Racers Rally to Win Series Finale

Sunday, March 22

Reagan Field

1 p.m.

Murray State

8-16, 4-5

Austin Peay

11-9, 5-4

Austin Peay

Murray State

Photo by: Ryan Richardson-Murray Ledger & Times

3/22/2015 5:07:00 PM | Baseball

Box Score

A perfectly placed bunt down the third base side by Taylor Mathews forced a wild throw over to first base by Austin Peay's Hunter Lindley, allowing Derek Yoder and Kipp Moore to score the game-tying and game-winning runs, respectively as Murray State rallied for a 6-4 victory over the Governors Sunday to win the series.

The Racer (8-16, 4-5 OVC) bats were held silent for much of the game as they had just a pair of hits heading into the seventh inning and found themselves trailing to APSU 4-0 as the Governors' starter Caleb Powell looked to be well in control. That's when in the bottom of the seventh, MSU's offense finally came alive as the Racers scored three runs in the inning.

Anthony Bayus led off the inning with a single down the left field line, which was followed by Yoder getting hit by a pitch. Two batters later, Mathews drove-in his first RBI of the game with a sac fly that was caught in foul territory by Austin Peay's first baseman, allowing Bayus to score. A Nick Moore single to center scored Yoder the next batter to make it 4-2 Austin Peay. A pinch-hit double by Clay Kelly advanced Moore to third and Moore eventually scored on a passed ball which made it 4-3 heading into the eighth.

In the eighth, Yoder reached on a double down the left field line and advanced to third on a wild pitch that walked Kipp Moore. All of this setup Mathews' heroics with two outs in the inning. A Kelly single to right scored Mathews to give the Racers an insurance run at 6-4.

Cody Maerz was electric in the ninth to close-out the game for MSU as he struck-out the side to propel the Racers to the game and series win. Maerz moves his record to 3-0 on the season with the win. Maerz pitched three scoreless innings for Murray State and allowed just one hit while recording four punch-outs.

Bayus, Nick Moore and Kelly all had two hits each in the win. Kelly went a perfect 2-for-2 on the day. Yoder was able to score a pair of runs in the victory. Bayus hit .455 (5-for-11) in the three-game series while Yoder went 3-for-9 (.333) with five runs scored.

The Racers were out-hit in the game 9-to-8 but stranded seven runners in the contest while the Governors left 14 on the bases. It is MSU's second series victory of the season.

Sheldon Baxter got the start on the day for MSU and the no decision. Baxter pitched 2.2 innings and allowed one run on three hits to go along with two walks and a strikeout. Brandon Hicks allowed two earned runs over 3.1 innings of relief and had a pair of strikeouts.

The Racers return to Reagan Field Tuesday as Arkansas State comes to town for a single midweek game. First pitch is set for 3 p.m.