For the first time since 2010, the Murray State baseball team has clinched a spot in the OVC Tournament as the Racers defeated UT Martin Friday night at Reagan Field, 14-4 to secure at the least, the No. 6 seed in next week’s tournament in Oxford, Ala.
The Racers (26-28, 14-15 OVC) used a seven-run bottom of the fourth inning to take the lead for the first time in the contest and didn’t look back. Prior to the game, MSU had already clinched a spot in the OVC Tournament thanks to a loss by SIU Edwardsville, but with the win, the Racers secure a top-six seed and avoid playing in the “play-in” game on Tuesday.
The Skyhawks (25-28, 12-17 OVC) took an early lead in the contest as they scored three runs in the top of the first inning to strike first. A Tyler Lawrence RBI in the bottom half of the inning got MSU on the board, making it 3-1. The two teams exchanged runs in the second as Brandon Gutzler’s RBI double plated Aaron Bence and cut the Racer deficit to 4-2.
In the fourth, the Racers got seven straight batters to reach base safely, including four singles consecutively. Gutzler, Jack Hranec, Lawrence and Davis Sims all had RBI singles in the inning and the Racers scored three unearned runs in the inning thanks to a pair of UT Martin errors and led 9-4 after four complete.
MSU added two more runs in the sixth thanks to an RBI off the wall from Bence and a bases-loaded walk from Gutzler, making the score 11-4. In the seventh, a Caleb Hicks double brought in Kipp Moore and Jaron Robinson and Bence’s second RBI hit of the contest rounded-out the scoring in the game.
Bence led the way offensively for the Racers as he went 3-for-4 with two runs in the win. Gutzler and Lawrence both went 2-for-4 and had multiple RBIs on the night. Meanwhile, both Hranec and Sims went 2-of-5 at the dish.
Austin Dubsky picked up the win as he got the start on the bump. Dubsky pitched five innings and struck-out five batters while allowing four earned runs on five hits. Trevor McMurray and Alec Whaley pitched a scoreless final four innings of relief. Whaley went three innings on the night and fanned three batters.
The Racers close the regular season Saturday at Reagan Field as it will be Senior Day. MSU will honor 12 student-athletes who will be playing in their final home game at MSU. First pitch has been moved up to 11 a.m., due to inclement weather in the afternoon.
by Kevin DeVries