Story by Gage Johnson, Staff writer
Game one:
Murray State hit the road to take on conference rival Austin Peay, and lost in the series opener 10-2.
The Racers came into the game with a three-game win streak. Junior pitcher Peyton Hayes took the mound for the fifth time this season, looking to extend the team’s winning streak. Hayes is 0-0 on the year, having received a no-decision in his previous four starts. Senior pitcher Michael Costanzo started out on the hill for the fifth time this season. Costanzo came into the game with 32 strikeouts on the season and a 3-0 record.
Murray State put across some runs early on the undefeated pitcher due to a two-run blast from graduate student first baseman Ramsey Scott. Scott’s fourth homerun of the season gave the Racers an early 2-0 lead heading into the bottom of the first.
The Governors answered right back with a big inning of their own. After the Racers allowed two runners to get on base, Austin Peay brought in their first of the ballgame on an infield single from sophomore first baseman Alec Flaherty. Momentum then shifted when senior outfielder Imani Willis hit a grand-slam to give the Governors a 5-2 lead.
For the next four innings, it was the Costanzo show. Costanzo struck out nine over his 5.1 innings pitched, while only allowing two runs in the game. That put Costanzo’s strikeout total on the year to 41, giving him the second most strikeouts in the OVC.
When Costanzo left the game, Austin Peay’s pitching staff didn’t miss a beat. Junior pitcher Sean Newberg came in and struck out five while only giving up three hits in 2.2 innings pitched.
While the Governors pitchers continued to deal, the Racers struggled. Austin Peay tacked on one run in the bottom of the sixth, but managed to drive in three more bottom of the seventh off of back-to-back singles with runners on base.
Murray State seemed to finally have something going in the bottom of the eighth when they had runners on second and third with no outs. Nevertheless, Newberg quickly succeeded in the midst of adversity and struck out the side.
After another run was driven in by the Governors, a hitless top of the ninth for the Racers gave Austin Peay the 10-2 victory. Costanzo claimed his fourth win on the season as a starter, tying him for the most wins in the conference.
Murray State will now look to bounce back when they play in the second game of the three-game series at 2 p.m. on Saturday, March 17, at Raymond C. Hand Park.
Game two:
Murray State looked to change their fortune after a series-opening loss on Saturday. However, a comeback effort against Austin Peay fell short, taking the 8-7 loss.
Junior Blake Clynes took the mound for the Racers, coming off his worst start of the year in which he gave up four earned runs. Clynes had only given up three in his first three appearances on this season. After facing the winningest pitcher in the conference in Costanzo, Murray State had to take on another tough matchup in junior pitcher Jacques Pucheu. Pucheu is 2-0 on the year with 27 strikeouts.
Fans and players in attendance were likely stricken with deja-vu, as the game began identically to Friday’s. With two outs in the top of the first, sophomore third baseman Davis Sims smashed a two-run bomb over the left field wall. Sims’ third homer on the season put Murray State up 2-0 going into the bottom half of the inning.
Austin Peay brought in a run in each of the next two innings to tie the game at 2-2. After Murray State seemed to gain momentum by scoring two and taking a 4-2 lead in the top of the third, Austin Peay had itself a rally of its own.
A walk, back-to-back hits, and a run to start the inning for the Governors led to the ending of Clynes’ outing. His struggles continued in this one, as he gave up five earned runs over 2.1 innings on the mound. Following the pitching change, a single from senior infielder Kyle Wilson drove in two runs and gave Austin Peay a 5-4 lead.
Over the next few innings it seemed as though the Governors were in command. The Racers added a run to their total after Pucheu left the game. Pucheu struck out seven while giving up two earned runs in his 5.1 innings on the mound. This put Pucheu with the third most strikeouts in the OVC at 34.
Despite Murray State scoring quickly after the pitching change, Austin Peay answered and tacked on three, giving them a 5-8 lead.
Murray State wasn’t going down without a fight. In the top of the eighth, a quick two-out rally led to some offense for the Racers. Freshman second baseman Grant Wood walked, and graduate student outfielder Gavin Wehby homered for the second time this season, making it an 8-7 deficit for Murray State.
This marked the end of the Racers’ comeback effort however, as freshman pitcher Harley Gollert shut Murray State down in the ninth inning. Gollert claimed his second save of the season, sealing the 8-7 victory for Austin Peay.
Murray State will now look to avoid the series sweep when they play at 1 p.m. on Sunday, March 18, at Raymond C. Hand Park.
Game three:
A 19-7 rout of Murray State gave Austin Peay a 3-0 sweep over the Racers on the weekend.
Freshman pitcher Jake Jones got his second starting nod of the year in the series finale for Murray State. Jones received a no-decision in his only start, but is 1-0 with a 4.12 ERA in four relief appearances. Junior pitcher Josh Rye took the bump to begin the game for the second time for Austin Peay as well. Rye lost in his only start, as well as taking another loss in five relief appearances.
Murray State got things rolling first in the ballgame. After Wehby reached first on an error, graduate student outfielder Brandon Guntzler hit his fourth homer of the season. Guntzler’s shot to left-center gave the Racers an early 2-0. It was also the third game in a row in which Murray State hit a two-run homerun in the first inning.
Austin Peay managed to even the game up at two apiece, scoring a run in each of the next two innings. After holding Murray State scoreless in their next two at-bats, the onslaught began.
The Governors scored eight runs on five hits in the inning. The big rally was capped off by a grand slam from junior infielder Garrett Kueber. Kueber’s second homerun of the season gave Austin Peay a 10-2 lead going into the fourth inning.
The Governors kept piling on the runs, tacking on five to its lead in the bottom of the fourth inning. However, the Racers answered with a five-run inning of their own in the top of the fifth. The offensive attack was due in large part to a grand slam from Wood. Wood’s first homerun as a Racer put them down 15-7 going into the latter half of the ballgame.
While Murray State remained quiet on offense, Austin Peay continued to add to its lead. They brought four runs across the plate in the bottom of the seventh, extending their lead to 19-7. This would be all the Governors needed, as Murray State remained scoreless for the rest of the game. The 19-7 win for Austin Peay put them at 5-1 in conference play, and give them a tied them at number one in the conference standings with Tennessee Tech.
With the loss, Murray State falls to 10-10 overall and 2-4 in OVC play. They will look to bounce back at home with a non-conference game at 4 p.m. on Monday, March 18, at Reagan Field.