Story by Gage Johnson, Senior Writer
Game one:
Murray State baseball is currently riding its biggest losing streak of the season. Pitching struggles have been a key factor in this five-game skid, and it was the Racers downfall once again on Friday.
The Racers misfortunes continued in the series opener, as the Redhawks rallied late to clinch a 7-4 victory.
SEMO got out to an early lead in this one, with a little help from the player with the third-highest batting average in the OVC (.392). Junior infielder Trevor Ezell put the Redhawks out in front with a two-run blast, his third of the season.
SEMO added on to its lead the following inning with the team’s second homerun of the ballgame. Sophomore infielder Danny Wright’s opposite field homerun was his second on the year, and extended the Redhawks lead to 3-0.
While SEMO was putting together a solid lead, sophomore right-handed pitcher Logan Spalt was having one of his better starts on the season. Despite coming in with a 5.36 ERA, Spalt conquered his struggles by holding Murray State hitless through the first four innings of play.
However, in the top of the fifth the Racers were able to get to Spalt. A leadoff walk and three-straight singles led to the first run of the ballgame for Murray State. After a strikeout, graduate student outfielder Gavin Wehby picked up the slack and singled to drive in a run. With one out in the inning, the Racers had the bases loaded, but were unable to capitalize with the game staying at 3-2.
Murray State was able to tie the game at three in the top of the sixth. Graduate student first baseman Ramsey Scott started the inning off with a walk. Junior designated hitter Kyle Stevens then singled to knot the game up.
SEMO answered in the bottom of the sixth to jump back out to 4-3 lead. The Racers then answered right back, scoring an unconventional run on a hit by pitch.
In Murray State’s recent loss to Southern Illinois University, a late rally was the killer. The Redhawks were able to do the same against the Racers on Friday, with junior outfielder Justin Dirden hitting a two-run bomb in the seventh.
This would be the deciding factor in the game, allowing SEMO to steal a 7-5 victory.
The Racers will get the chance to break their six-game losing streak when they play a doubleheader against the Redhawks to conclude the series. The first of two will begin at 2:30 p.m. on Saturday, April 20 at Cape Girardeau Missouri.
Game two:
Murray State’s offense was tasked with a tough challenge on Saturday in the first of two games, when they took on senior pitcher Carlos Vega.
Vega came into the game as the third-winningest pitcher in the conference with six wins. Vega earned each one of those wins in large part due to his success. Opponents have a batting average of .218 against him this season, as well as having the best ERA in the conference at 1.64.
SEMO was able to give Vega some run support early in the ballgame. A leadoff double was followed by an RBI single from Wright to begin the bottom of the second. With two on and two outs, back-to-back doubles for the Redhawks extended their lead to 4-0 going into the third.
After junior designated hitter Mike Farnell began the fifth, it seemed as though Vega would stunt the Racers offense having retired the next two batters. However, sophomore outfielder Ryan Perkins had other ideas, hitting a two-run blast to cut it to a 4-2 lead.
The Redhawks continued to pour on the offense throughout the ballgame. After tacking on one run in the fifth inning, SEMO struck again in the seventh. A two-out single from sophomore infielder Connor Basler brought in two for the Redhawks, extending their lead to 7-2 late in the game.
After being held scoreless since the fifth inning, the Racers showed signs of life in the top of the eighth inning. Two homeruns did the damage for Murray State in the inning. Scott started things off with a two-run blast, which was then followed up after a pitching change by Farnell. Farnell’s solo shot cut the Racers deficit to 7-5.
After SEMO answered with a run of their own to make it 8-5 going into the ninth, Murray State had a chance to blow it open with runners on second and third with no outs. However, after scoring just one run, the Racers would strike out three separate times, giving the Redhawks the 8-6 victory.
Game three:
Murray State had been outscored by its opponents 87-44 coming into the second game on Saturday during their seven-game losing streak.
The Racers looked to change their pitching staff’s shortcomings in the series finale. Despite SEMO jumping out to an early 1-0 lead in the second inning, Murray State answered back with a little rally in the top of the third.
A two-out double from sophomore third baseman Davis Sims scored Wehby and Farnell, putting the Racers out in front 2-1.
The Redhawks offense got right to work following the bottom of the second, having a big top of the third. A leadoff double and a walk led to a three-run blast from Dirden to begin the inning. A two-RBI single from Ezell capped off the six-run inning, giving SEMO a 7-2 lead going into the top of the fourth.
Farnell would go on to hit his second homerun of the day in the fifth, but it wasn’t until the sixth that the Racers would gain some ground on the Redhawks.
Graduate student outfielder Brandon Guntzler got things going with a solo shot to kick-off the rally. Junior shortstop Jaron Robinson would then go on to drive in Perkins, cutting Murray State’s deficit to 7-5.
This outburst from the Racers wouldn’t be enough, as junior pitcher Aaron Stretch would put a halt to their offensive production. After hitting the first batter he faced Stretch struck out four and held Murray State hitless in the final 3.1 innings of play. This would help the Redhawks claim the 7-5 victory and a 3-0 series sweep.
Having lost eight straight, Murray State is still clinging on to the eighth spot in the conference and a chance at the OVC tournament.
The Racers will play a non-conference game before returning to OVC play, when they take on the University of Memphis at 6 p.m. on Tuesday, April 24, at Johnny Reagan Field.
