Murray State University Athletics
Friday, May 7
Murray, Ky.
2 p.m.
Murray State
24-20, 0
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5
UT Martin
15-24, 0
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11
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UT Martin
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12
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Murray State
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Photo by: Dave Winder-Murray State Athletics
Racers Walk Off in Extras; Clinch Series Over UT Martin
5/7/2021 10:28:00 PM | Baseball
Murray State walks off and shuts out UT Martin in doubleheader on Friday in Murray, Kentucky
The Murray State Racers baseball team (25-20, 14-9 OVC) clinched the series with two wins over the struggling UT Martin Skyhawks (15-25, 7-13 OVC).
The Racers came back from a three-run deficit to walk-off, 8-5, on a Bryson Bloomer three-run home run in game one. Murray State then turned out an 11-0 shutout performance in game two.
UT Martin is now on a five-game losing streak and fell to last place in the OVC standings at 7-13 in conference play while the Racers remain in third place with a conference record of 14-9.
Five Racers went deep on the day, including Jake Slunder's inside the park home run and the biggest blow of Bloomer's three run homer to walk-off game one.
In the night cap, Ryan Perkins had a 3-for-3 performance, driving in a team-high four runs and scoring two as well. Tanner Booth was 2-for-3 with a home run and two runs scored.
Game One – Murray State 6, UT Martin 5
UT Martin struck first plating two runs on four hits in the top of the first inning.
Slunder hit the first inside the park home run at Reagan Field in recent memory. He crushed the ball to right center wall and then flew around the bases, scoring without even a throw to the plate.
Murray State then tied the game at two in the next inning on David Hudleson's RBI single over an outstretched shortstop's glove.
UTM hit back-to-back home runs to give them a 5-2 lead in the fifth.
In the sixth, the Racers comeback began as a wild pitch proved costly as it moved two Racer runners into scoring position. Jordan Cozart made UTM pay with a two RBI double to cut the Skyhawks' lead to one.
Murray State evened the game the next inning when Alex Crump drew a bases load walk.
With two outs in the ninth, Brock Anderson hit a towering fly ball that went just foul to send Murray State to its second straight extra-inning game.
In the eleventh, Cozart walked and Slunder was hit by a pitch to set the table for Bryson Bloomer who did not miss, launching a walk-off three-run home run to win it for the Racers.
On the mound, Shane Burns made his tenth start of the season. He went 4+ innings allowing five runs and struck out seven.
Jacob Pennington came in and shut down the Skyhawk's offense. He tied his season long, 5.1 innings, and set a new career high in strikeouts with nine, not allowing a run.
Connor Holden came in for the final 1.2 innings, picking up his first win of the season.
Game Two – Murray State 11, UT Martin 0
Sam Gardner started game two of the doubleheader by striking out seven of the first nine Skyhawk batters.
The Racers gave him run support early as both Tanner Booth and Ryan Perkins hit long balls for a 3-0 lead.
The bats really came alive in the latter part of the game putting up eight runs over the final three innings.
A bases loaded bloop single to right center from Ryan Perkins extended the lead to 5-0 in the sixth.
The seventh saw the duo of Slunder and Cozart execute a double steal resulting in the UTM catcher's throw going into centerfield, scoring Slunder unearned.
Finally, the offense exploded in the eighth for five runs led by Trey Woosley who hit a no-doubter two-run shot. Bloomer contributed a sacrifice fly and Cozart ripped a ball down the left field line to score two.
Sam Gardner was once again solid on the mound, going seven shutout innings, setting a new career high of ten strikeouts while only giving up three hits.
Alec Whaley and Jordyn Naranjo each threw an inning with Naranjo striking out two.
The Racers remain at home tomorrow against UT Martin looking for the series sweep. First pitch is set for 2 p.m.
The Racers came back from a three-run deficit to walk-off, 8-5, on a Bryson Bloomer three-run home run in game one. Murray State then turned out an 11-0 shutout performance in game two.
UT Martin is now on a five-game losing streak and fell to last place in the OVC standings at 7-13 in conference play while the Racers remain in third place with a conference record of 14-9.
Five Racers went deep on the day, including Jake Slunder's inside the park home run and the biggest blow of Bloomer's three run homer to walk-off game one.
In the night cap, Ryan Perkins had a 3-for-3 performance, driving in a team-high four runs and scoring two as well. Tanner Booth was 2-for-3 with a home run and two runs scored.
