Last Modified: Thursday, April 2, 2009 at 11:38 p.m.
Unable to find the bats on Thursday, West Henderson still found a way to win.
The Falcons scored four runs on just two hits to claim a 4-3 non-conference home victory over Murphy. Taylor Reeves pitched five solid innings to get the win while Tyler Austin picked up the save to cap a stellar overall effort.
Austin provided both Falcon hits, made two outstanding plays from deep in the hole at shortstop and came on to relieve Reeves in the sixth with the game in the balance.
“I think probably when you win a game 4-3 with only two hits, and those by the same player, you’re fortunate to get a win,” said Falcon coach Jim Hyatt. “Their guy threw it well but he got in trouble with some walks, they made some mistakes behind him and we were able to score some runs.”
Murphy starter Josh Coker struck out eight in seven innings, but the left-hander was undone by stretches of wildness.
Dillon Baker drew a one-out walk in the second and moved to third on a wild pitch and a passed ball, allowing him to score on Austin’s single up the middle. An error helped West load the bases and Matt Roberts picked up an RBI walk to plate Austin.
A pair of two-out walks to Roberts and Zack Beard in the fourth, along with two passed balls, a wild pitch and a balk, gave the Falcons two addition runs. Reeves and Austin made the offensive output, such as it was, hold up.
“We didn’t swing the bats well. We didn’t adjust well at the plate, but we made some plays defensively and I thought Taylor Reeves battled hard for five innings,” Hyatt said. “Then Tyler Austin came in and did an outstanding job.”
Reeves took a 4-1 lead into the sixth inning when he ran into trouble, allowing a single and a walk before giving way to Austin. With the tying run at the plate, the senior got two quick strikeouts before Luke Charles cranked his third double of the night to score Coker. With the tying run in scoring position, the Bulldogs got one more run on an error before Austin induced a weak grounder to the mound to end the threat.
He allowed just two hits in two innings while striking out four.
“Tyler had a great game,” said Hyatt. “He came in and he throws a little harder than Taylor and I thought they had a hard time catching up to his fastball.”
Charles led Murphy’s offense, which out-hit West 7-2, with a three doubles and two RBIs in three at-bats. Coker was 2-for-4 with a run while Brooklyn McKeon walked and scored twice.
While Coker struck out eight he also issued six walks.
“They’re a solid team,” Hyatt said. “They deserve their billing.”
The Bulldogs, unbeaten in Big Smoky Mountain Conference play, drop to 5-3 on the season. West moves to 8-1 as Hyatt picked up career win No. 401 at the school.
The Falcons will travel to Brevard for a key Western Athletic Conference game today, weather permitting. Dillon Baker, limited to designated-hitting duties on Thursday because of an illness, is the projected starter.
Linescore
;;;;;r;h;e
Murphy:;0 0 0;1 0 2;0;—;3;7;1
West:;0 2 0;2 0 0;x;—;4;2;2
Winning pitcher: Reeves (5 IP, 3 R, 1 ER, 5 H, 5 Ks, 1 BBs)
Losing pitcher: Coker (6 IP, 4 R, 2 ER, 2 H, 8 Ks, 6 BBs)
Save: Austin (2 IP, 0 R, 0 ER, 2 H, 4 Ks, 0 BBs)
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