Racers go 1-2 in first home series

Story by Gage Johnson

Sports Editor

gjohnson17@murraystate.edu

Murray State baseball had its opening home series of the season against Miami University and went 1-2 in its three games.

Game 1:

In its first home game of the season Murray State baseball was unable to halt Miami University’s offense, falling 14-4.

The Redhawks kicked the game off at the plate singling and doubling in a run each after a leadoff walk to take an early 3-0 lead.

Junior pitcher Trevor McMurray continued to struggle for the Racers over his next three innings on the mound, getting tagged for two runs in the second and one in the fourth.

Sophomore pitcher Braydon Cook replaced McMurray and found no luck in his first inning on  the mound. After striking out the first batter he faced, a walk and a single led to a three-run homerun from freshman catcher Cole Andrews. After an error, Miami capitalized by scoring another run to take a 10-1 lead going into the sixth.

Murray State mustered four runs on homeruns from senior outfielder Tyler Duke, junior outfielder Brock Anderson, junior first baseman Ryan Perkins and sophomore infielder CJ Bush, but couldn’t handle the Redhawks’ offensive prowess, falling 14-4.

Game 2:

After an offensive showcase from Miami in the series opener, freshman pitcher Shane Burns shut the door early by striking out the side to start the game for the Racers.

Burns went on to give up one run on two hits while striking out seven in five innings, before being replaced by junior pitcher Alec Whaley in the sixth.

A walk, a hit by pitch and a single allowed a run to cross the plate for the Redhawks in the sixth, but an error by Murray State brought home another run to give Miami a 3-0 lead going into the bottom of the sixth. However, the Racers responded with a three-run inning to make things even going into the seventh.

Murray State reclaimed the lead at 5-4 in the top of the eighth, but a two-run sacrifice fly from Perkins pushed the Racers to a 7-4 lead going into the ninth.

The Redhawks wouldn’t go down, loading the bases with no outs to start the inning. However, senior pitcher Peyton Hayes bounced back to only allow one Miami player to score and earn his second save of the season en route to a 7-4 victory.

Game 3:

After splitting the series-opening doubleheader on Sunday, Feb. 24, the Racers fell 10-3 to the Redhawks to close out the series.

Miami singled in two runs to start the game and capped off the top of the first with a two-run double from junior outfielder Kyle Winkler to take a 4-0 lead.

The Redhawks struck again in the top of the fourth as the Racers walked in a run, followed by a sacrifice fly to extend their lead to 6-1 going into the bottom of the fourth.

Murray State continued to struggle on the mound in the top of the eighth, walking in two more runs and allowing two more to let Miami to jump out to a 10-2 lead going into the bottom of the eighth.

The Racers were able to stop the bleeding in the eighth when they turned a 5-4-3 triple play to end the inning. The triple play is the third of its kind in Murray State history, with the last one happening on March 29, 2016.

However, the Racers mustered three runs, giving the Redhawks a 10-3 victory. After a 1-2 series finish, Murray State will hit the road to take on Western Kentucky University at 3 p.m. on Wednesday, Feb. 27, in Bowling Green, Kentucky.

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