Racers Sweep Aces To Open Conference Play

Sunday, March 24

Evansville, Ind.

1 p.m.

Murray State

17-6, 3-0

Evansville

9-14, 0-3

Murray State

Univ. of Evansville

Photo by: David Eaton-Murray State Athletics

3/24/2024 5:40:00 PM | Baseball

Box Score Box Score (PDF)

Murray State extends its winning streak to six with Sunday’s win over Evansville.

By: Drew Parsley

The Racers opened up Missouri Valley Conference play with a series sweep over the Evansville Purple Aces, winning by a score of 6-5 in 10 innings at Charles H. Braun Stadium in Evansville, Indiana on Sunday.

Evansville held Murray State scoreless through the first five innings of the game. Entering the sixth inning, the Aces held a 1-0 lead after an error led to an RBI double in the third inning. In the top of the sixth, the Racers took the lead with a five-run frame. The first three batters in Dustin Mercer, Jonathan Hogart and Carson Garner all reached base with a leadoff double, an RBI single and a four-pitch walk.

The bases were loaded for Taylor Howell after Riley Hawthorne was hit by a pitch, putting Hogart and Garner at third and second base. Howell gave MSU the lead with a sacrifice fly and the bases were loaded the next at-bat when Dan Tauken drew a walk on a full count.

Parker Estes drove in Garner with a pop fly fielder's choice that bounced off an Evansville player's glove in fair territory that landed past the foul line, giving the Racers a 3-1 lead. Preston Shelton extended the lead to three with an RBI double on the first pitch of the at-bat, and the five-run inning was capped over Drew Vogel laced a base hit through the left side to score Estes.

The Aces tied the game after a two-run homer in the sixth followed by a two-RBI base hit in the seventh to make it 5-5. In the ninth, Evansville put the winning run in scoring position with a leadoff double but were unable to capitalize after three consecutive groundouts forced the series finale into extra innings.

Leading off the inning in a 2-0 count, Howell blasted the go-ahead home run over the left-center field fence for his eighth of the year and second on the weekend. Thomas Mcnabb earned his second win of the season after shutting the door on the Aces in the bottom of the 10th not having allowed a baserunner.

Mcnabb tossed three scoreless innings allowing just two hits and two walks and added two strikeouts to his outing. Jacob Pennington was effective in his start on the mound, going 5 1/3 allowing two earned runs on five hits, two walks and fanning three batters.

The Racers return home to Reagan Field for a midweek clash with the Western Kentucky Hilltoppers on Tuesday, March 26 at 3 p.m. in Murray, Kentucky.

For more information on the Murray State baseball program, visit GoRacers.com or @RacersBaseball on Instagram and X.