Racers Set New Conference Wins Record, Clinch Spot in OVC Tournament

Saturday, May 15

Edwardsville, Ill.

1 p.m.

Murray State

29-21, 17-10

SIUE

23-23, 13-14

Murray State

SIUE

Photo by: Dan Hasko - Murray State Athletics

Racers Set New Conference Wins Record, Clinch Spot in OVC Tournament

5/15/2021 8:53:00 PM | Baseball

Box Score

Murray State won its 17th conference game to the set program record in its series clinching 7-6 win over SIUE on Saturday.

The Murray State Racers (29-21, 17-9 OVC) rallied from a 6-4 deficit to win the rubber match game, 7-6, over the SIU-Edwardsville Cougars (23-23, 13-14 OVC) on Saturday afternoon at Simmons Complex in Edwardsville, Illinois.

The series victory moved Murray State moved into sole possession of first place with a 17-10 record in conference and into one of the four spots in the OVC Tournament in two weeks in Jackson, Tennessee.

Alex Crump drew the game-winning bases loaded walk after an 11-pitch at-bat. He was 2-for-4 with a run scored and an RBI in the game.

Jordan Cozart drove in three runs in the game, hitting a solo home run in the fourth and then had the game-tying two-run double in the seventh.

Bryson Bloomer was 3-for-4 with three runs scored and one RBI while Jake Slunder scored two runs and drew a career-high three walks.

Murray State opened the scoring in the first on an RBI double from Bloomer to bring home Slunder from first. Bloomer moved to third on a groundout and scored on a wild pitch to give the Racers a 2-0 lead.

SIUE tied the game on a Richie Well two-RBI triple in the third.

The Racers responded with two runs of its own in the next half inning. Cozart homered for the 14^th time this season and a two-out RBI double from Trey Woosley to regain the two-run advantage.

A four-run sixth inning by the Cougars saw SIUE open up a 6-4 lead.

Murray State went to work again in the top of the seventh. A one-out walk and ground-rule double from Slunder and Bloomer put runners in scoring position. With two outs and first base open, SIUE made the mistake of pitching to one of the league's hottest hitters and Cozart delivered on the first pitch he saw, driving in Slunder and Bloomer to tie the game at six.

In the ninth, Alex Crump came to the plate with the bases loaded and two outs. He worked a full count after fouling off five straight pitches and drew a walk on the 11^th pitch to bring home the game-winning run.

Connor Holden came onto close out the game, picking up his eighth save of the season.

Quinton Kujawa started his fifth game of the season, working 3.2 innings, allowing two runs and striking out a career-high six.

Jake Jones took the win to improve to 6-2 on the year, throwing 2.0 innings, only giving up one hit and struck out two.

The Racers returned home on Tuesday (May 18) to host Middle Tennessee for their final midweek game of the season. First pitch is scheduled for 5:00 p.m.