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Purdue Fort Wayne
Morehead State
'Dons Fall in Finale Slugfest
3/21/2010 12:00:00 AM | Baseball
March 21, 2010
Morehead, KY - The final two games of their series at Morehead State may prove to be a turning point in the season for the IPFW baseball team.
While the Mastodons fell in the series finale to the Eagles on Sunday 13-12, IPFW found the offense that they had envisioned when head coach Bobby Pierce put this team on paper.
IPFW pounded out 19 hits and hit three home runs, nearly pulling off a miraculous comeback at Allen Field.
The 'Dons staked MSU to an early 6-0 lead after two innings, but began to claw back in the fourth. Third baseman Shaun VanDriessche cut into that lead with a two-run double to left center.
The Eagles made it 7-2 in the bottom of the fourth on a solo home run by DH Cameron Flynn.
The 'Dons continued to hit the ball hard in the 5th inning and got to within two on a three-run blast by center fielder Kurt Dudley. It was Dudley's third homer of the series. IPFW wasn't done in the inning. Two batters later, first baseman A.J. Christensen sent a solo shot to right, his fourth homer of the season.
But IPFW pitching had a tough time keeping the Eagles off the board. In the bottom of the fifth, third baseman Andrew Deeds plated a pair with a double to left center. MSU would get an unearned run in the 7th inning to take a 10-6 lead to the eighth.
The Mastodons would squander a huge opportunity in the frame. After a leadoff homer by VanDriessche, IPFW loaded the bases with just one out. The Eagles made a pitching change and brought in Flynn from his DH spot and he struck out the final two batters of the inning, both looking leaving the bases full of 'Dons.
Then in the bottom of the 8th inning, center fielder J.D. Ashbrook blasted a three-run homer just fair down the left field line to give the Eagles a 13-7 lead, and what looked to be the win.
But IPFW would not go quietly in the 9th inning. Flynn, who was so dominant in the eighth, ran into a world of trouble in the ninth. He gave up a leadoff single to Christensen and then uncorked a couple of wild pitches to allow Christensen to go to third. He would then walk catcher Cory Miller and VanDriessche to load the bases. Shortstop Will Faulkner forced the third walk of the inning, scoring Christensen. MSU made a pitching change, bringing in Jake Helvey.
Helvey was greeted with a pinch-hit single by Cody Galbraith that drove in two. Right fielder Garrett Segraves also plated a pair with a single up the middle and the Mastodons were within one at 13-12.
Morehead State (11-12) would make one final pitching change, bringing on lefthander Garrick Whittle with the tying run on first. Dudley was the next batter and laced a shot to center field, but right at Ashbrook who made the catch. The Mastodons final hope was DH Brett Clark, but Whittle got him looking to end the game.
Segraves led the offensive attack for IPFW with four hits. Christensen and VanDriessche each had three hits in the game.
MSU reliever Josh Schneider got the win (4-2) pitching 2.2 innings. He gave up one run on six hits, striking out three.
IPFW starter Lucas Kesterson took the loss (0-3). Kesterson surrendered seven runs (six earned) on 12 hits. He fanned two and walked one.
The Mastodons fall to 2-16 with the loss. They continue their 23 game road-trip to open the season on Tuesday afternoon at Purdue. Game time is 4:00 p.m.
~Dons~
