MURRAY, KY (2/20/12) - Valparaiso scored three runs in the top of the ninth inning to break a tie game and hand Murray State a 7-4 defeat in the final game of a three-game series Sunday afternoon at Reagan Field.
The inning started with a hit by a pitch and a sacrifice bunt. After a walk to Spencer Mahoney, Tanner Vavra delivered a two-run triple into the right-field corner to score two runs. Andrew Bain followed by scoring Vavra with a single up the middle.
The Crusaders (2-1) struck quickly as Bain blooped a single into shallow center and scored on Chris Manning’s opposite-field home run to right field.
The Breds (1-2) got a run back in the home-half of the inning as Ty Stetson doubled inside the left-field line and later scored on Dylan Wheeler’s single through the left side.
A two-out rally in the fifth helped the Crusaders add to their lead. Bain started the rally with a single to right center and Manning drew a bases on balls. Will Hagel drove in both runners with a double into the gap in right center.
MSU got a run back in the sixth as Travis Isaak was hit by a pitch before Jacob Rhodes plated him with a double over the head of the left fielder.
The Breds used their own two-out rally in the eighth to tie the game. Rhodes singled up the middle and Paul Ritzheimer followed with a double down the right-field line. Colton Speed followed with a one-hopper that bounced under the glove of a sliding second baseman to score both runners.
Tyler Saltsman (0-1) took the loss after allowing one run over two innings. Will Robinson (1-0) picked up the win after allowing three runs on four hits over three innings. Jarad Miller (1) earned the save after allowing a walk and striking out one in his one inning of work.
Rhodes paced the offence by going 3-for-4, while Stetson and Ritzheimer each added a pair of hits.
The Breds return to the diamond Tuesday afternoon as they host Mid-Continent. First pitch is set for 2 p.m. at Reagan Field.
SurfKY News
Information provided by John Brush
Copyright © 2012 SurfKY News Group, Inc. all rights reserved. SurfKY.com is an eNewspaper providing local news FREE to Kentucky 24/7. Read Statewide Kentucky News, Sports, Obituaries and more for Kentucky covering: Calloway, Christian, Daviess, Henderson, Hopkins, McCracken, Muhlenberg, Warren, and Webster Counties as well as the Kentucky Lakes Area.
