Despite a three-run ninth inning rally, Murray State Racer baseball fell short to Western Kentucky 9-5 on Wednesday, Feb. 27.
Junior right-handed pitcher Joe Ivey made his first career start for the Racers, going 3 ? innings, allowing three earned runs, eight hits and one walk. A bright spot for the Racers in the loss to WKU was the bat of sophomore outfielder Jake Slunder as he went 4-4 with one RBI.
Western Kentucky got an early lead in the second inning with a trio of hits securing a two-run lead. A sacrifice fly by junior catcher Matt Phipps extended the Hilltopper lead to three by the end of the inning.
WKU added to its lead with two more runs in the bottom of the fourth, taking a five-run lead into the fifth inning.
Following back-to-back hits by junior outfielder Sean Darmafall and Slunder, the Racers were knocking on the door with runners on the corners and one out. A double steal attempt lead to Darmafall stealing home and giving the Racers their first run of the afternoon, cutting the lead to 5-1.
The Hilltoppers responded with one run, scoring on an RBI single by junior infielder Sam McElreath, extending the lead to 6-1.
WKU added another run in the bottom of the seventh to go up 7-1. The Racers responded in the top half of the eighth with a sacrifice fly by junior infielder Cole Womack, scoring Slunder and cutting the lead to 7-2.
Graduate infielder and former Murray State Racer Davis Sims added to the Hilltopper lead with a two-run single in the bottom of the eighth, giving WKU a commanding 9-2 lead heading into the ninth.
Murray State strung together a three-run rally in the top of the ninth, leading off the inning with three hits including an RBI single from junior outfielder Brock Anderson. Darmafall moved another Racer across the plate on a fielder’s choice, bringing the Racers within five.
An RBI single from Slunder cut the Hilltopper lead to four but the rally stopped there as the Racers fell 9-5.
WKU advanced to 6-2 while Murray State dropped to 2-6 on the season.
Murray State will head home for an eight-game home stand, starting with a three-game series with Illinois State. The Racers will be back in action at 3 p.m. on Friday, March 1, at Reagan Field.