Racers Shutout BCU in Season Opener

Friday, February 19

Daytona Beach, Fla.

5 p.m.

Murray State

1-0

Bethune-Cookman

0-1

Murray State

Bethune-Cookman

2/19/2016 7:00:00 PM | Baseball

Box Score

The Murray State baseball team opened its 2016 campaign with an impressive 5-0 shutout effort against Bethune-Cookman Friday night in Daytona Beach, Fla., at Jackie Robinson Field. It is the first win for the Racers in a season opener since 2010.

Adam Bauer had quite the debut as a Racer, going 3-for-4 with a solo home run, a triple and two runs scored. Newcomers Aaron Bence and Brandon Gutzler also had multi-hit games in the win as Bence went 3-for-4 and Gutzler was 2-of-5 with a run scored. Gutzler also had a beautiful throw-out at home plate from right field in the bottom of the first to preserve the scoreless game.

The Racers (1-0) opened the scoring with a two-run top of the second inning. Kipp Moore got MSU on the board first with a sacrifice fly to center that scored Gutzler. Reed Thompson beat-out an infield single one batter later and Ramsey Scott scored from second base on the throwing error trying to get Thompson out at first.

In the third, the Racers extended their lead to 3-0 on a single to center by Gutzler. Bauer was able to score from second base as the Wildcat center fielder bobbled the ball allowing him to score. MSU got another two-run inning in the fifth when Bauer ledoff the inning with his blast to right center. A double down the right field line from Scott scored Tyler Lawrence and made it 5-0.

MSU out-hit the Wildcats 12-4 in the win and also had four extra-base hits while BCU just had all singles.

Jack Hranec picked up the win in his debut in a Racer uniform. Hranec pitched five solid innings, allowing four hits and struck-out four. Brandon Hicks and John Lollar combined for four innings of hitless baseball with Lollar picking up the save as he went three innings.

Game two of the three-game set will be at noon central time Saturday.