Simon Elfrink
Staff Writer
Murray State baseball fell in a close game against Western Kentucky University on Wednesday, Feb. 19, in Bowling Green, Kentucky.
Despite active hitting and solid efforts out of the bullpen, the Racers could not best the Hilltoppers on the road and lost 7-6. This was the third straight game that Murray State lost by one run.
There was no shortage of hitting in the first inning as the Racers found redshirt junior outfielder Jake Slunder on second base after an error and a wild pitch. Senior outfielder Ryan Perkins drove Slunder home with a base knock before advancing to scoring position on a fielder’s choice. From there, junior first baseman Trey Woosley drove Perkins home with a double to give the Racers a quick 2-0 lead.
The lead didn’t last, however, as the Hilltoppers jumped on redshirt senior right-hander Joe Ivy immediately, chalking up five runs in just the first inning.
Despite the difficult first inning for Ivy, Head Coach Dan Skirka was impressed with the way the pitcher battled back to own the mound.
“Ivy was behind in some counts, but made an adjustment and did a great job battling back after a rough first inning,” Skirka said. “[I’m] proud of him for that.”
After the first inning, neither team was able to put together a dominant run until the fourth, when the Hilltoppers scratched another run across. The Racers got something going in the seventh after Huddleson reached on a walk before advancing to second base on an error that landed junior catcher Alex Crump on first base. A 6-4-3 double play took away the chance of a rally, but an RBI-double from Slunder did salvage a solitary run for the seventh inning.
Senior second baseman Jordan Cozart led off the eighth with a single, followed by Woosley’s second double of the night, setting junior third baseman Bryson Bloomer up with two men in scoring position with no outs. Bloomer quickly delivered with a sacrifice fly to score Cozart with Woosley also advancing on the play. Junior infielder David Huddleson brought Woosley home with a single up the middle for the final run of the inning.
Freshman right-hander Ryan Fender came in to pitch in the eighth inning while the Racers were down 6-5. The leadoff batter blasted a home run to right-center field, but Fender came back to get the next three outs in quick succession, striking out one along the way.
Senior outfielder Brock Anderson answered the call in the ninth inning, leading off with a double. Perkins hit a rocket down the first base line to drive Anderson in for his second RBI and third hit of the night. The rally ended shortly afterward, and the Racers returned home one run behind the Hilltoppers.
Despite the loss, Skirka was glad to see his hitters show their ability to produce.
“We started off hot, which is great,” Skirka said. “Their pitcher made a little bit of an adjustment there, and then we had them on the ropes and finally knocked him out and got into the bullpen. Huddleson had some great at-bats, Perkins has been hot, Woosley did a really good job tonight, so I think they kind of led the way offensively.”
The Racers look to pick up their first win at Reagan Field on Friday, Feb. 21, at 3 p.m. for the first of a four-game series against Saint Peter’s University.
“We [have] got to find a way to start winning those one-run games,” Skirka said. “Moral victories are done, it’s time to start winning some games.”
