Racers Rally to Take Series Opener Against TTU

Friday, April 22

Reagan Field

6 p.m.

Murray State

18-21, 7-9

Tennessee Tech

21-15, 10-9

Tennessee Tech

Murray State

Photo by: Jenny Rohl - Murray State News

4/22/2016 9:14:00 PM | Baseball

Box Score

Murray State used a three-run bottom of the eighth inning and rallied from a late 2-1 deficit to defeat Tennessee Tech Friday night at Reagan Field, 4-3 in the series opener.

Tyler Lawrence drove in the go-ahead run with a double to left center field that scored Adam Bauer all the way from first and put MSU (18-21, 7-9 OVC) up 3-2. Bauer's single up the middle in the at-bat prior scored Kipp Moore from second and tied the game. Three batters after Lawrence, Tyler Dixon would drive in what ended up to be the winning run as he hit a bloop single to center that brought home Lawrence.

The Golden Eagles (21-15, 10-9 OVC) were able to score a run in the top half of the ninth before Cody Maerz was able to close out the game for his first save of the season. Tyler Anderson ended up with the victory in relief of starter Ryan Dills. Anderson pitched 1.1 innings and struck-out three batters.

Dills was electric on the night for the Racers as he pitched a career-high seven innings and tied a career-best with 10 strikeouts on the night. Dills scattered three hits in the no-decision and the lone run he surrendered was a solo homer to the second batter of the game.

Moore's RBI single up the middle in the bottom of the second tied the game up at 1-1. TTU was able to regain the lead in the top of the eighth on an RBI single.

Jaron Robinson was the only Racer with multiple hits for the second consecutive game as he went 2-for-4. Bauer, Lawrence and Moore all went 1-for-3 with a run and RBI in the win. Both teams left seven men on base and MSU out-hit the Golden Eagles by the slimmest of margins, 7-6.

Saturday brings game two of this three-game series. First pitch is set for 2 p.m.