Murray State
3-9, 0-1
Austin Peay
5-6, 1-0
Strong Pitching, Home Runs Give Racers Split with Austin Peay
3/10/2019 9:38:00 PM | Baseball
The Murray State baseball team opened up Ohio Valley Conference play with a doubleheader against Austin Peay, Sunday at Reagan Field. After the Governors took game one in a pitcher's duel, 2-0, the Racers exploded in the second game, winning 11-3.
The Racers move to 4-9 on the season and 1-1 in the OVC while Austin Peay goes to 5-7 and also 1-1 in conference play. The Racers also move won step closer to claiming the Heritage Bank Battle of the Border as they now lead 26-11.
Trevor McMurray was the tough-luck loser in game one as he pitched a gem, throwing seven innings of four-hit ball, allowing just one run while striking out seven. OVC Preseason Pitcher of the Year Jacques Pucheu pitched eight scoreless innings, striking out seven while allowing just two hits to earn the win.
The Governors scored in the second inning to take the lead, which turned out to be enough for Pucheu. They added an insurance run in the eighth before handing the ball over to Brett Newberg for the ninth, earning the save.
Brock Anderson and Jordan Holly were the only two Racers to record hits. The best chance for Murray State came in the fifth when Dylan Letellier reached second base on a throwing error with two outs but was stranded.
In game two, Shane Burns had a lot more room for error but did not need it, as he also threw seven innings, allowing just three runs on four hits while striking out six.
"All of our pitchers have been getting better every time, really just attacking the zone," said Head Coach Dan Skirka. "It starts with Trevor and Shane, and I look forward to seeing it more tomorrow."
Tyler Duke and Brock Anderson were the stars of game two at the plate as Duke went 3-4 with a leadoff home run and two RBI while Anderson was 3-5 with two home runs and three runs batted in. Anderson became the first Racer to have a multi-home run game since Jaron Robinson hit two against Eastern Illinois on March 24 of last season.
After Duke led off the game with a home run to dead center, Anderson followed two batters later with a two-run home run right down the right-field line. The Racers were not done in the first as they sent 12 batters to the plate, getting RBI singles from Robinson, Holly, and Duke.
The Governors got on the board with a single run in the second, but Murray State answered back in the home half as Wes Schad doubled and eventually came around to score on a wild pitch. The Racers scored their eighth run of the game in the fourth when Ryan Perkins knocked in Jake Slunder on a groundout.
In the sixth, Anderson clobbered his second home run of the day to right field. Perkins followed with a walk before stealing second and third and coming into score on a sacrifice fly by Sean Darmafall. Darmafall drove in Perkins again in the eighth as he singled off the first baseman's glove to knock in Perkins from third.
"The players know our game plan going in. [Pucheu] was Preseason Pitcher of the Year for a reason, so I like to see that we stayed the course and we got rewarded in game two."
Justin Thomas pitched the final two innings, allowing no runs and just two hits.
The Racers and Governors wrap up their series tomorrow at Reagan Field. First pitch is scheduled for 1:30 p.m.
Team Stats
Pitching:
W: PUCHEU, Jacques (2-0)
L: McMurray, Trevor (0-3)
S: NEWBERG, Brett (1)
Batting:
RBI: MARTINEZ, David 1 ; HEAD, Bobby 1
SH: HEAD, Bobby 1
Base Running:
RUNS: SPAIN, Garrett 1 ; McDONALD, John 1
SB: SPAIN, Garrett 1
CS: TIPLER, Malcolm 1
PO: TIPLER, Malcolm 1
