Murray State University Athletics
Murray State
14-16
Middle Tennessee
13-20
Seven-Run Seventh Propels Racers Over MTSU
4/10/2019 11:58:00 PM | Baseball
Using a seven-run seventh inning, the Murray State baseball team defeated Middle Tennessee, 12-6, Wednesday evening at Reagan Field, avenging a loss to the Blue Raiders last week.
Having to use seven pitchers in the game, the Racers depended on their offense to win the game, pounding out 16 hits, with nine different players recording a base knock as MSU improved to 14-16 on the season.
"The offense bailed the pitchers and the defense out, which hasn't been the case much this year," said head coach Dan Skirka. "They've been getting better and everyone contributed tonight."
Tyler Duke had two hits including his fifth home run of the season and three RBI while Jordan Holly also added two hits and three RBI of his own. Jaron Robinson tallied a season-high three hits and drove in two runs.
Middle Tennessee jumped out to an early 2-0 lead in the first without recording a hit, but the Racers came back to tie the game in the second with four singles, the last two by Holly and Duke driving in runs.
The Blue Raiders reclaimed the lead in the top of the third, but again the Racers answered in the bottom of the inning as Ryan Perkins walked to lead off the inning before coming around to score on a sacrifice fly by Robinson.
With Joe Ivey on the mound throwing three scoreless innings, Ryan Perkins gave the Racers the lead in the fifth as he doubled and subsequently stole third. When the throw down to third got away, Perkins hesitated but made a mad dash to plate, sliding in ahead of the tag to give Murray State a 4-3 lead after five innings.
Both teams were kept off the board in the sixth, but MTSU took the lead in the top of the seventh with three runs.
The lead did not last long as the Racers responded with their biggest inning of the season, scoring seven runs. Holly started the rally by reaching on an error before being able to trot home when Duke launched a game-tying two run home run to left field.
After tying the game, the Racers did not stop as Wes Schad gave them the lead with a two-run double in right-center field gap, driving in Dylan Letellier and Perkins who had both singled earlier in the inning. Sean Darmafall knocked in Schad with a single before Holly capped the inning with a two-run single.
Robinson added an insurance run in the eighth with a single, which proved to be plenty of breathing room as Blake Clynes and Justin Thomas each threw a scoreless inning to finish the game and secure the win.
The Racers will be back in action this weekend when they host Southeast Missouri for a three-game series on Alumni Weekend. With expected inclement weather, make sure to follow @RacersBaseball on twitter for updates.
Team Stats
Pitching:
W: Holden, Connor (1-0)
L: THOMAS,Brycen (0-1)
Batting:
2B: PARKER,Tanner 1 ; FREEMAN,Darrell 1
HR: BENEFIELD,Blake 1
RBI: BENEFIELD,Blake 2 ; CARNEVALE,Nick 2
SF: CARNEVALE,Nick 1
Base Running:
RUNS: PREWETT,Darien 1 ; ANTONINI,Aaron 2 ; BENEFIELD,Blake 2 ; CARNEVALE,Nick 1
SB: PREWETT,Darien 1 ; ANTONINI,Aaron 1 ; CHRISTIAN,Myles 1
CS: WIGGINTON,Peyton 1
Batting:
2B: Perkins, Ryan 1 ; Schad, Wes 1
HR: Duke, Tyler 1
RBI: Duke, Tyler 3 ; Schad, Wes 2 ; Darmafall, Sean 1 ; Robinson, Jaron 2 ; Holly, Jordan 3
SF: Robinson, Jaron 1
Base Running:
RUNS: Duke, Tyler 1 ; Letellier, Dylan 1 ; Perkins, Ryan 3 ; Schad, Wes 2 ; Darmafall, Sean 2 ; Robinson, Jaron 1 ; Cozart, Jordan 1 ; Holly, Jordan 1
SB: Duke, Tyler 1 ; Perkins, Ryan 1 ; Robinson, Jaron 1 ; Holly, Jordan 1
HBP: Schad, Wes 1
