MSU Stumbles in Series Finale

Sunday, April 3

Reagan Field

1 p.m.

Murray State

14-17, 5-7

Eastern Illinois

5-22, 1-8

Eastern Illinois

Murray State

Photo by: Jenny Rohl - Murray State News

4/3/2016 4:08:00 PM | Baseball

Box Score

The Murray State baseball team was held to just three runs on seven hits Sunday as the Racers fell in their series finale against Eastern Illinois, 9-3 at Reagan Field.

EIU (5-22, 1-8 OVC) was able to score three runs in the top of the fourth inning to take a 3-1 lead and wouldn't relinquish the lead from there on. The Panthers were able to put the game away with a four-run ninth inning, including a bases-clearing double with two outs in the inning.

MSU (14-17, 5-7 OVC) was able to grab the lead first with a Jack Hranec sacrifice fly in the second inning. The Racers' offense was held in check for the next couple of innings, before a Tyler Dixon solo home run to left field cut the MSU deficit to 3-2. The homer was Dixon's fifth in the last two games.

After a solo homer from EIU in the seventh made it 4-2, an RBI single from Jaron Robinson in the bottom half of the inning brought home Caleb Hicks and made it 4-3 in favor of the Panthers. EIU would go on to add another run in the eighth, before its big ninth inning put the game out of reach.

In all, seven different Racers had one hit each, with Dixon's blast being the only extra-base hit. Hicks led the Racers with two runs in the loss. MSU left eight on base in the loss while the Panthers left seven stranded.

Ryan Dills took the loss after a strong outing on the mound. Dills allowed four runs on seven hits over seven innings of work and struck-out a career-high 10 batters while walking just one. Tyler Anderson, Sheldon Baxter and Brandon Hicks all made appearances out of the bullpen in the loss.

MSU returns to action Wednesday as Southern Illinois comes to Reagan Field for a 6 p.m. contest. The Racers and Salukis met last Wednesday in Carbondale, in a game SIU won 5-4.