Racers Spark Late to Down Kentucky State

Wednesday, March 14

Reagan Field

3 p.m.

Murray State

10-7

Kentucky State

7-10

Team	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8	9	Runs R	Hits H	Errors E
Kentucky State	0	2	1	0	3	0	0	0	0	6	9	1
Murray State	2	0	0	1	2	2	0	3	X	10	9	2

Photo by: Dave Winder-Murray State Athletics

3/14/2018 6:43:00 PM | Baseball

Box Score

The Murray State baseball team rallied Wednesday afternoon at Reagan Field, scoring seven runs in the final four innings to defeat Kentucky State 10-6. It's the Racers' third consecutive win and improves their overall record to 10-7.

Trailing 6-3, MSU scored two runs in the fifth and sixth innings to take a 7-6 lead and then was able to extend the lead and get some breathing room thanks to a three-run eighth.

The Racers jumped out to a good start in the contest scoring a pair of runs in the bottom of the first to take an early 2-0 lead. A Davis Sims single to center brought home Gavin Wehby to start of the scoring for MSU, which was followed by a Ramsey Scott sacrifice fly to center that scored Brandon Gutzler.

KSU (7-10) was able to tie the game with a two-run second and then pushed in front 3-2 with a sacrifice fly in the third. The Racers were able to get another sac fly of their own in the bottom half of the fourth inning by Wehby that scored Kyle Stevens and it was 3-3 after four complete.

A three-run double by the Thorobreds in the fifth gave them a 6-3 lead. In the bottom half of the inning, the Racer offense started to come around as a two-run double by Grant Wood cut the deficit to 6-5. In the sixth, Gutzler's leadoff home run to center field hit off the batter's eye and knotted the game up at 6-6. It was Gutzler's third homer of the year. MSU went in front for good later in the inning as Sims scored from third on a wild pitch.

Tyler Duke's triple to right center in the eighth inning was the big blow for MSU as it pushed the lead to 9-6 as two runs came in to score. In the next at bat, Bryan Chilton provided another sac fly RBI for MSU as he sent one to center field that scored Duke.

Both Gutzler and Sims led the way offensively in the win as they each went 3-for-4 at the plate with two runs scored and a ribbie. Ryan Perkins also scored twice on the day while Caleb Hicks and Duke both went 1-of-2 at the dish. Grant Wood went 1-for-1 and drew two walks. The Racers and Thorobreds both collected nine hits in the contest while the Racers drew 16 walks and KSU had none. MSU also left 12 runners on base.

Chance Carner picked up his first win of the season as he pitched an inning of relief. Carner was one of five relief pitchers used on the day. Gray Dorsey got the start and went two innings and allowed one earned run. Connor Holden struck-out the side in the ninth for MSU.

The Racers return to action and will play on the road for the first time in over two weeks Friday as they begin a three-game OVC series at Austin Peay. First pitch is at 6 p.m.