MIDWAY, Ky. -- The Midway University baseball team returned to River States Conference play on Friday when they hosted IU Kokomo (Ind.) to open their three-game series at Tracy Farmer – Don Ball Stadium.
Trailing 3-1 following the top of the seventh, the Eagles scored two in the bottom of the seventh forcing extra innings. The Cougars, however, scored two in the top of the 10th and held on for the 5-3 victory in the series opener.
Midway – who falls to 7-15 overall and 6-6 in league play after the loss – had a tough time generating runs off the defending RSC Pitcher of the Week, Max McKee. The Eagles got a run in the first to tie the game, but they would be held in check my McKee until the seventh.
The run in the first inning came following a key error that allowed Marquise Glenn's (Atlanta, Ga.) at-bat to be extended. Glenn would later reach on a hit by pitch before later scoring on an RBI double by Corey Plahuta (Louisville, Ky.).
Following a change in the starting rotation, Luther Bramblett started Skylar Lucas in the series opener instead of his usual game three start. The freshman from Elizabethtown, Ky. turned in yet another solid outing as he pitched into the seventh inning for the third time this season.
Lucas allowed single runs in the first, fourth and seventh innings before he got some help from his offense in the bottom of the seventh. The right-hander finished the day with 6.2 innings allowing three runs – two earned- on six hits. He also fanned a career-high six in his outing.
The bottom of the seventh saw Plahuta reach on a walk and Graeham Luttor (Toronto, Canada) reach on a hit by pitch putting runners at first and second with one out. Following a wild pitch, Plahuta and Luttor each moved up a base with Casey Brown due up.
The freshman from Louisville, Ky. delivered when his team needed it the most, hitting an RBI single to left-center scoring Plahuta and Luttor tying the game at 3-3.
The Midway bullpen tossed scoreless frames in the eighth and ninth, but the Cougars (15-14, 7-6 RSC) broke through with two in the top of the 10th for the 5-3 victory. The Eagles stranded two in the seventh and two more in the 10th in the loss.
Ryan Lee Hayes (Lebanon, Ky.) tossed 2.1 scoreless innings allowing just one hit with three strikeouts, while Jonathan Hook (Fort Lauderdale, Fla.) was delt the loss allowing two runs – one earned – on two hits.
Max McKee was handed the no decision allowing three runs – two earned – on two hits in his 6.2 innings. Eston Stull, meanwhile, got the win pitching 3.1 innings with eight strikeouts.
The Eagles and the Cougars will wrap up their series on Saturday with a doubleheader at Tracy Farmer – Don Ball Stadium beginning at noon ET.
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