MONDAY'S SCORES
Morehead State 11, @Arkansas State 1
@Memphis 2,
Southeast Missouri 0
MOREHEAD STATE 11, ARKANSAS STATE 1
JONESBORO, Ark. - Morehead State Baseball broke out the bats in a big way and also got a masterful pitching performance as the Eagles won the rubber match at Arkansas State, 11-1, in mercy-rule, seven-inning fashion, on Monday.
MSU (2-1) pounded out 14 hits off seven different Red Wolves' pitchers. Five Eagles recorded multi-hit days, including center-fielder Hayden Robbins who had three hits. Catcher Hunter Thomas and designated hitter Cade Sheridan had two hits apiece with Thomas providing three RBI and Sheridan two. Shortstop Andy Cisneros and right-fielder JJ Dutton each went 2-for-4, while pinch hitter Eli Kirkendoll launched his first career home run - a two-run slam - during a seven-run fourth inning.
Meanwhile, pitcher Bradley Poynter (1-0) was nearly untouchable. He tossed all seven frames, allowed just four hits and one run (an ASU solo home run) and struck out three. He coaxed seven fly outs and nine ground outs and got out of the fifth inning by throwing just three pitches.
Morehead State was up 2-0 before ASU even batted. Thomas had an RBI double, and left-fielder Davis Germann slashed an RBI single for the 2-0 lead.
The Eagles busted it open with a seven-spot in the fourth. Thomas and Sheridan rapped two-run singles, Cisneros drove in a run on a single and Kirkendoll belted the two-run round-tripper. MSU added its final deuce in the sixth when Dutton and Robbins connected on RBI singles.
ASU starter Jack Hibbard (0-1) took the loss, allowing six runs in 3.0 innings on the bump.
MEMPHIS 2, SOUTHEAST MISSOURI 0
MEMPHIS, Tenn. - Southeast Missouri Baseball (1-2) fell in the series finale to Memphis (2-1) by a final score of 2-0 on Monday afternoon from FedExPark in the rubber match.
First baseman Bryce Cannon led off the ninth inning with an opposite field double down the left field line to start a ninth inning rally trailing by two runs. Cole Warehime drew a base-on-balls to put Redhawks on first and second with no outs in the final frame.
Two straight outs recorded by the Tigers brought pinch hitter Demitri Shakotko to the plate as he drew a walk to load the bases.
A flyout to centerfield ended the game with the Redhawks on the bases as SEMO finished 0-6 with runners in scoring position on Monday afternoon.
As a team, SEMO recorded just four hits while hitting .133. Pinch hitter Caleb Corbin left fielder Ty Stauss, Cannon, and centerfielder Caleb Champion all recorded just one hit on Monday afternoon.
Freshman Caleb Champion made his first career start in centerfield for the Redhawks with his first hit coming on a perfectly executed bunt in the third inning. He stole a base and recorded a putout in his debut.
LHP Haden Dow (0-1) made his season debut for the Redhawks on the mound. The lefty pitched 4.2 innings allowing just one earned run and struck out three Tigers over 17 faced.
Out of the bullpen, RHP Nathan Mertens made his Redhawks debut tossing 2.1 innings of scoreless baseball. He surrendered just three hits while fanning a pair of Tigers without allowing a walk.
Both Tigers' runs in the contest came in the fifth inning with an executed squeeze play by Creek Robertson that brought home a run before an RBI single by Jonah Sutton allowed the second run to come home.