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Box Score 2 EDWARDSVILLE, Ill. – SIUE and Murray State split a Friday doubleheader setting up a rubber game in a key Ohio Valley Conference baseball series. Murray State knocked off the Cougars 17-6 in the opening game before SIUE bounced back with a 6-2 win in the late game.
SIUE moved to 23-22 overall and 13-13 in OVC play. Murray State is 28-21 overall and 16-10 in the OVC.
In the nightcap, the Cougars scored four first-inning runs against Murray State starter Sam Gardner (5-5) and never trailed.
Raul Elguezabal gave SIUE its first lead with an RBI-single to drive home Richie Well who walked. Brady Bunten crushed his team-leading 11th homer of the year to plate three and put the Cougars up 4-0.
"The big hit in the first was obviously that three-run home run by Brady Bunten," SIUE Head Coach Sean Lyons said. "That really got the energy going for us in the dugout and through the team.
The Cougars added single runs in the fourth and sixth innings both thanks to RBI-hits from Ethan Copeland who finished the second game 3-3. Avery Owusu-Asiedu scored both teams following doubles. He was 2-4.
"After (the first inning), the game just kind of settled in," Lyons continued. "We were able to tack a couple on to give us some separation. It is just a real quality win after a tough game one."
SIUE starter Jake Bockenstedt allowed just two runs on five hits over a career-best 7 1/3 innings. He struck out 10.
"Jake did a really good job," Lyons said of his starter. "Murray State can really swing the bats and they are aggressive. Jake was able to mix his pitches and really keep them off balance. What a great effort out of him, to give us the start we needed after the tough first game."
Rob Parks worked the final 1 2/3 innings without allowing a base runner to earn his third save of the season.
Murray State touched up SIUE starter Noah Matheny (5-3) for seven runs over three innings in game one. He gave up a pair of home runs.
"The wind was blowing out and it was a day that we needed to keep the ball down," Lyons said. "Noah just had a tough time and Murray State made him pay. He'll be back next time and we have all the confidence in the word that he'll bounce back."
The Racers hit a total of four home runs and scored multiple runs in four innings, including a six-run eighth inning.
Jacob Pennington worked 6 1/3 innings in relief for the Racers to earn the win he struck out seven and allowed just a single run.
SIUE's 23 wins equals the most for the program under Sean Lyons, who also won 23 games in 2017.
"These guys have continued to battle in the second (game of a doubleheaders)," Lyons added. "Even if we have a tough loss they bounce back right away."
SIUE concludes its home season with the series finale Saturday afternoon. First pitch is set for 1 p.m.
"There is a reason that it is a three-game series," Lyons said. "Fortunately we bounced back and evened it up. It is an important game and we just have to come out and play good baseball. We didn't play good baseball in game one, they did. We turned the tide in game two and hopefully we can continue that tomorrow."
