Junior catcher Chris Robinson's RBI single in the 10th inning scored pinch runner Cyrus Strahm as the Morehead State baseball team rallied for a 9-8 win in game one of a doubleheader against Tennessee Tech on Saturday (March 15). The Golden Eagles salvaged a split with a 17-8 victory in the nightcap.
Morehead State sits at 8-10 overall and 2-4 in the Ohio Valley Conference, while TTU is now 17-4 overall and 4-2 in the league.
In the opener, MSU sophomore pitcher Craig Pearcy (2-1) tossed the final five innings, struck out eight, and recorded the victory. Tech closer Seth Lucio (1-1), who entered the game having allowed no runs in 9.2 innings this year, gave up three in 2.1 innings to be tagged with his first loss.
"I was so proud of how we competed and pulled out that win," Head Coach Mike McGuire said. "Lucio is a great pitcher with good velocity, but we were locked in and had some great at-bats,"
Robinson was one of three MSU batters with five hits in the twinbill. He went 5-of-9 with four RBI. Freshman centerfielder Ryan Kent was also 5-for-9 with four RBI. Senior third baseman Jeff Birkofer was 5-for-8 on the day, including a trio of base knocks in the opener.
"We got a lot of production out of the bottom of our lineup," McGuire added. "When those guys down there are on the top of their game, it makes for a great for us offensively."
Tech's Daniel Miles was 7-for-12 with a pair of home runs and four RBI on the day. Jordan Hopkins totaled six hits and seven RBI, including five in the second contest. Tech drilled five home runs in the games.
In the first game, Tech pulled ahead 7-4 after seven innings and led 8-7 heading into the bottom of the 10th following a solo home run by Miles in the top of the inning. The Golden Eagles nearly got the go-ahead run across in the ninth, but Newell and Spencer teamed up to throw out Hopkins at the plate.
Kent led off the 10th with a single to center and moved to third on junior left fielder Nick Newell's double down the left field line. Kent scored the tying run via junior first baseman Kane Sweeney's sacrifice fly. After an intentional walk, Robinson lined a single to right field, and Strahm raced around third for the game-winning tally.
The hosts held a 4-1 cushion after three frames, using five straight hits to score three in the bottom of the third. Tech rallied with four runs in the fifth and notched two more in the seventh. Tennessee Tech scored 10 times via seven hits in the first inning of the second game. The Golden Eagles registered 20 hits in the contest and added two more runs in the fourth and three in the fifth.
Birkofer, Kent and Robinson each went 2-for-4 with a pair of RBI for MSU. Hopkins, Dylan Bosheers and Jake Rowland hammered four hits apiece for TTU.
Kyle Keatts (1-0) pitched 2.2 scoreless innings and was credited with the win. MSU starter Luke Schneider (0-2) only recorded two outs in the first before exiting. Sophomore Tyler Keele, the fifth of seven Eagle hurlers, tossed two innings of scoreless ball in relief. MSU tallied multiple-run innings in the third, fourth and seventh frames.
MSU steps away from OVC play this week. The Eagles are set to face Alabama A&M on the road Tuesday and Wednesday. Single games each day are scheduled for 3 p.m.
