Murray State University Athletics
Murray State
North Alabama
Racers Ready to Battle North Alabama
3/9/2020 5:33:00 PM | Baseball
GAME 17
Murray State at North Alabama
March 10, 2020
First Pitch:Â Tuesday: 5Â p.m.
Series History: Murray State leads 6-5
Last Meeting:Â Feb. 19, 1995Â (MSU Won 15-7)
Stadium:Â Mike D. Lane Field
Dimensions:Â 330Â (LF) | 385Â (CF) | 320Â (RF)
Live Stats: Statbroadcast
Twitter In-Game:Â @RacersBaseball
First Pitch
The Racers enter the game coming off a 2-1 weekend at Austin Peay to begin OVC play. North Alabama comes into the matchup after getting swept by Georgia State over the weekend.
Inside the Series
Murray State and North Alabama have met 11 times before, but this is the first matchup where UNA has been a Division I member. The Racers have won five straight games in the series that dates back to 1956.
Cozart Goes Crazy
Jordan Cozart went 5-for-6 in Sunday's win over Austin Peay, hitting three home runs, the first Racer to do so since 2016, and driving in nine runs. He was named OVC Player of the Week as well as a National Player of the Week by Collegiate Baseball Newspaper.
20-20 Vision
For the second time this season, the Racers scored 20 runs, downing Austin Peay, 20-2 on March 7. They also did so against Bowling Green on March 1, defeating the Falcons, 25-5.
Can't Get Him Out
In a four-game span from March 1-7, Bryson Bloomer recorded a base hit in 12 straight at-bats, just two shy of an NCAA record set in 1977.
Amongst Nation's Leaders
The Racers are 10th in the country in batting average (.318), 3rd in total hits (178), 7th in home runs (22), 14th in doubles (35), 9th in runs (135), 7th in slugging % (.516). Brock Anderson is fourth in the country in home runs (7) and Bryson Bloomer is 18th in batting (.451)
Big Wins and Crushing Defeats
The Racers are 6-1 this year in games decided by five runs or more. On the flip side, they are 1-5 in one-run games.
Anderson's Big Day
Senior Brock Anderson had a huge day in the series finale against Bowling Green as he hit two home runs, including a grand slam, and collected nine RBI.
Perkins Earns OVC Honors
Senior Ryan Perkins earned OVC Player of the Week Honors (Feb. 17-23)Â after hitting .450 with two home runs, 11 RBI, six runs scored, one double, one triple, and two stolen bases in five games. He is the first Racer to be recognized by the OVC since Tyler Dixon in 2016.
How Sweep It Is
The Racers took all four games of the series with Saint Peter's over the weekend. It is the first four-game sweep for MSU since taking four games from Nebraska-Omaha in 1983.
BrockStar
Senior Brock Anderson was named to the preseason All-OVC team, becoming the first Racer to earn the honor since 2017. A year ago, Anderson led the team with 13 home runs and 44 runs batted in while hitting .289.
Racers Picked Sixth
Murray State was picked sixth in the Ohio Valley Conference preseason poll as voted on by head coaches and SIDs. Defending regular season and tournament champion Jacksonville State was picked to repeat.
Scouting North Alabama
North Alabama was picked ninth in the Atlantic Sun Preseason Coaches Poll after finishing eighth in 2019.
Reid Homan currently leads the team with a .281 batting average while Tate Mathis has two of the three home runs for the Lions this season.
Cosi Scinta will get the start for UNA on Tuesday. In 5.1 innings pitched this season, he has yet to allow a run and has surrendered just one hit.
Probable Starters
Joe Ivey (RHP) (0-1, 8.44 ERA) vs. Cosi Scinta (RHP) (1-0, 0.00 ERA)
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