Ryan Murphy does it all for SA
Victoria and South Australia to battle it out for the 2009/10 Claxton Shield.
After losing Friday night's game one of the three-game semi-final series 1-0 against New South Wales, South Australia fought back to win Saturday's game 3-2, then Sunday's decider 1-0, in an awesome display of baseball at Norwood Oval to earn themselves a berth in 2009/10 Dominoes Claxton Shield Grand Final.
Not since winning the Claxton Shield in 1980 has a South Australian team played in a baseball grand final, making this year's effort one out of the box.
The hero of the game was Ryan Murphy, who in his first start on the mound this season, pitched a complete game shut-out, while also accounting for SA's only run, when he blasted a shot out of the park in the second inning.
Murphy only gave up two hits and one walk in the game, while striking out eight batters. Except for Michael Lysaught's double in the sixth inning for the NSW, not one batter advanced past first base for the visitors.
Lysaught was NSW's most dangerous threat with the bat, as he could have tied the game in the third frame when his shot was headed for the other side of the home run fence, only to see right fielder Dan Wilson reach over and pull in a sensational catch.
Craig Anderson started on the mound for NSW and was ultimately charged with the loss, giving up four hits and the one run in his four innings.
Pitching: C Anderson (LP) 4.0ip 4h 1r 3w 2k, J Commane 1.1ip 2h 0r 1w 1k, L Ingram 2.2ip 1h 0r 0w 4k.
Catching: A Graham.
Hits: M Lysaught (double), M Dening.
Pitching: R Murphy (WP) 9.0ip 2h 0r 1w 8k.
Catching: M Collins.
Hits: S Welch 3 (double), J Cresswell 2 (double), M Collins, R Murphy (home run).
