Resilient Racers Rally Again to Defeat Evansville

Tuesday, May 7

Evansville, Ind.

6 p.m.

Murray State

20-25

Evansville

21-23

Murray St.

Evansville

Joe McMahon

Photo by: Dan Hasko

5/7/2019 10:23:00 PM | Baseball

Box Score Box Score (PDF)

The Murray State baseball team walked off the field victorious for the 20^th time this season after defeating Evansville, 6-4, Tuesday evening in Evansville, Indiana.

As most of their wins have been this season, the Racers came from behind to win the game, doing so for the 12^th time this season, scoring all six runs in the final four innings

"I don't know if it was a finals hangover or a hangover from the weekend, but we woke up in the middle innings and took care of business, which I was glad to see," said head coach Dan Skirka.

Brock Anderson led went 2-4 with three RBI and a run scored while Sean Darmafall added two hits and two RBI. Joe McMahon and Ryan Perkins also added two hits in the win.

The Racer bullpen shined as Hunter Orr, Connor Holden, and Peyton Hayes combined to throw 5.2 innings, allowing just one run on two hits and striking out three, all by Holden.

"They attacked the zone, had their off-speed working, and that makes all the difference," added Skirka.

The Aces got to starter Jase Carvell early, scoring a run in the first, second, and fourth to build a 3-0 lead, while the Racer offense was held stagnant for the first six-plus innings, tallying only two hits, both by McMahon.

Things looked bleak in for the Racers in the sixth as a double play left nobody on base with two outs, but Ryan Perkins started a two-out rally with a double. After Slunder walked, Anderson tripled down the right-field line to drive both of them in and make it a one-run game.

In the bottom of the sixth, the Aces looked to get the runs back as they loaded the bases with one out. Craig Shepherd hit a grounder back up the middle that looked dangerous as it got by Holden, but it went right to Jordan Holly, who stepped on second and fired to first for the inning-ending double play.

In the seventh, Holly tied the game with a single to left, driving in Wes Schad, who had also singled earlier in the inning.

The Racers took the lead in the eighth as Perkins was hit by a pitch to lead off the inning and advanced to second on a wild pitch before Anderson drove him in with a single up the middle. Darmafall gave the Racers some cushion later in the inning with a bases-loaded two-run single.

Evansville got a run back in the eighth and put the tying run on base, but Hayes came out of the pen in relief of Holden and got a fly ball to right to end the threat. Hayes was then perfect in the ninth to earn his third save of the season.

Today's game was also special for Jaron Robinson as he became just the ninth player in Murray State history to play in 200 games.

"Jaron's been phenomenal for us," said Skirka. "He made the transition go really smooth for not only us as a new coaching staff, but also for the new players, counting on him and leaning on him with his experience and maturity. He's brought it every day and that's everything you ask for in a senior and a shortstop."

The Racers are back in action this weekend when they host UT Martin at Reagan Field. First pitch on Friday is scheduled for 5:30 p.m. Murray State will also celebrate Senior Day this weekend as they will honor the class of 2019 before a 6 p.m. first pitch on Saturday.