Friday, March 11
Murray, Ky.
2:00 PM
Purdue Fort Wayne
2-3
9
at
2
Murray State
5-7
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
R
H
E
IPFW
1
0
4
0
0
0
2
2
0
9
12
0
Murray State
1
0
0
0
0
1
0
0
0
2
9
2
A.J. Christensen drove in four runs in IPFW's win over Murray St.
Christensen Drives in Four as IPFW takes Opener over Murray State, 9-2
3/11/2011 6:55:33 PM | Baseball
Box Score
Murray, KY - Senior first baseman A.J. Christensen drove in four runs and senior starter Nick Optiz tossed 6.0 innings as the Mastodons took Game 1 of a four-game series at Murray State, 9-2 on Friday afternoon at Reagan Field.
The win is IPFW's second straight after beginning the season 0-3.
Christensen got the 'Dons on the board in the top of the 1st inning on an RBI groundout to first base. Senior second baseman Garrett Segraves, who began the game getting hit by a pitch from MSU starter Luke Shuemaker, scored on the play.
The Racers got that run back in their half of the opening frame on an RBI single by second baseman Travis Isaak.
The score remained tied at one until the top of the third. With the bases loaded, Christensen delivered again with a two-run single up the middle scoring Segraves and shortstop Will Faulkner.
Two batters later, left fielder Cody Galbraith plated center fielder Kurt Dudley and Christensen with a double to right center, making it 5-1 Mastodons.
Murray State (5-7) got one back in the bottom of the 6th inning on back-to-back doubles by shortstop Brandon Elliott and Isaak.
IPFW got a pair of runs in the seventh on RBI's by Christensen and Dudley and two more in the 8th as MSU first baseman Colton Moore misplayed a shot off the bat of Christensen, to make the final 9-2.
Faulkner was 3-3 in the game, scoring three runs while stealing two bases.
Elliott was also 3-3 for the Racers with a pair of runs scored.
Shuemaker fell to 2-2 on the season with the loss. He went 6.0 innings, giving up five runs (four earned) on seven hits. He struck out four while walking two.
Opitz (1-1) gave up just two runs on six hits over his 6.0 innings of work. He fanned two while walking just one. Senior reliever Matt Ransbottom came on and pitched a scoreless seventh while senior Ryan August kept the Racers of the board in the final two innings.
With the win, the Mastodons improve to 2-3. The two teams will return to action on Saturday afternoon at noon for a doubleheader at Reagan Field.
~Dons~
Team Stats
Pitching:
W: Opitz, Nick (1-1)
L: Shuemaker (2-2)
Batting:
2B: Segraves, Garrett 1 ; Galbraith, Cody 1
RBI: Dudley, Kurt 1 ; Christensen, A.J. 4 ; Galbraith, Cody 2
SH: Landwehr, Brendan 1
Base Running:
RUNS: Segraves, Garrett 3 ; Faulkner, Will 3 ; Dudley, Kurt 1 ; Christensen, A.J. 1 ; Gayday, Kristian 1
SB: Faulkner, Will 2 ; Gayday, Kristian 1
HBP: Segraves, Garrett 1 ; Dudley, Kurt 1
Batting:
2B: Elliott 1 ; Isaak 1
RBI: Isaak 2
Base Running:
RUNS: Elliott 2
Game Leaders
AB
3
R
3
H
3
RBI
0
AB
4
R
3
H
2
RBI
0
AB
5
R
1
H
2
RBI
4
AB
4
R
1
H
1
RBI
1
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