Racers Surge Past Skyhawks

Friday, May 18

Martin, Tenn.

6 p.m.

Murray State

26-27, 13-16

UT Martin

11-40, 7-22

Murray State

UT Martin

5/18/2018 9:31:00 PM | Baseball

Box Score

Brandon Gutzler hit a seventh inning grand slam to bust the game open Friday night in Martin, Tenn., as Murray State defeated UT Martin, 11-3 to win its fourth consecutive series to close the regular season. The bases-loaded bomb was the second grand slam in as many days for the Racers.

Gutzler, along with Ryan Perkins and Davis Sims led the Racers (26-27, 13-16 OVC) with three-hit nights. Gutzler also led MSU with five ribbies and three runs in the win. Mike Farnell went 2-for-3 at the plate with a pair of runs scored on the night while Perkins and Sims also scored twice.

MSU jumped out to an early lead for the second straight night as it plated three runs in the top of the second. Gutzler scored the first run as he came home on a wild pitch before Perkins' first of two doubles made it 2-0. Later in the inning, an RBI groundout by Jaron Robinson made it 3-0.

A Robinson sacrifice fly in the fourth pushed the Racer lead to 4-0 before the Skyhawks (11-40, 7-22 OVC) would get on the board with a run in the fifth and sixth innings to cut the Racers' lead to 4-2. Gutzler's ninth homer of the season put a swift end to any thoughts of a UTM comeback.

The Skyhawks made it 8-3 with a run in the bottom of the seventh. In the ninth, the Racers got a three-run inning as Gutzler got an RBI single that was followed by a two-run double by Perkins to make it 11-3.

Gray Dorsey got the win in the predetermined split start. Dorsey improved to 3-0 on the year after going three innings and allowing just a pair of hits with a strikeout. Alec Whaley notched the save as he went the final three innings and allowed one run on three hits while striking out four batters. Luke Brown and Braydon Cook also made relief appearances on the night.

The Racers look for the sweep Saturday as they close the regular season at 3 p.m. in Martin.