Bears Outslug Racers to Take Midweek Matchup

Wednesday, April 3

Murray, Ky.

4 p.m.

Murray State

11-15

Missouri State

9-19

Missouri State

Murray St.

Jordan Holly

4/3/2019 11:06:00 PM | Baseball

Box Score Box Score (PDF)

The Murray State baseball team were involved in a slugfest with Missouri State, Wednesday afternoon at Reagan Field, but it was the Bears that came out on top 15-10.

For the second straight game, the Racers (11-15) scored four runs in the first inning but couldn't hold on as Missouri State (9-19) used four home runs to mount a comeback and win their second game in as many days over an OVC team.

Unlike yesterday where the Racers struggled to score after the first inning, eventually falling in 13 innings to MTSU, Murray State was able to hang with the Bears for most of the game and was led on offense by Jordan Holly, who went 3-4 with a home run, four RBI, and two runs scored. Brock Anderson contributed with two hits and two RBI and Jake Slunder added two hits of his own to push his average back over .300.

However, the pitching was not there for the Racers today as seven pitchers combined to allow 15 hits and 12 walks, the most they have allowed in a game this season.

"One of those days where you felt like you had to score three touchdowns to win," said head coach Dan Skirka. "They're a good ballclub and we put them in situations to be successful. Walking 12 against a good hitting team isn't a recipe for success."

Luke Brown had a good first inning, retiring the side in order while striking out a pair. In the bottom of the inning, Tyler Duke was hit by a pitch on the first pitch he saw and after Slunder singled and stole second, Anderson drove them both in to give the Racers an early lead. After Anderson stole second as well, Ryan Perkins drove him in with a single to center and eventually came around to score the Racers' fourth run of the inning on an error.

The Bears hit a two-run home run in the second and a solo home run in the fourth to cut their deficit to one, but Holly put the Racers back up two in the bottom of the fourth with his second home run of the season.

Missouri State took the lead in the fifth on a three-run home run and added two more runs in the inning to take a three-run lead, but the Racers responded with four runs of their own to retake the lead after five innings. Perkins and Wes Schad walked to lead off the inning to put the rally in motion. Sean Darmafall drove in the first run of the inning with a single before Holly tripled to left field to tie the game at eight. Murray State took the lead on the next pitch as Duke laced a single to center to score Holly.

The lead did not last long, however, as the Bears hit their fourth home run of the game in the sixth, a three-run shot, to take a lead they would not give up. The Racers got back within one in the seventh on an RBI single by Holly, but that was as close as they would get the rest of the way. Missouri State added a run in the eighth and three in the ninth, which proved to be more than enough as their closer retired all six batters he faced in the final two innings.

The Racers will return to OVC action for the first time in two weeks when they hit the road for the first time in conference play, traveling to Cookeville, Tennessee to take on reigning OVC champion Tennessee Tech. First pitch on Friday is scheduled for 6 p.m. followed by a 2 p.m start on Saturday and a 1 p.m. first pitch, Sunday.