Game One – Murray State 6, UT Martin 5
UT Martin struck first plating two runs on four hits in the top of the first inning.
Slunder hit the first inside the park home run at Reagan Field in recent memory. He crushed the ball to right center wall and then flew around the bases, scoring without even a throw to the plate.
Murray State then tied the game at two in the next inning on David Hudleson's RBI single over an outstretched shortstop's glove.
UTM hit back-to-back home runs to give them a 5-2 lead in the fifth.
In the sixth, the Racers comeback began as a wild pitch proved costly as it moved two Racer runners into scoring position. Jordan Cozart made UTM pay with a two RBI double to cut the Skyhawks' lead to one.
Murray State evened the game the next inning when Alex Crump drew a bases load walk.
With two outs in the ninth, Brock Anderson hit a towering fly ball that went just foul to send Murray State to its second straight extra-inning game.
In the eleventh, Cozart walked and Slunder was hit by a pitch to set the table for Bryson Bloomer who did not miss, launching a walk-off three-run home run to win it for the Racers.
On the mound, Shane Burns made his tenth start of the season. He went 4+ innings allowing five runs and struck out seven.
Jacob Pennington came in and shut down the Skyhawk's offense. He tied his season long, 5.1 innings, and set a new career high in strikeouts with nine, not allowing a run.
Connor Holden came in for the final 1.2 innings, picking up his first win of the season.
Game Two – Murray State 11, UT Martin 0
Sam Gardner started game two of the doubleheader by striking out seven of the first nine Skyhawk batters.
The Racers gave him run support early as both Tanner Booth and Ryan Perkins hit long balls for a 3-0 lead.
The bats really came alive in the latter part of the game putting up eight runs over the final three innings.
A bases loaded bloop single to right center from Ryan Perkins extended the lead to 5-0 in the sixth.
The seventh saw the duo of Slunder and Cozart execute a double steal resulting in the UTM catcher's throw going into centerfield, scoring Slunder unearned.
Finally, the offense exploded in the eighth for five runs led by Trey Woosley who hit a no-doubter two-run shot. Bloomer contributed a sacrifice fly and Cozart ripped a ball down the left field line to score two.
Sam Gardner was once again solid on the mound, going seven shutout innings, setting a new career high of ten strikeouts while only giving up three hits.
Alec Whaley and Jordyn Naranjo each threw an inning with Naranjo striking out two.
The Racers remain at home tomorrow against UT Martin looking for the series sweep. First pitch is set for 2 p.m.
Team Stats
Pitching:
W: Holden, Connor (1-1)
L: HUSSEY, David (2-1)
Batting:
2B: HARFORD, Casey 1 ; LAFOLLETTE, Wil 1
HR: LAFOLLETTE, Wil 1 ; DAVIS, Blake 1
RBI: HALL, Christian 1 ; LAFOLLETTE, Wil 2 ; DAVIS, Blake 2
SH: DANIELS, Blake 1 ; DAVIS, Blake 1 ; THIGPEN, Noah 1
Base Running:
RUNS: HARFORD, Casey 1 ; HALL, Christian 1 ; WHITLEY, Ethan 1 ; LAFOLLETTE, Wil 1 ; DAVIS, Blake 1
SB: CULUMOVIC, Jack 1
HBP: HALL, Christian 1 ; WHITLEY, Ethan 1
Batting:
2B: Bloomer, Bryson 1 ; Woosley, Trey 1 ; Cozart, Jordan 1
HR: Slunder, Jake 1 ; Bloomer, Bryson 1
RBI: Slunder, Jake 1 ; Bloomer, Bryson 3 ; Crump, Alex 1 ; Cozart, Jordan 2 ; Hudleson, David 1
SH: Perkins, Ryan 1
Base Running:
RUNS: Slunder, Jake 2 ; Bloomer, Bryson 1 ; McCullough, Brennan 1 ; Crump, Alex 1 ; Woosley, Trey 1 ; Cozart, Jordan 1 ; Hudleson, David 1
SB: Slunder, Jake 1
CS: Holly, Jordan 1
HBP: Slunder, Jake 1 ; McCullough, Brennan 1
Game Leaders
Hitting
AB
6
R
1
H
2
RBI
3
AB
5
R
1
H
2
RBI
1
AB
5
R
2
H
1
RBI
1
AB
3
R
1
H
1
RBI
0
Players Mentioned
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1B
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