Murray State University Athletics
Baseball Set to Face First Place Jacksonville State
4/9/2010 2:42:00 PM | Baseball
GAMES 29-31
MURRAY STATE at JACKSONVILLE STATE
April 10-11, 2010 • Jacksonville, Ala.
First Pitch
Saturday: 1 p.m.; Sunday: 1 p.m.
Series History: JSU leads 15-6
Last Meeting: JSU 9, MUR 3 (2009)
Stadium: Rudy Abbott Field (Capacity: 1,500)
Dimensions: 330 (LF), 400 (CF), 330 (RF)
Live Stats: www.goracers.com
MURRAY STATE THOROUGHBREDS
Overall Record: 16-12
Conference Record: 4-2
Last 5/Last 10: 4-1/6-4
Streak: Lost 1
Website: www.GoRacers.com
Head Coach: Rob McDonald
Career Record: 149-204-1 (7th year)
Record at MSU: 149-204-1 (7th year)
JACKSONVILLE STATE GAMECOCKS
Overall Record: 16-13
Conference Record: 5-1
Last 5/Last 10: 3-2/7-3
Streak: Lost 1
Website: www.jsugamecocksports.com
Head Coach: Jim Case
Career Record: 273-222 (9th year)
Record at JSU: 273-222 (9th year)
FIRST PITCH
The Murray State baseball team hits the road for a key early season Ohio Valley Conference series at Jacksonville State on April 10-11. The series gets underway with a 1 p.m. doubleheader on Saturday and concludes with a 1 p.m. first pitch Sunday.
INSIDE THE SERIES
The Breds and Gamecocks have met 21 times prior with JSU holding a 15-6 advantage in the series. The two teams first met in 1998 before JSU joined the league for the 2004 season. The Breds have dropped the series in four-straight seasons, including losing two of three in 2008 and 2009.
Cunningham Among National Leaders
Wes Cunningham is among the national leaders in four offensive categories. In games played through April 4, Cunningham leads the nation in slugging percentage (.955), while ranking second in home runs (13) and total bases (105). He also ranks third in home runs per game (0.48).
Hill Named OVC Hitter of the Week
After going 9-for-16 with six doubles, two home runs and eight RBIs in four games, Daniel Hill was named the Ohio Valley Conference Hitter of the Week for the wek of April 5. In a doubleheader against UT Martin, HIll went 7-for-9 with five doubles, two home runs and eight RBIs.
Craycraft Wins 20
Senior Chris Craycraft became just the sixth Breds pitcher to record 20 wins when he held UT Martin to just one run over eight innings. He improved his career record to 20-9 and became the first 20-game winner since Kirk Rueter in 1991.
20-20
On the day in which Chris Craycraft joined the 20-win club, the Murray State offense pushed across 20 runs for the second time this season in a 20-1 victory over UT Martin. It marked the second-straight season the Breds have scored at least 20 runs twice.
Scouting JSU
The Gamecocks enter the weekend series with an overall record of 16-13 and sit atop the Ohio Valley Conference standings with a record of 5-1.
JSU opened conference play by taking two-of-three from UT Martin, before sweeping the series against Tennessee Tech last weekend.
The Gamecocks are coming off a 10-4 extra-inning defeat to #19 Alabama Wednesday evening.
JSU ranks fifth in the OVC with a .317 team average. Six players in their regular lineup are hitting over .300 with Andrew Edge leading the way with a .355 average.
The Gamecock pitching staff bolsters a 6.68 team ERA, fourth-best in the OVC.
Hunter Rivers and Tanner Freshour lead the team with three victories apiece, while Alex Jones has a team-best 1.80 ERA and four saves.
On Deck
The Breds face Evansville in a pair of midweek contests April 13-14.
