Murray State University Athletics
Murray State
11-15, 3-6
Austin Peay
13-9, 6-3
Racers Come Up Short in Series Finale
3/26/2016 3:25:00 PM | Baseball
Austin Peay scored a run in five of the first six innings, including opening the game with a five-run bottom of the first as the Murray State baseball team fell in the series finale with the Governors, 16-11 Saturday afternoon in Clarksville, Tenn.
The Racers' offense on the day was led mostly by the long ball as MSU hit three home runs in the contest. Kipp Moore blasted a grand slam to left field in the ninth inning, his first homer of the season and second grand slam of his career. Moore went 3-for-4 with a double and a walk in the loss. Caleb Hicks was 1-of-3 with a walk and a two-run home run in the fourth, his second homer of the year. Tyler Lawrence also had a solo blast in the top of the fourth and was 2-for-5 with two RBIs. Ramsey Scott had a career-high, four-hit day for the Racers (11-15, 3-6 OVC) with a double, a run scored and an RBI.
Trailing 8-0 in the fourth, Lawrence's sixth homer of the season got the Racers on the board for the first time. After Scott's double, Hicks drilled his long ball to left field to make it 8-3. The Governors (13-9, 6-3 OVC) were able to respond with a three-run bottom half of the inning to build their lead back up to 11-3.
In the fifth inning, MSU was able to get two runs, the first when Jaron Robinson scored on a throwing error and then later in the inning, Scott's RBI double made it 11-5. APSU again responded with a two-run sixth inning to lengthen its lead back to eight runs.
Trailing 16-5 in the top of the ninth, the Racers were able to chip into the deficit with a six-run inning. Lawrence got the scoring going with an RBI single. Later in the inning, Hicks drew a bases-loaded hit-by-pitch and then Moore hit his bomb in the next at-bat.
The Racers used a total of seven pitchers in the game. Ryan Dills got the start and took the loss as he was chased after just one-third of an inning. Tyler Anderson, Caleb Arbeiter, Blake Clynes, Austin Dubsky, Cody Maerz and Derrik Watson all appeared in relief in the loss.
MSU returns to action next week with another five-game week. Kentucky State will come to Reagan Field Tuesday for a 4 p.m. contest.
Team Stats
Pitching:
W: COSTANZO, Michael (4-1)
L: Dills, Ryan (1-2)
Batting:
2B: Robinson, Jaron 1 ; Hranec, Jack 1 ; Scott, Ramsey 1 ; Moore, Kipp 1
HR: Lawrence, Tyler 1 ; Hicks, Caleb 1 ; Moore, Kipp 1
RBI: Lawrence, Tyler 2 ; Scott, Ramsey 1 ; Hicks, Caleb 3 ; Moore, Kipp 4
Base Running:
RUNS: Robinson, Jaron 1 ; Hranec, Jack 1 ; Bauer, Adam 2 ; Lawrence, Tyler 2 ; Scott, Ramsey 2 ; Hicks, Caleb 2 ; Moore, Kipp 1
HBP: Hicks, Caleb 1
Batting:
2B: SMITH, Ridge 1 ; ROBLES, Alex 2 ; BLACKBURN, Kyle 1 ; SMITHSON, Clayton 1
3B: SMITHSON, Clayton 1
HR: MASSONI, Patrick 1 ; GLEASON, Dre 1
RBI: MASSONI, Patrick 1 ; GLEASON, Dre 2 ; ROBLES, Alex 1 ; HAMILTON, Chase 2 ; BLACKBURN, Kyle 4 ; SALA, Alex 1 ; SMITHSON, Clayton 4
SF: BLACKBURN, Kyle 1 ; SALA, Alex 1
Base Running:
RUNS: MASSONI, Patrick 2 ; SMITH, Ridge 3 ; GLEASON, Dre 2 ; ROBLES, Alex 3 ; HAMILTON, Chase 2 ; BLACKBURN, Kyle 2 ; MITCHELL, Caleb 1 ; SMITHSON, Clayton 1
SB: BLACKBURN, Kyle 1
