Racers Drop Heartbreaker to Bears in Extras

Wednesday, March 21

Springfield, Mo.

3 p.m.

Murray State

11-11

Missouri State

13-6

Murray State

Missouri State

3/21/2018 7:00:00 PM | Baseball

Box Score

Murray State was just one strike away from coming away with a 4-2 victory Wednesday afternoon at Missouri State, but the Bears were able to get a two-out double to left to tie the game at 4-4 in the bottom of the ninth and would go on to win with a walk off single in the 10^th.

The Racers (11-11) held the Bears (13-6) to just one hit throughout the first eight innings of the game, but gave up two in the ninth, along with a walk and a hit batter. Brandon Gutzler was able to force extras by throwing a runner out at home on a base hit in the at bat right after Missouri State tied the game. In the 10^th, Missouri State was able to get two more hits and end the game with one out in the inning.

MSU started the game off hot offensively, scoring a run in each of the first three innings to take a 3-0 lead in the contest. Mike Farnell was hit by a pitch with the bases loaded in the first inning to bring home Gutzler for the first run of the game. It marked the fifth consecutive game that the Racers have scored in the first inning.

In the second and third innings, the Racers were able to get solo home runs to push the lead to 3-0. Caleb Hicks sent his third of the season to right field in the second while Farnell blasted his second of 2018 deep over the right field wall.

In the bottom of the third, Missouri State was able to get two runs back and cut the MSU lead to just 3-2, but from there until the ninth, both offenses fizzled out. In the top half of the ninth, the Racers went up 4-2 thanks to an error by the Bears with two outs that scored Jake Slunder from second.

Alec Whaley pitched the 10^th and took the loss, dropping his record to 3-2 on the year. Hicks pitched two innings of relief and allowed two runs while striking out a pair of batters. Luke Brown also appeared in relief for starter Trevor McMurray. Brown pitched four hitless innings and punched out a season-best five batters. McMurray went the first three innings of the game and allowed two runs on one hit while walking three and striking out four.

Farnell was the only Racers with more than one hit as MSU was held to just six hits in the loss. Farnell went 2-for-2 at the plate. Grant Wood went 1-for-3 while Davis Sims was 1-of-5 but added his 15^th double of the season.

The Racers return home and return to conference action this weekend as Eastern Illinois comes to Murray for a three-game set beginning Friday at 6 p.m.