Racers Held in Check in Series Opener

Thursday, March 24

Clarksville, Tenn.

7 p.m.

Murray State

11-13, 3-4

Austin Peay

11-9, 4-3

Murray State

Austin Peay

Photo by: Dave Winder-Murray State Athletics

3/24/2016 9:41:00 PM | Baseball

Box Score

The Murray State baseball team came up short in its series-opening contest at Austin Peay Thursday night at Hand Park in Clarksville, Tenn., losing 6-2.

The Racers' (11-13, 3-4 OVC) offense was held in check for most of the night as they were held to eight hits, two of which went for extra bases, and were only able to bring across a lone run in both the fifth and sixth innings. MSU also left 10 runners stranded on the base paths while Austin Peay left six on.

Caleb Hicks and Tyler Lawrence both had a pair of hits in the loss to lead MSU at the plate. Hicks and Kipp Moore scored the two runs for the Racers. Adam Bauer, who entered the game second in the OVC in batting average, was held hitless, but did extend his on-base streak to all 24 games this season.

APSU (11-9, 4-3 OVC) opened the scoring with a two-run bottom of the first inning and went on to add a run in both the third and fourth innings to make it 4-0. The Racers were able to get on the board on an RBI double to right from Jaron Robinson. MSU cut the deficit to 4-2 on Moore's double to left, but that was as close as the Racers could get. The Govs added to their lead with a two-run seventh.

Jack Hranec was tagged with the loss in the start. Hranec pitched six-plus innings and allowed six earned runs on nine hits, walked two batters and struck-out seven. Andrew Bramley and Cody Maerz both pitched scoreless innings of relief with Bramley striking out the side in the bottom of the eighth.

Game two of the series is Friday with the first pitch set for 6 p.m.