Strong Relief Pitching Gives Racers Road Victory

Tuesday, March 10

Florence, Ala.

5 p.m.

Murray State

10-7

North Alabama

3-13

MURRAY STATE

North Alabama

Jase Carvell

Photo by: Dave Winder-Murray State Athletics

3/10/2020 8:32:00 PM | Baseball

Box Score Box Score (PDF)

Some timely hitting early and a couple of home runs late gave the Murray State baseball team an 8-5 victory over North Alabama, Tuesday evening in Florence, Alabama.

Sean Darmafall was the only Racer with multiple hits, but he made them count as he hit an RBI single and his first home run of the season. Brock Anderson also went big fly with a two-run shot for his eighth home run of the season, the fourth most in the nation.

After a shaky start on the mound by Joe Ivey, Jacob Pennington and Jase Carvell picked him up as they combined to pitch 7.1 innings, allowing just two runs, neither of them earned, while striking out nine.

"The relief work of Pennington and Carvell saved us today! They were both phenomenal," said head coach Dan Skirka. "The other guy I am so happy for is Sean Darmafall. The senior struggled out of the gate this season, but he kept working every day and got his chance to start again today and had 4 great at-bats including a HR."

The Lions took the early lead with three runs in the second before Pennington came out of the pen and shut the door before any more runs came across.

The Racers were not down for long as they scored five runs in the top of the third. Bryson Bloomer put the Racers on the board with an RBI single before Trey Woosley singled in two more to tie the game. Darmafall gave MSU with a single before Tanner Booth added a fifth run with a double.

North Alabama tied the game with single runs in the fourth and fifth, but the Racers retook the lead when Darmafall hit a solo home run to lead off the sixth.

Anderson provided the insurance in the seventh with a two-run home run.

UNA threatened one more time in the seventh as they had runners on second and third with two outs, but Carvell came out in relief of Pennington and struck out his batter to end the threat. Carvell then put the Lions down quietly in the final two innings to earn the save.

The Racers return home this weekend when they will take on Eastern Illinois. First pitch on Friday is set for 3 p.m. Make sure to follow @RacersBaseball on twitter for updates regarding the weather.