Racers Sweep Doubleheader On Johnny Reagan Day Against Eastern Kentucky

Friday, April 23

Murray, KY

1 p.m.

Murray State

19-16, 10-7

Eastern Kentucky

13-23, 7-12

Eastern Kentucky

Murray State

Photo by: David Eaton-Murray State Athletics

Racers Sweep Doubleheader On Johnny Reagan Day Against Eastern Kentucky

4/23/2021 11:51:00 PM | Baseball

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

Murray State swept Eastern Kentucky 6-3 and 10-8 in the doubleheader on Friday in Murray, Kentucky

The Murray State Racers baseball team (20-16, 11-7 OVC) honored its late former head coach Johnny Reagan by wearing #36 and were referred as the Thoroughbreds, the nickname they were known as during Reagan's tenure, and in front of many alumni on alumni weekend.

On Johnny Reagan Day, the Racers swept the visiting Eastern Kentucky Colonels (13-24, 7-13 OVC), 6-3 and 10-8.

Bryson Bloomer stayed red-hot and saw his season batting average climb from .278 to .296. He had another huge night, going 5-9 with two RBI and two runs scored.

Jake Slunder and Jacob Pennington finished the day with multiple hits in each game with Pennington hitting his first career home run as a Racer going 3-for-3 with two runs and an RBI in game one.

Game One – Murray State 6, Eastern Kentucky 3
Murray State jumped on the board early, putting up single tallies in the first two innings before the Colonels used two home runs, a solo shot in the third and a two-run homer in the sixth to take a 3-2 lead.

The one-run deficit wouldn't last long as the Racers matched with two runs of their own in the bottom half of the sixth. Bloomer led off with a double and an RBI double from Ryan Perkins even the game at three.

Following two Colonels pitching changes in the inning, David Hudleson, who has been red-hot for the Racers at the plate, now with seven hits in his last five games, including two multi-hit games, gave Murray State a 4-3 lead with an RBI single.

Murray State added two more for good measure in the seventh and eighth and would go on to win it 6-3.

The defensive was spectacular behind Jack Wenninger as Bloomer and Hudleson flashed the leather all game to give the freshman his fourth win of the season.

Game Two – Murray State 10, Eastern Kentucky 8
The Racers did their scoring early and often in game two putting up all ten of their runs through the first four innings.

Eastern Kentucky's starter Louis Davenport III had command issues as Jake Slunder came home twice on wild pitches, including scoring all the way from second base on one.

Jordan Cozart extended the Racers lead to 5-1 with his thirteenth home run of the season, tied for sixth in the nation.

After Eastern Kentucky cut it to a two-run game, Murray State posted four runs in the third. Tanner Booth hit a sac fly and with two runners on, Hudleson bunted to the pitcher who threw it into right field, allowing two more runs to score and Hudleson to reach third base. He then came home on a wild pitch, making it a 9-3 game.

Brock Anderson hit a no doubter to right center to bring the Racers' run tally to ten.

The score held 10-3 until the eighth inning when EKU's Caleb Upshaw hit a solo home run. The Colonels tried to mount a comeback adding a three-run homer in the ninth and another run but Racers' closer Connor Holden came in and shut down the EKU's hopes.

Holden earned saves in both games of the doubleheader, his fifth and sixth of the season.

Cade Vernon started the game going 3.0 innings before giving way to Jake Jones who threw four complete for his fifth win of the year.

The Racers remain at home tomorrow against Eastern Kentucky looking for the series sweep. First pitch is set for 4 p.m.