May 26, 2005

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PADUCAH, Kent. (Thursday, May 26, 2005) Morehead State's top five batters combined for six hits and six RBI as the Eagles defeated Southeast Missouri, 6-1, in the 2005 O'Reilly OVC Baseball Tournament at Brooks Stadium. With the loss, Southeast Missouri is eliminated from the tournament.

Morehead State (29-27) scored the game's first three runs and never looked back. The Eagles' three through five hitters - Lance Seasor, Donald Cheney and Bryan Ingram - each had two RBI, including Seasor's ninth-inning solo home run.

Southeast Missouri (24-32) had its chances, stranding 12 men on base through the game's course. But Morehead State's pitching and defense stymied the Redhawks throughout the game, surrendering just one run after back-to-back sixth-inning doubles by Brent Lawson and Ernie Bracamonte, which chased starter Adrian Duran. The Eagles' relief corps came on and held the Redhawks scoreless the rest of the way.

"Again, I'm extremely proud of our guys, said MSU head coach John Jarnagin. "It's tough in the loser's bracket for every team. Adrian Duran and Lance Johnston stepped up big. As you move along in the tournament, everybody has to juggle their pitching plans. Tomorrow (Friday), we'll use everyone in our bullpen."

Morehead State finished with 10 hits, with eight of the nine MSU batters recording a hit, including Seasor and Zac Carr who each had two hits. Duran (9-5) picked up the victory after allowing one run on six hits in five-plus innings. Lance Johnston gathered his first career save after holding SEMO scoreless in the final 3.2 innings, allowing two hits and striking out four.

Freddy Lopez, Ernie Bracamonte and James Clayton each had two hits to lead Southeast Missouri which managed eight hits against three Morehead State pitchers. Derek Herbig (5-3) was tagged for the loss after allowing three runs (two earned) on three hits and four walks in 5.2 innings.

Eric Horstman extended his hitting streak to a OVC-high 26 games but will not be able to extend it further as his collegiate career has come to an end. He also started his 111th-straight game and ends the season reaching base safely for the 47th-straight game, which is the nation's longest active streak.

"It was a hard-fought game, much like yesterday's, unfortunately our offense didn't show up today and Morehead's did," said SEMO head coach Mark Hogan. "That's a good club we faced today and they have the talent to make a run and win the championship and I hope they do. We had opportunities to score throughout the game, especially early, but Morehead made plays when they needed to. Bo Stohler's diving catch in the third with men on second and third with two outs was the key play in the game."

Morehead State advances in the loser's bracket and will play in Game 6 at 11 a.m., Friday, against an opponent yet to be determined.