Cozart's Grand Slam Leads Racers to Victory on Senior Day

Sunday, May 12

Murray, Ky.

1 p.m.

Murray State

22-26, 15-12

UT Martin

21-29, 9-18

UT Martin

Murray St.

Jordan Cozart

Photo by: Dave Winder-Murray State Athletics

Cozart's Grand Slam Leads Racers to Victory on Senior Day

5/12/2019 4:34:00 PM | Baseball

Box Score Box Score (PDF)

It was senior day for the Murray State baseball team, Sunday afternoon at Reagan Field, but it was a couple of juniors who played hero for the Racers as they took down UT Martin, 8-5.

Brock Anderson went 2-3 with a game-tying three-run home run in the seventh while Jordan Cozart hit a go-ahead grand slam in the eighth. Senior Jaron Robinson also went deep, going back-to-back with Cozart.

"It was one of those days with graduation and senior day, there were a lot of distractions," said head coach Dan Skirka. "Martin came to compete, we punched them in the mouth, they came right back, and then our guys, like they have all year, didn't give up and came through again."

Shane Burns pitched 5.2 innings, striking out seven while allowing three runs. Seniors Peyton Hayes and Blake Clynes combined to throw 1.2 innings with four strikeouts while Justin Thomas pitched the ninth to earn his first save of the season.

Both starting pitchers dominated for the first four innings before the Skyhawks took a 3-0 lead with a run in the fifth and two in the sixth. 41836

In the bottom of the sixth, Ryan Perkins walked to start a two-out rally before Jake Slunder singled to set the stage for Anderson, who smacked a three-run home run to right-center field, tying the game at three.

Both teams went down quietly in the seventh, but in the eighth, UT Martin took the lead with a two-run home run to dead center.

However, as they have done many times this season, the Racers did not quit, rallying in the eighth with five runs to take the lead.

Dylan Letellier started the comeback with a pinch-hit single before Perkins hit a pop-fly single to right. After Slunder struck out for the second out, Anderson walked, bringing Cozart to the plate with the bases loaded. Cozart fouled off the first pitch before turning on one, sending it over the left-center field wall for the Racers' first grand slam this season. Robinson then followed with a solo home run as the Racers went back-to-back for the first time in 2019 as well.

In the ninth, Thomas struck out his first two batters before inducing a pop-up to four-year Racer Joe McMahon behind the plate to end the game.

Talking about his group of seniors, Skirka had some high praise to offer.

"Couldn't be happier for them and I told the guys I'm proud of them. They set the foundation for the future of the program. They are great kids, working hard, and still got a lot of baseball left."

Murray State will conclude the regular season at SIU Edwardsville next weekend before starting OVC Tournament play in Marion, Illinois next Wednesday.