Evansville, Ind. – J.D. Ashbrook and Michael Fear scored two runs each to lead Morehead State to a 6-4 win over the Le Moyne College baseball team on Sunday afternoon in the final game for both teams at Evansville's Dunn Hospitality Diamond Classic at Braun Stadium.
Morehead State scored one run in the first inning on only one hit. Ashbrook and Daniel Pugh each walked on five pitches to open the game and moved up a base on a wild pitch. Drew Lee then singled to right field to drive in Ashbrook.
The Dolphins answered back with two runs in the bottom of the inning without recording a hit. Freshman Zack Wiley (Toluca Woods, Calif./Crespi) drew a walk to lead off the frame and moved all the way to third on a ground out. Sophomore shortstop Matt Marra (Brewerton, N.Y./Central Square) then reached second base on an error by the right fielder to drive in Wiley. After Marra advanced to third on a wild pitch, senior left fielder Chris Edmondson (Johnson City, N.Y./Johnson City) knocked in Marra with a ground out.
The Eagles took the lead for good with three runs on four hits in the second inning. Fear and Andrew Deeds each singled to lead off the frame. Two batters later, Travis Redmond doubled down the right field line to plate Fear. Ashbrook then singled down the right field line to score Deeds and Redmond.
Morehead State extended its lead to 5-2 with a run on two hits and an error in the top of the fourth inning. The Eagles loaded the bases with one out as Ashbrook reached on an error, Pugh singled and Lee was walked. Taylor Davis then grounded out to the left side of the infield to drive in Ashbrook.
Le Moyne scored single runs in each of the next two innings to pull within 5-4. In the fourth inning, sophomore designated hitter Matthew Ciraco (White Plains, N.Y./Perkiomen School) was hit by a pitch to open the inning and moved to third on a single by junior first baseman Don Schaaf (Middle Island, N.Y./Longwood HS). Freshman catcher Brian Stinson (Binghamton, N.Y./Chenango Valley) drove in Ciraco with a sacrifice fly to right field.
In the fifth inning, the Dolphins scored one run on three hits. Sophomore right fielder Brett Botsford (Baldwinsville, N.Y./C.W. Baker) led off the frame with a single to left field and advanced to third base on a wild pitch and a single to center field by Marra. Two batters later, Botsford scored on a single to left field by senior center fielder Sean Paino (Wappinger Falls, N.Y./Roy C. Ketcham).
The Eagles pushed their lead back to two runs with a run on two hits and an error in the seventh inning. Fear singled and advanced to second on a wild pitch to open the inning. After moving to third on a bunt single by Luke Bainer, Fear scored as Ashbrook reached on an error with two outs.
Quentin Morgan earned the win for the Eagles after allowing four runs (three runs) on seven hits over five innings. Cody Gibson earned the save by tossing the final two innings. Freshman Jerome Werniuk (Toronto, Ontario/Neil McNeil Catholic) dropped to 1-3 after yielding four runs on five hits in three innings, while striking out four batters.
Le Moyne (5-10), which went 1-7 during its eight-game road trip over the College's Spring Break, returns to action on Friday, March 19 at 3:00 p.m. for the start of a four-game series at Marshall.
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MoreheadState 6, Le Moyne 4 Morehead State (8-10) 130 100 100 - 6 9 3
Le Moyne (5-10) 200 110 000 - 4 9 2
Morehead State (8-10): Quentin Morgan (W, 2-1), Hunter Hewitt (6), Cody Gibson (8) and Taylor Davis.
Le Moyne (5-10): Jerome Werniuk (L, 1-3), Mark Kuzma (4), Tom McDermott (7) and Brian Stinson.
