McMurray Goes the Distance to Lead Racers Past Tennessee Tech

Friday, April 5

Cookeville, Tenn.

6 p.m.

Murray State

12-15, 7-3

Tennessee Tech

11-16, 2-11

Murray St.

Tennessee Tech

Trevor McMurray

Photo by: Dave Winder-Murray State Athletics

McMurray Goes the Distance to Lead Racers Past Tennessee Tech

4/5/2019 9:55:00 PM | Baseball

Box Score Box Score (PDF)

Trevor McMurray was outstanding on the mound and Tyler Duke came up clutch once again as the Murray State baseball team defeated Tennessee Tech, 7-3, Friday evening in Cookeville, Tennessee for the first time since 2008.

"We always tell our guys it doesn't matter who we're playing and just worry about ourselves and our process," said head coach Dan Skirka. "It's always good to go on the road and get a win on Friday night."

McMurray went the distance while tying a career high with seven strikeouts and allowing just one earned run to improve the Racers to 12-15 overall and 7-3 in OVC play. It was the first complete game in a win for Murray State since Brad Boegel tossed one in 2015 against Eastern Illinois.

"That's what your Friday guy is supposed to do," added Skirka. "He's had some great outings, just a couple bad innings here and there. He works his tail off and does everything right. I thought he got better during our bye week and he showed it tonight."

Duke only had one hit on the night but it was a big one, blasting a go-ahead three-run home run in the seventh inning after just barely missing a go-ahead home run in his previous at-bat. He also added a sacrifice fly later in the game to give him a career-high four RBI. It is also the third-straight win in OVC play that Duke provided the game-winning hit after walking off Jacksonville State twice two weeks ago.

After both teams went down easily in the first, the Racers took the lead in the second. With Ryan Perkins on first after a bunt single, he advanced all the way to third after the TTU third baseman could not handle a grounder from Jaron Robinson. However, Perkins was not done running as he saw home plate vacated when the catcher went to cover third, allowing Perkins to score from first on a ball that did not leave the infield.

McMurray got through the second unscathed, but the Golden Eagles took the lead in the third with three runs on two home runs.

Wes Schad got a run back in the fourth when he hit an opposite-field home run, his third of the season before Duke put the Racers ahead for good in the seventh.

After allowing the two home runs in the third, McMurray got into a groove, retiring 13 of the next 14 batters to come to the plate. He allowed a single on the first pitch he threw in the eighth, but the runner was erased when Duke cut him down at second trying to advance. McMurray then retired the next two batters on the first pitch as well for a three-pitch inning, giving him a chance to go all nine.

A couple of runners got on in the ninth, but Skirka let him finish what he started, inducing a flyout to right field to end the game.

The two teams will wrap up the series a day earlier than expected as the weather forecast for Sunday has forced a doubleheader to be played tomorrow. First pitch in game one is scheduled for 2 p.m.