The last time the Morehead State baseball program started Ohio Valley Conference play 5-0, Jimmy Carter was President of the United States. That was 1980, but now the 2017 team can make that claim as the Eagles defeated Belmont 6-5 at Rose Park Saturday.
The Eagles won their eighth consecutive game to improve to 13-5 overall and clinched their second straight league series. Belmont slipped to 7-10 and 2-3 in the league.
It wasn't without drama gain though, just like Friday's 4-3 victory. MSU led 5-0 after five frames, but the host Bruins got a two-run homer and a three-run homer in the sixth to knot the game at 5-5.
Morehead State came right back though with a Braxton Morris RBI single in the seventh, and then relief pitchers Alex Garbrick and JC Hatcher held Belmont to just two hits in the final 3.1 innings. Hatcher garnered his first career save, while Garbrick was credited with his first career win. MSU now has five saves in the last seven games and by five separate pitchers.
"I really liked the way we played today," said head coach Mike McGuire. "It's very hard to win a series on the road, but we took care of business, and I can't say enough about our pitching. All three - (starter) Dalton (Stambaugh), Alex and JC pitched extremely well. I also thought it was crucial that we answered their big inning by going ahead right away in the seventh."
Morris led the offensive outburst by the 4-5-6 hitters in the lineup (who combined for nine of the 13 hits) as he was 4-for-5 with three RBI. Senior first baseman Will Schneider collected three hits, and sophomore catcher Hunter Fain had two hits.
Schneider got the visitors on the board with an RBI double in the first, and then Morris scored in the second when Belmont starter Dylan King committed a balk. Morris added a two-run double in the third, and junior third baseman Eli Boggess scored on a bases-loaded hit-by-pitch in the sixth.
Bruin designated hitter Nick Egli hit the two-run smash, and then catcher Clay Payne followed later with the three-run round-tripper.
Morehead State will attempt to sweep its second straight series when the teams finish the set Sunday at 2 p.m. ET.
