Murray State University Athletics
Heritage Bank Battle of the Border: It All Comes Down To This
5/9/2018 3:33:00 PM | General
The second annual Heritage Bank Battle of the Border will come down to the final competition: the 2018 OVC Women's Outdoor Track & Field Championship. While the Racers won easily in the first season, 46.5-20.5, this year's edition is tied at 32 with only three points from this weekend's meet in Cookeville, Tennessee remaining.
"This is exactly what we had in mind when we first came up with this concept, two heated rivals slugging it out, back-and-forth for bragging rights," said Murray State Associate AD for External Affairs Steve Harrell. "In addition to the fun and excitement this series brings in the form of competition, it also helps our programs through donations and our community, through our annual community service component. This year's competition has come down to the wire and while we can't wait to see who takes home the trophy, none of this would be possible without the outstanding support both schools receive from our great friends at Heritage Bank."
The Heritage Bank Battle of the Border pits rivals Murray State and Austin Peay against each other in an all-sport battle for border supremacy. In total, 67 points are up for grabs in the series, representing the 67 miles separating the two institutions. Point are awarded based on winning regular-season head-to-head contests, when no such contest exists, points go to the higher placed finisher at that sport's OVC championship.
The fall was an even split for the Racers and the Govs with Murray State winning in soccer and women's cross country and Austin Peay taking football and men's cross country. The two teams split the regular-season volleyball series leaving the score tied at nine after the first third of the year.
While the fall may have been a dead heat, the winter belonged to Murray State with the Racers claiming 12 of a possible 15 points. MSU took both men's basketball meetings and the OVC Women's Indoor Track & Field Championship, while a split in women's basketball saved a sweep by the Racers and left the score 21-12.
In addition to the actual sporting events, an additional component of the Battle of the Border is the annual week of giving and the blood drive, worth five points each. The winner of the week of giving is the school that has the most individual donations during a specified week, while the blood drive points go to the school with the most units donated. This year, the Governors took the week of the giving, while Racers won the blood drive to make the score 26-17 headed into the spring.
Murray State entered the spring needing just nine points to clinch the trophy for the second consecutive year, however the Govs fought back and have taken the contest down to the wire. The spring began with Austin Peay scoring six points for a baseball sweep, followed by the Racers answering with six points of their own in women's tennis and women's golf.
With 12 points left on the board, Murray State needed just three for the win but could not find them, as Austin Peay swept the softball doubleheader and won in men's golf, leaving the score knotted at 32.
If recent results are any indication, this weekend's meet should be extremely close. While Racers handily outpointed the Govs, 73.5-50, at this year's indoor championship, the win in last year's outdoor championship did not come as easily, as MSU edged Austin Peay, 89.5-87.3.
More information on both the Heritage Bank Battle of the Border and the 2018 OVC Women's Outdoor Track Championship are available at the links on this page and at GoRacers.com.
Â
"This is exactly what we had in mind when we first came up with this concept, two heated rivals slugging it out, back-and-forth for bragging rights," said Murray State Associate AD for External Affairs Steve Harrell. "In addition to the fun and excitement this series brings in the form of competition, it also helps our programs through donations and our community, through our annual community service component. This year's competition has come down to the wire and while we can't wait to see who takes home the trophy, none of this would be possible without the outstanding support both schools receive from our great friends at Heritage Bank."
The Heritage Bank Battle of the Border pits rivals Murray State and Austin Peay against each other in an all-sport battle for border supremacy. In total, 67 points are up for grabs in the series, representing the 67 miles separating the two institutions. Point are awarded based on winning regular-season head-to-head contests, when no such contest exists, points go to the higher placed finisher at that sport's OVC championship.
The fall was an even split for the Racers and the Govs with Murray State winning in soccer and women's cross country and Austin Peay taking football and men's cross country. The two teams split the regular-season volleyball series leaving the score tied at nine after the first third of the year.
While the fall may have been a dead heat, the winter belonged to Murray State with the Racers claiming 12 of a possible 15 points. MSU took both men's basketball meetings and the OVC Women's Indoor Track & Field Championship, while a split in women's basketball saved a sweep by the Racers and left the score 21-12.
In addition to the actual sporting events, an additional component of the Battle of the Border is the annual week of giving and the blood drive, worth five points each. The winner of the week of giving is the school that has the most individual donations during a specified week, while the blood drive points go to the school with the most units donated. This year, the Governors took the week of the giving, while Racers won the blood drive to make the score 26-17 headed into the spring.
Murray State entered the spring needing just nine points to clinch the trophy for the second consecutive year, however the Govs fought back and have taken the contest down to the wire. The spring began with Austin Peay scoring six points for a baseball sweep, followed by the Racers answering with six points of their own in women's tennis and women's golf.
With 12 points left on the board, Murray State needed just three for the win but could not find them, as Austin Peay swept the softball doubleheader and won in men's golf, leaving the score knotted at 32.
If recent results are any indication, this weekend's meet should be extremely close. While Racers handily outpointed the Govs, 73.5-50, at this year's indoor championship, the win in last year's outdoor championship did not come as easily, as MSU edged Austin Peay, 89.5-87.3.
More information on both the Heritage Bank Battle of the Border and the 2018 OVC Women's Outdoor Track Championship are available at the links on this page and at GoRacers.com.
Â
Indiana State VS Murray State | MVC Baseball Tournament | Game Highlights
Friday, May 22
Evansville VS Murray State | Women's Basketball Game Highlights
Saturday, February 28
Head Coach Rechelle Turner | Racer Basketball | 2/26/26 Post Game Press Conference
Friday, February 27
Thomas & Pena | Racer Basketball | 2/26/26 Post Game Press Conference
Friday, February 27
