Racers Drop Doubleheader in OVC Opener

Friday, March 10

Edwardsville, Ill.

Noon

Murray State

8-5, 0

SIUE

9-5, 0

Murray State

SIUE

Photo by: Dave Winder-Murray State Athletics

3/10/2017 7:01:00 PM | Baseball

Box Score 1 Box Score 2

The Murray State baseball team opened conference play Friday with a pair of losses in a doubleheader played at SIU Edwardsville. The Racers lost a 6-5 heartbreaker in game one and were defeated 8-1 in the second contest of the day.

In the first game of the day, the Cougars (10-5, 2-0 OVC) scored the first four runs of the game as they scored one in both the bottom of the first and sixth and two runs in the third to go up 4-0. However, MSU (8-6, 0-2 OVC) would rally much like they did the other night, scoring five unanswered to take a 5-4 lead into the bottom of the ninth.

Jack Hranec got the Racers on the board first with an RBI groundout and two batters later Jaron Robinson made it 4-2 after an RBI single to center field. In the eighth, Brandon Gutzler scored on a balk and Caleb Hicks tied the game at 4-4 with an RBI single up the gut. The Racers would go on to take the lead on a sacrifice fly to deep center from Tyler Lawrence in the top half of the ninth.

The Cougars would rally though in the bottom half of the inning scoring two runs in the ninth to win the game on a walk off, 6-5. Chad Gendron took the loss in game one as he couldn't convert on the save opportunity. Ryan Dills got the start and the no decision in the first game. Dills allowed four runs off six hits in six innings while striking out seven batters. Alec Whaley pitched two innings of scoreless relief in the loss.

SIUE controlled game two from start the finish and scored all eight of its runs in two innings. A five-run third pushed the Cougars out front early. Later, SIUE scored three runs in the eighth to go up 8-1. All of the Cougars' runs in game two came with two outs.

MSU's lone run of the contest came on a wild pitch that scored Hicks from third. Ryan Perkins led the Racers at the plate in the second loss with a 2-for-3 day.

Austin Dubsky took the loss as he pitched four innings and allowed those five runs in the third. Luke Brown, Chance Carner, John Lollar and Derrik Watson all pitched relief in the loss.

MSU and SIUE will close the series Sunday at Lee Field. 1 p.m., is first pitch.