Murray State University Athletics
Murray State
Middle Tennessee
Racers Travel to Middle Tennessee, Host Missouri State in Midweek Matchups
4/1/2019 2:51:00 PM | Baseball
Murray State at Middle Tennessee (4/2), Missouri State at Murray State (4/3)
GAMES 25 & 26
April 2 & 3
First Pitch:Â Tuesday: 6 p.m, Wednesday: 4 p.m.
Series History with MTSU: Murray State leads 98-80-1
Series History with Missouri State: Missouri State leads 4-1
Last Meeting with MTSU: Middle Tennessee 5, Murray State 2 - April 22, 2000
Last Meeting with Missouri State: Missouri State 5, Murray State 4 - Mach 21, 2018
Stadium:Â Reese Smith Jr. Field, Reagan Field
Live Video: Middle Tennessee | Missouri State
Live Audio: Middle Tennessee
Live Stats: Middle Tennessee | Missouri State
In-Game Twitter:Â @RacersBaseball
First Pitch
The Racers return from a near week-long hiatus to take on Middle Tennessee. The Racers defeated Austin Peay, 8-3, in their lone game last week while the Blue Raiders lost two of three to Marshall over the weekend. Missouri State is coming off a 2-1 weekend against Indiana State as they opened Missouri Valley play.
Inside the Series with MTSU
The Racers and Governors meet for the second time this season. Murray State took the three game series, 2-1, at Reagan Field back on March 10-11. Overall two teams have met 212 times on the diamond with Murray State holding a slight 111-100-1 advantage.
Inside the Series with Missouri State
The Racers and Bears have only played five times before with Missouri State holding a 4-1 advantage. The Racers only win in the series came back in 1977 when they won 7-1 in Murray.
Duke Delivers
Not once but twice did Tyler Duke send the Racers home winners over the weekend against JSU. He began the series with a two-out bases-loaded walk-off single to win 8-7 before ending the weekend with a walk-off triple to win 9-8. Sean Darmafall also scored the winning run in both games.
Anderson Stays Hot
Brock Anderson extended his hitting streak to ten games against Missouri. He is the only player for the Racers this season to reach a double-digit hitting streak.
No Runs for You
Against Austin Peay, the Racers allowed just five runs in the three-game series. It was the lowest amount of runs the Racers have allowed in a three-game OVC series since allowing five runs against UT Martin in 1996.
Battle of the Border
With two wins against Austin Peay, the Racers now hold a 28-11 lead in the Heritage Bank Battle of the Border. The first team to 34 points will clinch the title. Murray State has won the first two years of the battle.
Running Wild
Under a new coaching staff, the Racers have been showing their speed on the basepaths as they have stolen 51Â bases. They are currently second in the OVC behind EKU, who has 70.
Anderson Plays Hero
Brock Anderson propelled the Racers to a 5-4 victory over Illinois State with a two-run walk-off double. It was the first walk-off for the Racers since Ramsey Scott had walk offs in two straight games against SIU Edwardsville on March 9th and 10th, 2018.
Triple Play
In the eighth inning against Miami (OH) in the final game of the series, the Racers pulled off one of the rarest plays in baseball, the triple play. A grounder right down the third-base line allowed MSU to go around the horn to get out of the jam. It was the third triple play in Racer history, previously done on March 8, 2006 at Ole Miss and March 16, 2016 vs. Kentucky State.
New Faces
In addition to a new coaching staff, the Racers will add 13 new players to the 2019 team.
Fresh Lineup
There will be significant changes to the Racer lineup as they will have to replace seven starters. Senior shortstop Jaron Robinson and junior outfielder/first baseman Ryan Perkins are the only returning starters.
Familiar Rotation
Unlike the lineup, the Racers will return a majority of their pitching staff, including their top nine pitchers in innings pitched in 2018, led by junior Trevor McMurray
Tournament Trip
MSU is looking to make their third straight trip to the OVC Tournament this season. The Racers went 1-2 down at Choccolocco Park in Oxford, Ala., defeating Eastern Illinois in the first round.'
Scouting Middle Tennessee
The Blue Raiders are coming off a 1-2 weekend at Marshall. They also played Austin Peay a week ago, falling to the Governors, 10-3.
Middle Tennessee was picked 12th in Conference USA after finishing ninth a season ago. They currently sit in eighth place in 2019 with a 4-5 conference record.
Blake Benefield was lone member of MTSU to be named to the Preseason All-Conference team. He is currently hitting .228 with three home runs and 10 RBI while starting 24 of 27 games in the outfield
As a staff, the Blue Raiders rank fourth in the country in walks per nine innings, averaging just 2.73. They have a strikeout-to-walk ratio of 2.92, good enough for 20th in the country.
Scouting Missouri State
The Bears are coming off a 2-1 weekend against Indiana State as they opened up Missouri Valley action.
Missouri State was tabbed as favorites in the MVC Preseason Poll, receiving five of eight first-place votes for a total of 59 points, one point ahead of Dallas Baptist.
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Probable Starters
Joe Ivey (RHP) (3-1, 5.59Â ERA) vs. Andy Garcia (MTSU) (RHP, 0-0, 9.00 ERA)
TBA vs. TBA (Missouri State)
