Morehead, Ky. -- Morehead State scored eight runs in the first two innings and held on for a 10-8 win over Western Illinois in the opener of a three-game series Friday night at Allen Field in Prefontaine Park.
 
Morehead State (26-23, 10-12 OVC) got on the board on the first pitch of the bottom of the opening frame when left fielder Davis Germann drilled a fly over the fence in deep left center field that traveled 406 feet.

After a walk and a single put runners on the corners, right fielder Ian McCubbin lined a single into left to give MSU a 2-0 edge. Eagle catcher Caden Sheridan followed with a drive over the screen in right field to put MSU up 5-0 as Morehead State sent nine batters to the plate.
 
The Eagle offense geared up again in the second inning. Germann led off with a double off the Big Blue Wall in right center. He scored when a pickoff throw hit him and caromed into the outfield for a two-base error. Griffin Olson then delivered a triple into the right field corner, and designated hitter Aubrey Kearns walked. McCubbin again delivered with an RBI single into left center to extend the Eagles lead to 7-0. After a walk and a strikeout, first baseman Alex Kean lifted a sacrifice fly to left field to score Kearns and give MSU an early 8-0 lead.
 
Eagle starting pitcher Callum McGill (2-0) picked up the win with another solid outing. McGill pitched into the sixth inning, getting one out. He allowed five runs on eight hits, walking three and matching his season-high with five strikeouts.
 
Western Illinois (17-31, 8-14 OVC) mounted a comeback beginning in the fifth inning with a quick two-out rally. The Leathernecks went quietly for the first two outs with a flyout and a strikeout. Two sharp singles put runners at first and second for WIU first baseman Liam Bushey, who drove a towering drive over the screen in right to cut the Eagle lead to 8-3.
 
WIU inched closer with two runs in the seventh. After a leadoff walk, Bushey again delivered with an RBI double down the right field line. An RBI single by WIU third baseman Isaiah plated the second run of the frame and made the score 8-5.
 
Morehead State answered in the eighth. Germann led off and was hit by a pitch and Olson walked. Kearns lined a single to left to score Germann. Later with one out, Eagle second baseman Nick Griffith lifted a sacrifice fly to score Olson to expand the lead to 10-5.
 
WIU tried to rally in the ninth. Bushey rapped a leadoff double off the Big Blue Wall in right center and scored on a one-out lined single to center. Leatherneck right fielder Kamryn Link blasted a home run over the wall in right center to provide the final margin.
 
Western Illinois starter Max Tripure (4-5) took the loss. He threw two innings, allowing eight runs on eight hits. He walked three batters and struck out two.
 
Game two of the series is scheduled for Saturday at 6:05 p.m. ET at Allen Field at Prefontaine Park.
 
NOTABLE

• Morehead State was out-hit in the game 12-11. The Eagles are now 4-17 when tallying fewer hits than their opponent.
• McGill and Costa combined for eight strikeouts and four walks allowed.
• Davis Germann finished 2-4 at the plate with a home run, his eighth of the season and his team-leading 15^th double of the season. It was his 22^nd multiple hit game of the season and extended his reached base streak to 10 games.
• Ian McCubbin was 2-5 at the plate for his 20^th multiple-hit game of the season. He has hit safely in nine of the last ten games.
• Aubrey Kearns notched his team-leading 24^th multiple-game of the season going 2-4 at the plate. He walked once, drove in a run and scored twice.
• Caden Sheridan's home run in the second inning was his 12^th of the season, tying him was shortstop Jaden Correa for second on the team.