Murray State Baseball aimed to avenge their March 3 loss to Middle Tennessee with a positive showing on the road against the University of Central Florida. Unfortunately for the Racers, the Knights had other plans, sweeping the visitors 3-0.
Murray State managed three runs in the opening contest, with senior center-fielder Kainen Jorge driving in the first run for the visiting Racers. Graduate outfielder Daylan Pena joined him with a sacrifice fly to score the second run, and redshirt junior Jaxon Diamond provided the final run for Murray State in the contest, driving in a run while pinch-hitting in the ninth. However, UCF’s offense put them ahead early in the contest. After the Racers tied the game 2-2 at the top of the sixth, the Knights rattled off six unanswered runs to win the contest 8-3. Senior right-hander Nic Schutte started the game for Murray State, allowing four runs in 5.1 innings pitched (IP); the performance dropped his season ERA to 3.68.
The Racers’ offense fell on harder times in game two, not managing to score a single run in the contest. UCF struck early, scoring in the first off of a wild pitch to take the early lead. A single by freshman infielder Austin Jacobs increased the lead to 2-0 in the sixth, with a two-run homer from senior catcher Zak Skinner giving the Knights the 4-0 lead they ended the game with. Junior right-hander Jacob Hustedde managed an impressive performance from the mound in spite of the loss, not allowing a run in five innings pitched, which increased his season ERA to 2.77 in the process.
Senior catcher Parker Airhart scored early in the final game for the Racers, with a sacrifice fly at the top of the second. Freshman infielder Anthony Perritano quickly homered to give the Racers the lead entering the bottom of the quarter. However, UCF responded with three runs of their own. Senior outfielder Kris Hokenson notched an RBI off of a sac fly to tie the game at the top of the sixth, with Perritano scoring an RBI double at the top of the seventh to push the Racers over the edge. UCF continued the back-and-forth action, tying the game in the bottom of the seventh.
Murray State looked to kickstart a final offensive push to retake the lead at the top of the eighth, with second-baseman Connor Chisholm scoring a home run to begin a scoring run for the team. Perritano registered an RBI on a walk to notch his third RBI of the game, and sophomore designated hitter Tyler Butina scored a three-RBI double to give the Racers a 9-4 lead entering the final stretch. The Knights, however, found an offensive push of their own. They scored six runs in the bottom of the ninth to erase Murray State’s lead and secure the comeback win, with the final score being 10-9.
Five pitchers took the mound in the final game of the series. Senior left-hander Dylan Zentko, however, had the most valuable performance on the mound for the Racers by a considerable margin, pitching 3.2 innings out of the bullpen without allowing a single run. This performance increased Zentko’s season ERA to 1.59.
Following the series, Murray State has a day to recoup, with their next game taking them to McCracken County High School, where they will take on the Kentucky State Thoroughbreds at 3 p.m. on March 10.
