Morehead, Ky. -- Morehead State starting pitcher Callum McGill threw seven shutout innings and the Eagle offense broke through in the top of the ninth inning for a 1-0 win in a tight pitching duel in the series opener over Little Rock Friday night at Gary Hogan Field in Little Rock, Arkansas.
 
Morehead State (23-21, 9-10 OVC) scored the lone run of the game in the top of the ninth.  Griffin Olson led off drawing a walk and, after a fly out, advanced to third on a two-base throwing error by the Little Rock pitcher on a pick-off attempt. After an intentional walk to right fielder Ian McCubbin, catcher Caden Sheridan hit a looping liner into right field to plate Olson for the first run of the game.
 
McGill held the Trojans hitless through the first four innings. He threw seven shutout innings, allowing just three hits and three walks. He struck out four Trojan batters.
 
Eagle reliever Devin Costa (5-1) earned the win out of the bullpen throwing the final two scoreless innings. He allowed one hit and struck out three Trojan batters.
 
McGill worked through a jam in the fifth; the Trojans third baseman Nolan Freund broke up the no-no in the bottom of the fifth inning with a leadoff double into the right-center field gap. After McGill got a strikeout, Little Rock designated hitting Nico Baumbach shot a sharp single through the left side to put runners on the corners. McGill got a strikeout and a groundout to quiet the Little Rock threat.
 
McGill worked out of another jam in the bottom of the seventh. He gave up a leadoff double into left center and a walk to begin the inning. A sacrifice bunt put runners on second and third with one out. McGill got a strikeout for the second out of the inning, then walked the bases full. He induced a bouncer to the second baseman Nick Griffith to end the innings and keep the game scoreless.
 
Little Rock starter Brannon Westmoreland turned in an outstanding start throwing seven shutout innings allowing three hits. He struck out 10 Eagle batters. Reliever Gage Haley (4-4) took the loss.
 
Game two of the Morehead State/Little Rock series is set for Saturday. First pitch is scheduled for 5:00 p.m. ET. The game is scheduled to be aired on ESPN+.
 
NOTABLES
 

• Morehead State pitching got its first shutout of the season. Eagle hurlers gave up four hits, matching their season-low set in the second game of the season on February 14^th at George Rogers Clark HS in Winchester.
• Ian McCubbin had two hits in the game, extending his reached-base streak to 26 games.
• Caden Sheridan's RBI single in the ninth extended his hitting streak to eight games.