Offense Stalls in Series-Opening Loss at TTU

Thursday, April 13

Cookeville, Tenn.

6 p.m.

Murray State

16-17, 6-7

Tennessee Tech

27-9, 14-2

Murray State

Tennessee Tech

Photo by: Dave Winder-Murray State Athletics

4/13/2017 8:59:00 PM | Baseball

Box Score

The Murray State bats were held in check for most of the night Thursday at Tennessee Tech as the Racers opened their three-game series with the Golden Eagles with a 4-2 loss in Cookeville.

MSU (16-17, 6-7 OVC) was held to seven hits in the loss, two of which came in the ninth, while TTU (27-9, 14-2 OVC) pounded out a dozen hits in the contest. The Racers had their chances to do more damage but the Golden Eagles made some nice defensive plays to keep MSU in check. Four of the Racers' hits went for extra bases in the loss.

After a run by the Golden Eagles in the bottom of the first, starter Ryan Dills settled into the game and kept the TTU offense from capitalizing with more runs. In the fifth, MSU tied the game on a Kipp Moore double to left center scoring Ryan Perkins. Perkins led off the inning with a double to center field.

TTU was able to regain the lead for good in the bottom half of the inning with a run to make it 2-1 and then extended its lead to 4-1 with a two-run sixth. The Racers were able to cut into the deficit in the ninth on a leadoff home run to right field by Jack Hranec, his fourth of the season, making it 4-2. However, the Golden Eagles were able to close the door after Reed Thompson reached on a pinch-hit single.

Seven different Racers recorded hits in the loss with Adam Bauer joining Moore and Perkins with doubles on the night. Ryan Dills took the loss as he started on the hill. Dills went six innings and allowed four runs while striking out six. Luke Brown and Alec Whaley came out of the bullpen to pitch a scoreless seventh and eighth, respectively.

Game two of the series is set for another 6 p.m., first pitch Friday.