Story by Gage Johnson
Sports Editor
gjohnson17@murraystate.edu
Story by Keith Jaco
Staff writer
rjaco@murraystate.edu
Murray State baseball kicked off its season with a three-game series against Oral Roberts beginning Saturday afternoon, and was unable to secure its first win of the year.
Game 1:
In the top of the ninth, the Racers found themselves down one with bases loaded. However, they were unable to convert, falling to the Golden Eagles 6-5.
After an uneventful first inning, Murray State started off the second with a bang. A double from junior outfielder Brock Anderson and a single from senior shortstop Jaron Robinson led to runners on second and third with no outs.
Redshirt freshman third baseman Wes Schad followed that up with a three-run bomb for his first career hit. Later in the inning, junior first baseman Ryan Perkins singled in a run, giving the Racers a 4-0 lead.
Murray State struck again for its fifth run in the fourth inning, but Oral Roberts came alive in the middle innings. In the fourth, fifth and sixth inning, they tagged on two runs, taking a 6-5 lead going into the seventh.
The Racers got another chance for the victory when they had the bases juiced with one out in the inning, but a strikeout and flyout had the Golden Eagles flying into the second game with a 6-5 win.
Game 2:
The Racers failed to generate any offensive production in game two, falling 11-3 to the Golden Eagles.
Murray State struck first in the second leg of the double-header, taking a 1-0 lead in the top of the second on a two-out RBI triple from redshirt sophomore outfielder Jake Slunder. Oral Roberts quickly responded in the bottom half of the inning, scoring three runs on four hits to take a 3-1 lead.
Following a leadoff double and single, senior outfielder Tyler Duke converted for the Racers on a sacrifice fly, scoring junior outfielder Ryan Perkins and bringing the Racers within one run 3-2.
Golden Eagles senior outfielder Jack Rosenberg matched the Racer’s third inning run, knocking a solo home run to center field to lead off the bottom half of the inning.
It was all Oral Roberts following the third inning, as the Golden Eagles would tack on two more runs in the bottom of the fourth and five more during the home half of the seventh to take a 11-2 lead.
Murray State put together a small two-out rally in the top half of the ninth, stringing together consecutive singles following a Perkins walk. The Racers left two on base and fell short 11-3 in the ninth as they fall to 0-2 on the young season.
Game 3:
Murray State’s early season woes continued on Sunday afternoon, as the Racers suffered a series sweep to Oral Roberts.
The Golden Eagles jumped on freshman pitcher Shane Burns early with a five-run second inning, including a three-run home run from junior infielder Spencer Henson.
Following a scoreless third inning, Oral Roberts tacked on seven more in the bottom half of the fourth, taking a commanding 12-0 lead after four.
The Golden Eagles’ offensive explosion couldn’t be halted as they added three more runs in the bottom of the fifth, leading 15-0.
The Racers got on the board in the top half of the sixth, as sophomore infielder Dylan Letellier scored on a throwing error after stealing third base.
Murray State used another throwing error to their advantage in the top of the eighth, scoring two on an errant throw from junior pitcher Adam Scoggins.
The Golden Eagles added three more in the bottom of the eighth, scoring three runs all with two outs. Murray State went quietly in the ninth, falling 18-3 to Oral Roberts.
The Racers will be back in action at 3 p.m. on Wednesday, Feb. 20, against the University of Memphis in Memphis, Tennessee.