Story by Gage Johnson, Staff Writer

Racer baseball took on Western Illinois University in a triple header this weekend and completed a 3-0 sweep.

Game One

Due to weather restrictions, Murray State traveled to Marion, Illinois and played a doubleheader at Rent One Park on Sunday afternoon.

Sophomore pitcher Trevor McMurray took the mound for the Racers in the opening game. This was McMurray’s second start of the season, having lost his first start against Kansas University by giving up four earned runs in 4.1 innings. Junior pitcher Ian Koch stood on the hill to begin the game for Western Illinois. This was also his second start of the season having lost his first start despite only giving up two runs on three hits to Middle Tennessee State University.

It was Murray State who got off to a fast start when they put up four runs in the bottom half of the first inning. Junior infielder Jaron Robinson started the inning with a leadoff double, which was followed up by a walk to sophomore outfielder Ryan Perkins. After Koch struckout the next batter for the Racers, graduate student first baseman Ramsey Scott singled to right field advancing Perkins to third and scoring Robinson.

Junior Mike Farnell kept the action going, reaching on a fielder’s choice while driving in Perkins. A two-out double from sophomore infielder Davis Sims scored Farnell, and was followed up by an RBI single from graduate student outfielder Gavin Wehby.  This offensive outburst put Murray State up 4-0 heading into the bottom of the second.

Western Illinois answered back in its half of the inning when junior infielder Deion Thompson brought the Leathernecks’ their first runs across the plate with a two-run blast to left field. McMurray bounced back following the home run, striking out the next two batters while Farnell got the third out throwing out a runner attempting to steal second.

Perkins was a one man wrecking crew in the second inning for Murray State. After a single up the middle, Perkins stole second and then reached third on a wild pitch. He later scored on a dropped third strike, giving the Racers a 5-2 lead heading into the third inning.

It wasn’t until the fourth inning until a team struck again. It was Perkins again for Murray State doing some damage with an RBI double following a single from Robinson. Perkins then stole third and scored on an error by the third baseman for the Leathernecks. This gave the Racers a 7-2 going into the fifth.

Both teams managed to bring runs across in the following inning, but it was Murray State who had a big inning again in the sixth. The Racers scored three runs in the inning, two of the three being unearned due to an error from Western Illinois’ second baseman.  This gave Murray State an 11-4 lead going into the seventh inning.

While the Leathernecks managed to put one more run across the plate in the following innings, 11 runs was all the Racers needed as McMurray walked away with his first win of the season at 11-5.

Game Two

In the second game it was junior pitcher Peyton Hayes taking the mound for his second start after winning his previous start at Kansas. Senior pitcher Ryan Dunne hit the bump for his second start as well following a loss to Middle Tennessee State.

The game was at a stalemate until the bottom half of the fifth inning. It was Murray State who hit the books first in the second game when Perkins drove in a run on a sacrifice-fly for his, giving them a 1-0 lead going into the sixth.

Western Illinois bounced back in the top of the sixth, however. An RBI single from Thompson tied the game at one. Following a pitching change to sophomore Alec Whaley, junior utility man Bailey Montgomery singled up the middle to drive in Thompson and take the lead at 2-1.

Shots continued to be traded between the two teams in the latter half of the sixth. The Racers’ senior designated hitter Caleb Hicks started the inning with a leadoff home run, his first of the year, tying the game at 2.

Wehby went on a tear for Murray State. After being hit by a pitch, he stole second, and then advanced to third on a wild pitch. A sacrifice-fly from the pinch-hitting Farnell then drove in Wehby, giving the Racers a 3-2 lead.

After a scoreless top half of the seventh, Murray State rallied again in the bottom half of the inning. After a single and a walk to start the inning, Wehby reached on a fielder’s choice due to an error which also allowed a run to cross the plate. Freshman infielder Grant Wood then followed it up with an RBI single giving the Racers a 5-2 lead heading into the eighth inning.

Despite the offensive output from the Racers, the Leathernecks would not go down without a fight. After a one-out single, sophomore outfielder Drue Galassi tripled to left-center, driving in a run. Western Illinois then further closed the gap with an RBI groundout from Thompson. Another groundout ended the Leathernecks half of the inning, but left them within one at 5-4.

Despite the comeback effort from Western Illinois, senior pitcher Tyler Anderson came in for Whaley in the ninth and shut the Leathernecks down. With a flyout and two strikeouts, Anderson recorded his first save of the season and secured the 5-4 win for Murray State.

The two wins put the Racers at 3-3 overall going into the final game of the series against Western Illinois.  The final game will take place at 1 p.m. on Monday, Feb. 25, at Reagan Field.

Murray State baseball claimed a 4-3 win over Western Illinois University on a walk-off double by freshman second baseman Grant Wood.

Game Three

After having to play two games at Rent One Park in Marion, Illinois on Sunday due to weather, the Racers traveled back to Reagan Field to have their first true home game of the season.

Junior Blake Clynes got his first start of the season for the Racers. This was his second appearance of the young season, his first coming in a five-inning relief appearance in which Clynes struck out six batters. Sophomore Javin Drake took the mound for the Leathernecks, looking to bounce-back from his previous start in which he pitched two innings and gave up six earned runs on five hits.

Sophomore outfielder Drue Galassi got things started for Western Illinois. After being hit by the pitch, Galassi stole second and was able to advance to third on an error. He later scored on a groundout, scoring the first run of the game and giving the Leathernecks an early 1-0 lead.

It was a short outing for Drake, as he left after the first inning of play despite not giving up a hit.  Freshman pitcher Jake Warkentien was his replacement, and Murray State got to him quickly. The Racers answered the Leathernecks’ run with one of their own on a RBI single from Wood. This tied the game at one heading into the top of the third inning.

Despite multiple pitching changes from Western Illinois, the game remained at a standstill until the bottom half of the fourth. Following a single and a double for Murray State, a sacrifice fly from junior shortstop Jaron Robinson gave them a 2-1 lead.

The Leathernecks answered back in the top half of the fifth. After a double from junior outfielder Steve McShane and advancing on a passed ball, McShane scored on a wild pitch. Galassi later followed that up, untying the game with a sacrifice fly of his own to give Western Illinois a 3-2 lead.

The game was action-packed for the next few innings, but neither team was able to capitalize.  Murray State left a total of 14 runners on base while Western Illinois left 10 runners on base. This shortage of scoring left the game sitting at 3-2 going into the bottom of the ninth.

After a leadoff single from junior catcher Mike Farnell, a 12th pitcher entered the game for Western Illinois. The volume of pitchers utilized by the Leathernecks came back to bite them in the end. After junior pitcher Pete Minella walked back-to-back batters, Western Illinois had no other pitcher to replace Minella. Following the short mound visit, Wood jumped on a fastball and sent it over the center fielder’s head for a two-run walk-off double. Wood’s fourth hit and second and third RBI of the day gave Murray State the 4-3 win.

“A great win because it’s a series sweep for us,” Head Coach Kevin Moulder said. “We let them hang around a lot longer than we should have, but it’s fun win to a game coming from behind. We had some guys step up and so great things.”

Murray State will now hit the road again and face a tough opponent in the University of Mississippi, but Moulder is excited for the competition.

“[Mississippi is] a really good team,” Moulder said. “Ole Miss is ninth in the country and they are undefeated.  I’m really excited to get our guys there for the challenge.”

The Racers will face off against their first ranked opponent of the season at 4 p.m. on Tuesday Feb. 27, at Oxford, Mississippi.