The Murray State Baseball team ended April with an emphatic win, defeating the University of Memphis 9-5 on Tuesday, April 28.

The Racers found their footing early in the contest, taking an early lead in the bottom of the second inning. Senior outfielder Kainen Jorge scored the first run of the game, advancing home on a walk with the bases loaded. Senior outfielder Jackson McCoy joined him, hitting an RBI single to bring the team’s lead to 2-0. Graduate utility player Connor Chisolm scored the third and final run of the inning, hitting a sacrifice fly to center field.

The Tigers responded at the top of the third, but the Racers weren’t deterred. Graduate infielder Colby Ott hit an RBI double to begin the bottom of the fourth, and Chisolm soon after scored his second home run of the game, again hitting a sacrifice fly to center field while advancing a runner home. McCoy scored the third and final run of the inning, advancing home on a Memphis defensive error.

Memphis continued to attempt an offensive rally, scoring again in the top of the fifth, but the Racers continued to answer. An RBI single by Ott in the bottom of the fifth raised their lead to 7-2, and after the Tigers responded in the top of the sixth, Murray State scored two more runs to bring their total to nine. Memphis scored two more runs in the seventh, but the Racers held on to win the game 9-5.

Five pitchers took the mound for Murray State in the win. Junior Ethan Lyke saw the most time, allowing a run on two hits while striking out five batters and walking one in 3.2 innings. Junior Jack Wajda registered both the win and the save in the game, allowing a hit while striking out two and walking one in 2.1 innings.

Following the win, the Racers now have 11 games left in the season before they host the Missouri Valley Conference tournament, beginning May 20. Their next game takes them to Alexander Field, where they face the Purdue Boilermakers on May 1 at 5 p.m.