Murray State University Athletics
Murray State
Austin Peay
Racers Drop Slugfest to Austin Peay
4/11/2018 11:06:00 PM | Baseball
Murray State's three-game winning streak came to an end Wednesday night at Reagan Field as the Racers lost an offensive showdown to Austin Peay, 14-11. The two teams combined for 26 hits on the night, 11 of which went for extra bases.
After a three-run home run to center by Grant Wood gave MSU (17-15) a 3-1 lead after one, the Governors (19-15) would respond to score the next seven runs over the next three innings to take a 8-3 lead.
In the fifth, the Racers cut the deficit to 8-6 as Ramsey Scott got an RBI double, followed by a two-run shot by Mike Farnell that went deep over the right field fence. In the sixth, the Racers had a huge five-run inning and took an 11-8 lead. The biggest damage in the inning came via a Jaron Robinson grand slam that snuck just inside the left field foul pole. It was Robinson's third homer of the year and the second grand slam hit by a Racer this season. Davis Sims was hit by a pitch later in the inning to bring home another run.
Austin Peay would score a run in the top of the eighth to make it 11-9 before a five-run ninth inning catapulted the Govs in front 14-11. Four of those five runs came with two outs in the inning. MSU would get a leadoff walk in the ninth but wouldn't threaten after.
Five Racers had multi-hit games in the loss. Sims led the way by going 3-for-5 at the plate with three runs scored. Ryan Perkins went 2-for-3 while Bryan Chilton, Scott and Robinson all went 2-of-5 at the dish. In addition to his grand slam, Robinson also had a double in the game.
The two teams combined to throw 13 pitchers on the evening. Caleb Hicks took the loss for MSU as he allowed three runs in an inning-plus of work. Blake Clynes got the start on the mound and went three innings and allowed six runs on two hits but walked six batters and also struck-out five. Farnell, Connor Holden, Jake Jones and Alec Whaley also made relief appearances.
MSU gets back to home action this weekend as No. 25 ranked and OVC-leading Tennessee Tech comes to Reagan Field for a three-game series. Right now, the series opener is slated for 6 p.m., Friday, but forecasted rain could alter the weekend schedule.
