Morehead, Ky. -- Morehead State got three big innings, scoring four runs in the second and three runs in both the seventh and eighth and upset Austin Peay 10-5 Tuesday night at Raymond C. Hand Park in Clarksville, Tenn.
JJ Dutton powered the Eagle attack going 5-5 at the plate with three singles, a double and a triple with one run batted in. He extended his hitting streak to 13 games. He has hit safely in 24 of the last 26 games.
Morehead State (11-23/ 1-11 OVC) leading 4-2, got three runs in the seventh inning. Second baseman Austin Kearns led off with a double, and catcher
Caden Sheridan beat out a bunt to put runners on the corners.
Hunter Thomas walked to load the bases and left fielder
Davis Germann was hit by a pitch to push a runner across the plate.
JJ Dutton bounced an infield single to second to drive in a run and third baseman
Griffin Olson coaxed an eight-pitch walk to force another run home to put the Eagles up 7-2.
The Eagle offense geared up for a two-out rally in the eighth. After two strikeouts to start the inning, MSU got two walks and Dutton's fifth hit of the night, an infield single, to load the bases. Right fielder
Alex Kean then drove a pitch to deep right center for a two-RBI double to put the Eagles ahead 10-2.
MSU pitchers were solid in a staff effort. Opener A.J. Hacker (1-0) got the win for Morehead State allowing a run on a solo shot in the first inning. In all, Eagle pitching scattered eight hits, allowing five runs. They walked seven Governor batters and struck out 11.
After giving up a run on a solo home run by APSU center fielder John Bay in the first inning, Morehead State came back with four runs in the second inning. Center fielder
JJ Dutton led off with a triple on the first pitch of the inning. Right fielder
Alex Kean then lined a single to right to score Dutton.
Shortstop
Andy Cisneros slapped an infield single to put runners on first and second. Third baseman
Griffin Olson reached on an error by Austin Peay starter Aaron Lewis on his bunt, scoring Kean and moving Cisneros to third base.
First baseman
Kadin Ray drove in Cisneros on a sacrifice fly to left. Cather
Caden Sheridan drilled a two-out single up the middle to score Cisneros and put the Eagles ahead 4-1.
Austin Peay (27-10/ 12-3 ASUN) got a run in the fourth on a solo home run by designated hitter Cole Johnson to center field to cut the Eagle lead to 4-2. The Governors rallied for three in the ninth inning to close the margin to 10-5.
Aaron Lewis (0-2) took the loss for Austin Peay. Lewis pitched three innings, allowing four runs (three earned) on six hits while striking out three Eagle batters.
The win snapped a seven-game losing streak for Morehead State. The Eagles return to action Thursday as they continue their four-game Tennessee swing at UT Martin for the first of a three-game Ohio Valley Conference series. First pitch is set for 6:00 p.m. ET. The game can be watched on ESPN+.
NOTABLE
- In the last four games, JJ Dutton has gone 11-17 (.647) at the plate with four doubles, a triple and three runs batted in.
- Andy Cisneros went 3 for 5 in the game for his 10th multi-hit game of the season. Those three hits are a season high.
- Alex Kean went 2-5 with two runs batted in on the night.
- Senior Trevor Callahan threw two shutout innings, scattering three hits, walking two and striking out two.
- Will Grimmett had a solid outing, allowing one earned run, scattering three hits and striking out three Austin Peay batters in three innings pitched.
- Hunter Porter threw two-plus innings, allowing two earned runs on two walks and struck out five Governor batters.
- Second baseman Aubrey Kearns went 2-4 for his sixth multi-hit game of the season.
- Caden Sheridan finished the night 2-6 with a run batted in for his eighth multi-hit game of the season.
