Story by Keith Jaco
Staff writer
rjaco@murraystate.edu
Due to weather and field conditions, the Racers were forced to play their fourth doubleheader of the young season against the Governors.
Another matchup with Austin Peay means another chance for each school to score points in the Heritage Bank Battle of the Border. Each win during baseball season earns the winning school two points. Murray State currently holds a comfortable lead over Austin Peay, 26-11.
Murray State went quietly in game one, suffering a 2-0 loss in which the Racers only recorded two hits. Junior right-handed pitcher Trevor McMurray threw seven innings of one-run ball, walking five and striking out seven.
Run support was no problem in game two as the Racers jumped on the Governors early, scoring six runs in the bottom of the first inning.
A pair of home runs gave Murray State a three-run lead through just three batters as junior outfielder Tyler Duke blasted a lead-off home run followed by a two-run homer from junior outfielder Brock Anderson.
One error and three consecutive singles later, the Racers held a commanding six-run lead at the end of the first inning.
Austin Peay and Murray State each scored one run in the second, bringing the score to 7-1 heading into the top of the third.
Following a scoreless third, Murray Stated led off the fourth with back-to-back singles before tacking on another run on a fielder’s choice by junior outfielder Ryan Perkins.
Redshirt junior infielder Max Remy helped pull the Governors within six in the top of the fifth on an RBI groundout, cutting the lead to 8-2.
Murray State added to its lead in the bottom half of the sixth as Anderson crushed his second homer of the day. Following a one-out walk, Perkins scored on a sacrifice fly from junior outfielder Sean Darmafall, giving the Racers a 10-2 lead.
The Governors played some small ball in the top of the seventh, moving senior catcher David Martinez from second to third before scoring him on a sacrifice fly from freshman outfielder Matt Joslin.
The Racers went on to get this run back, scoring Perkins on a Darmafall single in the bottom of the eighth, Â giving Murray State an 11-3 lead.
Austin Peay went quietly in the top half of the ninth as the Racers secured their fourth win of the season.
Freshman left-handed pitcher Shane Burns picked up his first collegiate win in game two, throwing seven innings and giving up three earned runs while issuing one walk and striking out six.
Murray State will conclude its series with Austin Peay at 1:30 p.m. on Monday, March 11, at Reagan Field.