MSU Rally Falls Short in Finale in Florida

Sunday, February 21

Daytona Beach, Fla.

11 a.m.

Murray State

1-2

Bethune-Cookman

2-1

Murray State

Bethune-Cookman

2/21/2016 3:07:00 PM | Baseball

Box Score

The Murray State baseball team's late rally Sunday in its series finale at Bethune-Cookman came up just short as the Racers fell 3-2 at Jackie Robinson Ballpark in Daytona Beach, Fla.

After collecting just three hits on Saturday, the Racers' (1-2) offense started off slow again on Sunday as they wouldn't get their first hit until the fifth inning and by that time, the Wildcats (2-1) already had a 3-0 lead.

BCU took the lead in the bottom of the 2^nd on a single and was able to manufacture two more runs in the fourth with the bases loaded. MSU battled back in the sixth as Brandon Gutzler collected an RBI double to right center, scoring Adam Bauer who led off the inning with a single up the middle. Two batters later Ramsey Scott would make it 3-2 with a sacrifice fly that scored Gutzler.

That was all the offense the Racers could muster however as they collected just one more hit in the seventh, eighth and ninth innings and left three runners on base. MSU had a chance in the top of the ninth when Jaron Robinson opened with a walk but was eventually stranded at third base to end the game.

Andrew Bramley was saddles with the loss as he got the start in the finale. Bramley pitched four innings and allowed three runs, two of which were earned, on four hits while walking three and striking-out four batters. Brandon Hicks (fifth and sixth), Ryan Dills (seventh) and Cody Maerz (eighth) combined to pitch a scoreless bullpen outing for the Racers in the loss.

Jack Hranec was the only Racers with a multiple-hit day as he went 2-for-3 at the dish. The Racers also had two errors in the defeat.

MSU returns to action Tuesday in its home opener at 2 p.m. at Reagan Field against Harris-Stowe. It will be the first of 10 consecutive home games for the Racers over the next two weeks.