The Murray State baseball team was unable to secure a victory in their home opener at Johnny Reagan Field in Murray, Kentucky, as they fell 5-2 to UT Martin on Tuesday. Despite collecting 10 more hits overall and two extra-base hits in the contest, the Racers were unable to convert them into runs.
Offensively, Riley Hawthorne, Charlie Corum, and Cade Sammons led the way for the Racers, each contributing two hits. Jacob Pennington, who was the starting pitcher last Friday, also made his presence felt at the plate, smacking a double in his first at-bat of the season. Veterans Brennan McCullough and Seth Gardner each picked up an RBI, while Dustin Mercer scored his team-high fifth run of the season.
The game also saw two pitchers make their Murray State debuts, with Ethan Lyke and Cade Brown taking to the mound. Lyke pitched 3.1 innings, allowing no earned runs and striking out two Skyhawk hitters. Brown, on the other hand, tossed a scoreless, hitless inning in his first appearance for MSU.
The loss to UT Martin snaps the Racers’ eight-game winning streak over the Skyhawks, dating back to May 10, 2019.
Murray State will look to bounce back on Friday when they travel to Birmingham, Alabama, to take on the UAB Blazers. The Racers will be hoping to put the disappointment of their home opener behind them and secure a much-needed victory on the road. The game is set to begin at 2 p.m., and the Racers will be looking to put together a more complete performance in all facets of the game.
