Story by Keith Jaco
Staff writer
rjaco@murraystate.edu
Following its fifth consecutive conference series win over Southeast Missouri State on Saturday, April 13, Murray State Racer baseball is off to its best conference start in nearly a decade.
After posting a 3-1 record last week, Murray State has advanced to 10-5 in the OVC and 16-17 overall. The Racers now own sole possession of first place in the OVC over Jacksonville State and Belmont.
Murray State has had multiple players step up this year, but none bigger in recent weeks than senior shortstop Jaron Robinson. Robinson went 7-15 with six RBIs, four runs and two stolen bases.
The Racers have also received increased offensive production from redshirt sophomore second baseman Jordan Holly. Holly went 5-13 with five RBIs, two runs and two stolen bases in his last four games.
Murray State will open the week with a home game at Reagan Field against the Evansville Aces before heading to Nashville, Tennessee, to face the Belmont Bruins in a three-game series.
Head Coach Dan Skirka knows the Aces will be a tough opponent but believes his team is prepared for the challenge they bring.
“We know Evansville is having a good year,” Skirka said. “I don’t know a lot about them but we’re looking forward to competing against them; We gotta play well to beat them but not they’re not unbeatable.”
Evansville is coming off a four-game sweep in which Indiana University outscored them 25-9. The Aces are 4-6 in their last 10, including a current six-game losing streak.
Despite the recent slide, UE is 17-14 on the season with a 5-1 record in the Missouri Valley Conference.
The Aces will look to senior center fielder Nate Reeder and sophomore first baseman Tanner Craig to lead the offense against the Racers. Reeder is batting .336 with 23 RBIs, 25 runs and three home runs while Craig is batting .279 with 27 RBIs, 17 runs and three home runs.
Freshman left-handed relief pitcher Michael Parks has been a bright spot for the Aces on the mound, tossing 21 ? innings with a 2.49 ERA and allowing eight walks while striking out 19.
Despite a less than impressive 3.50 ERA, junior left-handed starting pitcher Nathan Croner has also contributed in big ways for the Aces. Croner has thrown 54 innings this season, striking out 43 batters and walking 20.
On Thursday, April 18, the Racers will travel to Nashville, Tennessee, to start a three-game series with Belmont.
The Bruins are currently third in the OVC, posting a 11-7 conference record while going 16-19 overall.
Belmont has been on a downward spiral in the last two weeks, going 3-7 in its last 10 games, most recently losing two out of three to Jacksonville State in Jacksonville, Alabama.
The Racers will look to improve their 4-8 away record this weekend as the Bruins own a dismal home record of 10-11 at E.S. Rose Park.
Belmont is led on offense by senior second baseman Zach Ehrhart and senior center fielder Devon Gardner. Ehrhart is batting .302 with 20 RBIs and 21 runs while Gardner is batting .265 with 22 RBIs, 18 runs, three home runs and a slugging percentage of .419.
The Bruins will look to senior right-handed pitcher Casey Queener and freshman right-handed pitcher Joshua South to keep the Racers off the scoreboard this weekend. Queener has tossed 52 2/3 innings this season, posting a 3.76 ERA with 79 strikeouts and 21 walks. South has thrown 53 innings with a 3.40 ERA, striking out 47 batters and walking 12.
With Belmont close behind in the OVC, Skirka says his team is ready for the chance to add to the win column on their OVC record.
“Belmont is playing well this year but we’re just looking at it as a chance to win another conference series and we’re ready,” Skirka said.
The Racers will begin the week at home, facing the Evansville Aces at 5 p.m. on Tuesday, April 16, at Reagan Field.