Eagle Baseball Battles in a Wild Slugfest-Falls 28-23

Morehead, Ky. -- Morehead State and SIUE combined for 51 runs and 52 hits in a wild slugfest Sunday at Allen Field at Prefontaine Park, with SIUE surviving for a 28-23 win in the final game of their three-game Ohio Valley Conference series.
 
Morehead State (10-14, 0-3 OVC) trailed from the first inning: SIUE (11-13, 3-0 OVC) scored four runs in the opening frame, another four in the third inning. MSU answered in the bottom of the first with two runs of its own on a Davis Germann home run that wrapped around the foul pole and an RBI double off the screen in center by Ian McCubbin.
 
The Eagles sent 10 batters to the plate in the fourth and matched SIUE's four runs in the top half of the inning with four singles and three walks. MSU catcher Caden Sheridan added another run in the fourth inning with a two-out solo home run that traveled 387 feet and over the fence in left-center field to cut the Cougar lead to 8-7.
 
After SIUE scratched out a run in the top of the fifth to make the score 9-7, Morehead State erupted with a six-run outburst in the bottom of the inning. After a walk by Griffin Olson and a single by Kyle Krupp, German delivered with an RBI single through the left side. After designated hitter Aubrey Kearns walked to load the bases, Sheridan struck again with a two-out blast over the fence in left center that traveled 400 feet for a grand slam home run giving MSU its first lead of the weekend at 12-7. Alex Kean then walked, advanced to second on a wild pitch and scored on Jaden Correa's single to center to extend the Eagle lead to 13-7.
 
SIUE immediately answered with five runs in the top of the sixth, stringing together five singles to lead off the inning followed by two sacrifice flies to regain the lead 14-13.
 
MSU got the run back and tied the score at 14-14 on Kearns' two-out liner single to center and McCubbin's RBI double off the fence in right-center.
 
After SIUE scored three runs in the seventh and added six more in the eighth to go ahead 23-14, the Eagles got three back in the eighth. Olson led off with a single up the first base line. After a bounce out and a walk, Kearns delivered a blast over the screen in right-center that travelled 427 feet to make it 23-17.
 
SIUE's bats kept swinging and the Cougars added five more runs in the top of the ninth to stretch the lead to 28-17. Morehead State displayed some fight, with six runs of its own in the final inning. Kean delivered a one-out single down the left field line. After Correa singled, Olson delivered a single through the right side to score Kean and put runners at the corners. After a fly out, Kearns was hit by a pitch to load the bases. McCubbin then cleared the bases with a double to right and scored on Brayton Coomer's single to center for the final margin.
 
SIUE reliever Brennen Grams (2-1) picked up the win throwing three innings, giving up three runs (all earned) on five hits. He walked one Eagle and struck out three.
 
Carter Owens (2-1) took the loss. He threw two-thirds of an inning giving up two runs on a hit and a walk.
 
Morehead State will return to play Tuesday with a trip to Richmond, Kentucky, to face off with long-time rival Eastern Kentucky. First pitch is scheduled for 6:00 p.m. ET. The game can be seen on ESPN+.
 
NOTABLE

• MSU's 23 runs were the most since the Eagles scored 23 against Eastern Michigan March 16, 2024. The Eagles scored 27 against Butler on March 2, 2024.
• MSU's 23 hits were the most since the 23 MSU rapped out in the Eastern Michigan game March 16, 2024.
• Sheridan finished the day 3-7 at the plate with two homers and five RBI.
• Correa went 4-6 at the plate with three RBI and a run scored.
• McCubbin was 3-7 (all three hits were doubles) with five RBI.
• Krupp was 3-7 with two RBI and two runs scored.
• Kearns was 2-3 at the plate with three walks and three runs batted in. He scored six runs.
• SIUE right-fielder Terrick Thompson-Allen went 5-6, hit for the cycle and drove in five runs.