ethan Willoughby's two-run double.
The Eagles'
Will Grimmett (2-2) took the loss out of the bullpen. Pitching the seventh and eighth innings, Grimmett allowed four runs (one earned) on four hits. He walked two and struck out one.
The Eagles spotted SIUE two runs in the first inning, one unearned. They picked up a run in the second inning when catcher
Caden Sheridan led off with a line drive single to center that SIUE's Daniel Gierer couldn't field cleanly, allowing Sheridan to reach third base. Designated hitter
Eli Kirkendoll drove him home with an RBI single up the middle.
MSU picked up the offense again in the third.
Hayden Robbins and
Andy Cisneros led with walks. First baseman
Hunter Thomas then drove a double to left center to score Robbins. Sheridan then drove a sharp grounder down the left field line to score two more and give the Eagles the lead 4-2.
After SIUE added a run in the bottom of the third, MSU added another in the fourth on Robbins' sacrifice fly scored Kirkendoll. The Cougars responded with a Joshua Heyder lead-off homer over the left field fence. MSU scored again in the fifth inning. Thomas led off with his second double of the day and scored on Kirkendoll's two-out RBI single through the left side.
SIUE scratched a run in the fifth to make the Eagles' lead 6-5. The Cougars tied the game on catcher John Stallcup's solo home run in the sixth. SIUE got the lead on a two-out rally in the seventh.
After the first two batters were retired, a walk and an infield hit put runners on first and second. Heyder hit a hot shot through the left side to put the Cougars up 7-6.
MSU was able to tie it up in the eighth: second baseman
Aubrey Kearns led off with a double off the fence in right center.
JJ Dutton bunted for a single to put runners on the corners. Robbins then shot an RBI single through the right side to score Peak, who had come into the game to pinch-run for Kearns.
The Eagles loaded the bases with just one out, but couldn't plate another run, stranding three runners.
SIUE's Tyler Davis (3-1) picked up the win out of the bullpen.
Morehead State does not have a mid-week game on the schedule this week. The Eagles will return to Allen Field at Prefontane Park Friday to open a three-game series against Eastern Illinois. First pitch is scheduled for 6:05. The game can be watched on ESPN+.
NOTABLE
- The series marks the first sweep of MSU since the Eagles were swept by Southeast Missouri in 2022.
- Morehead State left 10 runners on base to seven for SIUE.
- MSU pitching allowed 11 hits, six earned runs, walked four and struck out six batters.
- MSU starter Bradley Poynter threw four innings, allowing four runs (three earned) on five hits. He struck out two Cougars and issued no walks.
- Catcher Caden Sheridan went three for five with two runs batted in.
- Hunter Thomas went two of four at the plate with two doubles and an RBI.
- Hayden Robbins went two for three at the plate with a double and two runs batted in.
- Eli Kirkendoll was two for four at the plate with two RBI.
