Murray State University Athletics
Murray State
Belmont
Racers Head to Music City for OVC Clash with Belmont
4/17/2019 6:05:00 PM | Baseball
Murray State at Belmont
GAMES 35-37
April 18-20
First Pitch: Thursday: 4 p.m., Friday: 4 p.m., Saturday: 1 p.m.
Series History: Belmont leads 20-17
Last Meeting: Belmont 13, MSU 10 - April 29, 2018
Stadium: E.S. Rose Park (Capacity: 500)
Dimensions: 330 (LF), 400 (CF), 330 (RF)
Live Video: Game 1 | Game 2 | Game 3
Live Stats: Game 1 | Game 2 | Game 3
In-Game Twitter: @RacersBaseball
First Pitch
The Racers return to OVC action against Belmont, looking to win their sixth straight series. Both teams are coming off a loss, Tuesday, as MSU fell to Evansville and the Bruins were taken down by Western Kentucky
Inside the Series
The series against Belmont is the youngest in the OVC for Murray State as the Bruins joined the conference in 2013. As OVC foes, Belmont holds a 13-7 advantage. Combined with games played before 2013, the Bruins hold on to a slight 20-17 series lead.
Racers at the Top
By winning their fifth straight OVC series, the Racers now sit in a tie for first place in the Ohio Valley Conference. This is the latest in a season MSU has been atop the standings since May 16, 2010.
Johnny Reagan Day
Saturday will be Johnny Reagan Day as the baseball program will honor the late former head coach with his number forever gracing the left field wall. The team will also be referred to as the Thoroughbreds, the nickname they were known as during Reagan's tenure.
McMurray Goes the Distance
Trevor McMurray pitched his best game as a Racer against Tennessee Tech. The junior threw a complete game, matching a career high with seven strikeouts. It was the first complete game for MSU since Brad Boegel against Eastern Illinois.
Schad's Strong Series
Redshirt-freshman Wes Schad had himself a weekend against Tennessee Tech, hitting three home runs including the go-ahead two-run shot in game three. Schad became the first Racer to hit three home runs in a series since Davis Sims hit four and Brandon Gutzler hit three against Morehead State in 2017.
Running Wild
Under a new coaching staff, the Racers have been showing their speed on the basepaths as they have stolen 70 bases. They are currently second in the OVC behind EKU, who has 84. The Racers also have the best stolen base success rate at 83.3%.
Two Straight for Ivey
Joe Ivey got the start on the mound for the Racers against Middle Tennessee. He also started MSU's last game six days ago at Austin Peay, meaning he will become the first Racer pitcher to start back-to-back games since John Lollar made two straight starts against Tennessee Tech and Arkansas State in 2016.
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 10 games against Missouri. He was the first player for the Racers this season to reach a double-digit hitting streak and has since been joined byTyler Duke, Ryan Perkins, and Jordan Cozart.
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 jumped out to a 28-11 lead in the Heritage Bank Battle of the Border. The Racers have since clinched the title for the trird straight year as the women's golf team took home the OVC title.
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 Belmont
The Bruins are currently in second place in the Ohio Valley Conference with an 11-7 record after dropping their series against Jacksonville State, two games to one.
In the preseason poll, Belmont was picked seventh, two spots ahead of the Racers, and had Casey Queener on the Preseason All-OVC team.
Queener has certainly lived up his preseason selection as he is currently leading the conference and 12th in the nation with 79 strikeouts. He also owns a 3-2 record and a 3.76 ERA.
Jackson Campbell has been strong behind the plate for the Bruins throwing out 32% of attempted base stealers. In OVC play, he has upped that rate to 47%.
Probable Starters
Joe Ivey (RHP) (4-1, 5.02 ERA) vs. Korey Bell (RHP) (1-3, 6.00 ERA)
Trevor McMurray (RHP) (2-4, 4.43 ERA) vs. Casey Queener (RHP) (3-2, 3.76 ERA)
Shane Burns (LHP) (1-0, 3.91 ERA vs. Joshua South (RHP) (3.40, 3.40 ERA)
