Burns Shines, but Racers Fall to Belmont in Series Finale

Saturday, April 20

Nashville, Tenn.

1:30 p.m.

Murray State

16-21, 10-8

Belmont

19-20, 14-7

Murray

Belmont

Shane Burns

Burns Shines, but Racers Fall to Belmont in Series Finale

4/20/2019 7:04:00 PM | Baseball

Box Score Box Score (PDF)

The Murray State baseball team was unable to hold onto a late lead against Belmont, Saturday, as the Bruins scored four runs in the eighth to defeat the Racers, 4-3, in Nashville.

Shane Burns had another great start on the mound as he threw seven-plus innings, allowing just one run and striking out five while allowing just three hits.

Jaron Robinson was the only Racer with multiple hits while CJ Bush and Jake Slunder each drove in a run for MSU.

As they did in the two previous games in the series, the Racers jumped out to an early lead in the first inning. Tyler Duke laced the first pitch of the game for a double down the right-field line before stealing third and coming into score the game's first run on a wild pitch.

Burns did not face his first real trouble of the game until the fourth when the Bruins put runners on second and third with one out. However, the freshman refocused and struck out the next two batters to get out of the inning unscathed.

The Racers added a couple of runs in the fifth as they loaded the bases for Bush, who looped a single to center field, before Slunder tacked on another run with a deep sacrifice fly to left.

In the bottom of the seventh, Burns faced a mini jam with runners on first and second with two outs but was able to strikeout Belmont's leading hitter Zach Ehrhart to get out of the inning.

Burns came back out for the eighth but after walking the first batter of the inning, he gave way to the bullpen hoping to hold onto the lead. However, after a couple of walks, a two-run double, and a sacrifice fly, Belmont grabbed a 4-3 lead heading to the final inning.

In the ninth, Bryan Chilton attempted to start a two-out rally with a double, but the Racers were unable to push across the tying run as Belmont hung on to win.

Murray State will be back in action, Wednesday, when they hit the road again to take on Saint Louis University at 5 p.m.