Racer Split Home Opening Day with Purdue Fort Wayne

Friday, February 26

Murray, KY

1 p.m.

Murray State

1-3

Purdue Fort Wayne

1-0

Purdue Fort Wayne

Murray State

Photo by: David Eaton-Murray State Athletics

2/27/2021 1:13:00 AM | Baseball

Box Score 1 Box Score 2 Box Score (PDF) Game 1 Box Score (PDF) Game 2 Photo Gallery Photo Gallery 2

Murray State mounted a comeback in game one but fell short, dropping the opener, 10-6. The Racers took game two, 9-5, to pick up their first win at home of the season.

Despite a rain delay, the Murray State baseball team (1-3) split the opening day at Reagan Field with Purdue Fort Wayne (1-1).

Jordan Cozart was 4-for-4 in game two with three extra base hits, three RBIs and two runs scored.

Game 1 - Purdue Fort Wayne 10, Murray State 6
The Racers fells behind early as Purdue Fort Wayne put up a pair of runs in the second, third and fourth innings to jump out to 6-0 lead.

The Racers began mounting their comeback in the bottom of the fifth. Three straight one-out walks loaded the bases for Murray State and they were able to push its first run of the day across with Alex Crump scoring a fielder's choice.

The Mastodons tacked on another run in the top half of the sixth.

Murray State responded with a pair of runs of their own. For the second straight inning, the Racers loaded the bases. Brock Anderson scored on a balk and Tanner Booth scored on a sacrifice fly by Crump.

In the top of the seventh, Bloomer hit his first home run of the season.

The following inning, Booth led off by hitting his first career home run as a Racer. With two outs, Jake Slunder singled to center field to drive in Crump from second base to cut the Mastodons lead to one.

The Racers comeback fell short as Purdue Fort Wayne added three runs in the ninth inning and Murray State went down 1-2-3 in their half of the inning.

Game 2 - Murray State 9, Purdue Fort Wayne 5 (7 innings)
The Racers were able to get on the board early in game two. Back-to-back two out doubles gave Murray State an early 1-0 lead in the first.

The lead didn't last long as Purdue Fort Wayne responded with a run of their own in the top half of the second.

Murray State broke the tie for good in the fourth inning. Leadoff singles by Jordan Cozart and Anderson put runners on the corner. After Anderson stole second, Woosley singled to left field to bring both runners home. Woosley moved to second on a stolen base and scored on an RBI single from David Hudleson.

The Murray State offense found its groove in the fifth. Five straight runners reached base to start the inning. The Racers put up five runs, highlighted by Cozart hitting his first home run of the season.

Purdue Fort Wayne hit a grand slam in the top half of the seventh to cut Murray State's lead in half but it was too little too late as the Racers won 9-5.

The Racers feature seven pitchers over the two games. Quinton Kujawa, Cade Vernon, Adam Weihe and Jack Wenninger all made their Racer debuts. In game one, Vernon threw 4.2 innings, allowed three hits, zero earned runs, striking out three. Wenninger started game two, going 5.0 innings, allowing two hits, zero earned runs and struck out seven.

Murray State is back in action tomorrow (Feb. 27) versus Purdue Fort Wayne for another doubleheader beginning at 11 a.m. at Reagan Field.