INDIANAPOLIS (Interstat) — The Morehead State Eagles erupted for a six-run sixth inning and launched three consecutive home runs in the seventh to power past the Butler Bulldogs 11-8 in a non-conference baseball game Saturday at Bulldog Park.

The Eagles, who won the series opener 16-6 on Friday, improved to .500 at 7-7. Butler dropped to 2-9.

Morehead State built an early lead with single runs in the first and second innings. Aubrey Kearns drove in Davis Germann with a first-inning double, and a sacrifice bunt by Miller Murray and a wild pitch brought home two more in the second.

Butler answered in the bottom of the second against Morehead State starter Alex Miller. After Charlie Schebler singled, Alex Christie hit a two-run homer to left-center field. The Bulldogs then capitalized on a Morehead State error and a wild pitch to score an unearned run, cutting the deficit to 3-2.

Miller, the top star for Morehead State, settled in after the rocky second. He did not allow a hit over his final 2 2/3 innings, finishing with a line of 4 2/3 innings pitched, allowing three runs, only one earned, on two hits while striking out six. He walked three.

The game’s most important sequence came in the top of the sixth with Morehead State clinging to a 3-2 lead. The Eagles loaded the bases with one out against Butler reliever Jack Hagen via a single by Nick Griffith and two errors. Pinch-hitter JJ Dutton drew a walk to force in a run, and another run scored on a balk. Kyle Krupp then delivered the decisive blow, a two-run single to right-center, capping the six-run outburst that stretched the lead to 9-2.

Morehead State was not done. In the seventh, Griffith, Jaden Correa and Griffin Olson hit back-to-back-to-back solo home runs, extending the advantage to 11-2. Krupp finished a perfect 3 for 3 with two RBIs and two walks. Griffith went 3 for 5 with a homer, and Olson was 3 for 4 with a homer.

Butler mounted a furious rally in the bottom of the ninth against Eagles reliever Cole Wells. Trailing 11-2, the Bulldogs sent 10 men to the plate and scored six runs. Danny Gavin hit an RBI double, Matthew Rhoades followed with a two-run homer, and Gavin Gilmore and David Ayers added run-scoring hits. With two men on and the tying run on deck, Morehead State brought in Luke Hayes, who got the final out on a pop-up to right field to secure the win.

Rhoades led Butler’s 11-hit attack, going 3 for 4 with a home run, a double and two RBIs. Gilmore added two hits and an RBI.

The Eagles collected 12 hits in the game. Cole Wells earned the win in relief for Morehead State, pitching four innings and allowing four earned runs on six hits while striking out six. Brett Sherrard was effective for Butler, throwing two scoreless innings of one-hit relief.

The teams conclude their three-game series on Sunday afternoon.