Murray State University Athletics

Photo by: Southern Illinois University Athletics
Baseball Heads to Clarksville for Weekend Clash with Austin Peay
5/5/2022 12:12:00 PM | Baseball
Murray State and Austin Peay Will Face-Off for a Three-Game Set Starting on Friday at 6 pm
Murray State (25-19) baseball travels to Clarksville, Tennessee this weekend for a three-game series with Austin Peay at Raymond Hand Park. Murray State enters the series having won eight of their last 10 contests, including a 12-inning win over Southern Illinois on Tuesday.Â
Bryson Bloomer headlines the Racers offense with team-highs in home runs (11) and RBIs (52) on the season. In conference play, Bloomer has a .342 batting average and a 1.231 OPS. Jake Slunder continues to be one of the premier lead-off hitters in the Ohio Valley Conference this season with a .326 batting average, six triples, and 21 stolen bases this season. Slunder has also smacked four home runs and has 60 hits to lead MSU.Â
The Racers returned a key player this week in Dustin Mercer. Mercer entered 2022 by being named the Preseason OVC Freshman of the Year by Perfect Game Baseball but has missed significant time this season due to injury. In his debut against SIU, Mercer collected two hits and a run scored.Â
The Racers pitching staff continues to be led by Jacob Pennington this season. Across 11 appearances, Pennington has a 3.56 ERA in 43.0 innings pitched to go with 41 strikeouts. Alec Whaley leads Murray State in appearances this season with 21 and recently became the first Racers pitcher ever to make over 100 career appearances.Â
Scouting Report
Austin Peay enters the weekend at 16-29 overall and 7-8 in OVC play. The Governors are 3-7 across their last 10 games and have lost four straight. Jack Alexander leads the Austin Peay offense with a .381 batting average and leads the team in home runs (8) and RBIs (39). Alexander has posted a 1.146 OPS this season and has collected 53 hits on the campaign.
Harley Gollert leads the Governors pitching staff with 53.0 innings pitched and a 4.92 ERA to go with 54 strikeouts. Opponents are batting .241 against Gollert this season while the southpaw has walked 24 batters.
First pitch of the series is set for Friday (May 6) at 6 pm. Coverage of all three contests can be found on ESPN+.
Bryson Bloomer headlines the Racers offense with team-highs in home runs (11) and RBIs (52) on the season. In conference play, Bloomer has a .342 batting average and a 1.231 OPS. Jake Slunder continues to be one of the premier lead-off hitters in the Ohio Valley Conference this season with a .326 batting average, six triples, and 21 stolen bases this season. Slunder has also smacked four home runs and has 60 hits to lead MSU.Â
The Racers returned a key player this week in Dustin Mercer. Mercer entered 2022 by being named the Preseason OVC Freshman of the Year by Perfect Game Baseball but has missed significant time this season due to injury. In his debut against SIU, Mercer collected two hits and a run scored.Â
The Racers pitching staff continues to be led by Jacob Pennington this season. Across 11 appearances, Pennington has a 3.56 ERA in 43.0 innings pitched to go with 41 strikeouts. Alec Whaley leads Murray State in appearances this season with 21 and recently became the first Racers pitcher ever to make over 100 career appearances.Â
Scouting Report
Austin Peay enters the weekend at 16-29 overall and 7-8 in OVC play. The Governors are 3-7 across their last 10 games and have lost four straight. Jack Alexander leads the Austin Peay offense with a .381 batting average and leads the team in home runs (8) and RBIs (39). Alexander has posted a 1.146 OPS this season and has collected 53 hits on the campaign.
Harley Gollert leads the Governors pitching staff with 53.0 innings pitched and a 4.92 ERA to go with 54 strikeouts. Opponents are batting .241 against Gollert this season while the southpaw has walked 24 batters.
First pitch of the series is set for Friday (May 6) at 6 pm. Coverage of all three contests can be found on ESPN+.
Players Mentioned
Head Coach Ryan Miller | Racer Men's Basketball | 10/13/2025 Press Conference
Tuesday, October 14
Head Coach Jody Wright | Racer Football | 10/13/2025 Press Conference
Tuesday, October 14
JJ Traynor & Javon Jackson | Racer Men's Basketball | 10/13/2025 Press Conference
Tuesday, October 14
Jordan Washington & Jim Ogle | 10/11 | Racer Football Post-game Press Conference
Monday, October 13