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South Dakota State University Athletics
Friday, February 26
Murray ,Ky.
2 p.m.
South Dakota State University
3
at
4
Murray State (Ky.)
Murray State spoils Jackrabbit opener
2/26/2010 7:00:00 PM | Baseball
MURRAY, Ky. - Chris Craycraft pitched seven strong innings and Zach Noonan delivered key plays both offensively and defensively as Murray State spoiled the South Dakota State University baseball team's season opener, 4-3, Friday afternoon at Reagan Field.
The Thoroughbreds remained undefeated at 4-0. The two squads will be the middle game of a three-game series Saturday afternoon at 1.
Murray State got on the board first as Bryan Propst hit his third home run of the season, a solo shot with one out in the second inning.
The Jackrabbits came back to tie the game in the top of the third. Freshman Andrew Melton walked, stole second and came around to score on a base hit by Billy Stitz. The steals leader a season ago, Stitz later stole second and advanced to third base on a throwing error, but Craycraft retired the next two hitters to get out of the jam.
MSU pushed across two runs in the fifth inning to take the lead for good. Propst led off the inning with a walk off SDSU starter Mike Robinson and later scored on a single by Noonan. After stealing second, Noonan scored on a base hit up the middle by Elliot Frey.
Stitz started a Jackrabbit rally in the sixth inning, leading off the frame with a base hit. After moving to second on a groundout and third on a fielding error, Stitz scored on a sacrifice fly by Jesse Sawyer to pull SDSU to within a run at 3-2.
SDSU appeared on the verge of tying the game or taking the lead in the top of the eighth. Jeff Fish delivered a pinch-hit double to start the inning and Joel Blake was hit by a pitch to give the Jackrabbits runners at the corner with two outs. Sawyer then lined a ball headed for the left-center gap but was robbed of an extra-base hit on a diving catch by Noonan, the left fielder.
The Jackrabbits' lone error of the game proved costly as it allowed Murray State to tack on an insurance run. Daniel Hill reached on a two-base error on a dropped fly ball and scored when Jason Laws followed with a single up the middle off reliever Sam Pieczynski.
SDSU put the tying run on base in the ninth inning. With one out, newcomer Zach Rhodes tripled to right center and scored on Zach Briggs' base hit to left center. However, the game ended as Thoroughbred closer Dan Huff induced an around-the-horn double play.
Craycraft pitched seven innings and struck out four in improving to 2-0 on the season. He allowed four hits, one walk and one earned run. Huff pitched the final two innings to record his second save.
Propst and Wes Cunningham each tallied two hits for Murray State, which out-hit the Jackrabbits, 9-7.
Rhodes and Stitz each had two hits for SDSU.
Robinson took the loss for the Jackrabbits despite an impressive season debut. The senior left-hander struck out two, walked one and surrendered five hits in 5 2/3 innings of work.
MURRAY STATE (Ky.) 4, SOUTH DAKOTA STATE 3
SDSU 001 001 001 3-7-1
MSU 010 020 01X 4-9-3
SDSU: Mike Robinson, Trever Vermeulen (6), Shane Kraemer (7), Sam Pieczynski (8) and Zach Briggs. MSU: Chris Craycraft, Dan Huff (8) and Jason Laws.
W-Craycraft (2-0). L-Robinson (0-1). SV-Huff (2).
HR: MSU-Bryan Propst (3).
Players Mentioned
UTIL
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C
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OF
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LHP
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IF
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RHP
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OF
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LHP
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IF
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OF
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RHP
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