Murray State
1-2, 0
Middle Tennessee
2-2, 0
Racer Bats Come Alive in Win over Middle Tennessee
2/24/2021 7:17:00 PM | Baseball
The Murray State offense explodes for 12 runs as they beat Middle Tennessee, 12-7 in Murfreesboro, Tennessee.
The scoring started early with the Racers putting up two runs in the first. McCullough picked up two RBIs on a single to left field to give the Racers the early edge.
Middle Tennessee responded with two runs of their own in the bottom half of the inning. DJ Wright hit a two-run home run to tie the game.
The Racers kept things going in the second, putting up a three-spot. Alex Crump opened the inning with a single to left and one batter later, Jake Slunder did the same. Bryson Bloomer picked up his first two RBIs of the night, lacing a double to left center. Ryan Perkins followed with a single of his own to plate Bloomer.
In the third, Brennan McCullough walked and came around to score on a wild pitch.
Murray State quickly added to its lead with the biggest inning of the game and posted a four-spot in the top of the sixth. The Racers opened the inning with four straight hits. Jordan Holly singled to center followed by Slunder doubling to left center. Bloomer picked up two-more RBI on a single to center and Perkins capped things off with a two-run home run over the wall in right field, his first of the season.
Middle Tennessee tried to claw their way back, using four walks, one hit and one error to score three runs in the bottom of the sixth.
Once again, the combination of Bloomer and Perkins was too much for the Blue Raiders as Bloomer doubled and Perkins brought him home on a RBI single to center field. Â
The Blue Raiders matched the Racers single score in the eighth. Wright came home on a RBI double from Brycen Thomas.
Back-to-back doubles from Wes Schad and Crump tacked on another run for the Racers.
Connor Holden sealed the game for Murray State, earning the save and taking down the Blue Raiders 1-2-3 in the ninth.
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Murray State used five pitchers in the game. Jordyn Naranjo started going 3.2 innings, allowing six hits, three runs, two walks and striking out five. Ryan Fender and Carter Poiry both saw their first action of the season while Alec Whaley went 2.1 innings, allowed one run and struck out four.
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Murray State hosts its homeopener at Reagan Field on Friday (Feb. 26) vs Purdue Fort Wayne for a four-game set. First pitch is scheduled for 1:00 p.m.
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Team Stats
Pitching:
W: Naranjo, Jordyn (1-0)
L: Walker Armstrong (0-1)
Batting:
2B: Slunder, Jake 1 ; Bloomer, Bryson 2 ; Schad, Wes 1 ; Crump, Alex 1
HR: Perkins, Ryan 1
RBI: Bloomer, Bryson 4 ; Perkins, Ryan 4 ; McCullough, Brennan 2 ; Crump, Alex 1
SH: Holly, Jordan 1
SF: Slunder, Jake 1
Base Running:
RUNS: Slunder, Jake 2 ; Bloomer, Bryson 4 ; Perkins, Ryan 1 ; Cozart, Jordan 1 ; McCullough, Brennan 1 ; Pennington, Jacob 1 ; Crump, Alex 1 ; Holly, Jordan 1
Batting:
2B: Brycen Thomas 1
HR: DJ Wright 1 ; Gabe Jennings 1
RBI: Fausto Lopez 1 ; Mark Engel 1 ; DJ Wright 3 ; Brycen Thomas 1 ; Gabe Jennings 1
SF: Mark Engel 1
Base Running:
RUNS: Fausto Lopez 1 ; DJ Wright 2 ; Gabe Jennings 2 ; Mason Speirs 1 ; Brian Dillingham 1
SB: Fausto Lopez 3 ; Nathan Sanders 1
HBP: Nathan Sanders 1
