Offense Stagnant in Series Finale Loss at KU

Sunday, February 18

Lawrence, Kan.

1 p.m.

Murray State

1-2

Kansas

2-1

Murray State

Kansas

2/18/2018 4:58:00 PM | Baseball

Box Score

Murray State squandered multiple opportunities and failed to string together much offense Sunday afternoon in Lawrence, Kan., as the Racers fell in the series finale to the Kansas Jayhawks, 4-1.

The Racers (1-2) managed just three hits in the loss while KU (2-1) tallied eight. Ryan Perkins, Jaron Robinson and Gavin Wehby all went 1-of-3 in the contest with MSU. Robinson notched the only RBI on the day, a single up the middle in the fifth that scored Wehby.

As they did all series, the Jayhawks jumped out to an early lead and for the second time in the three games, scored three runs in the bottom of the first inning. KU added a fourth run in the third inning to take a 4-0 lead before Robinson's hit.

MSU had its chances Sunday to do more damage but couldn't capitalize on its scoring opportunities. In the second, the Racers ground into a double play with no outs and two men on base. In the third, Robinson was thrown out at home for the second out of the inning. Then in the seventh, the Racers again hit into a double play, this one ended the inning with the bases loaded. Finally, after a lead-off walk in the eighth, the Racers again failed to score as the third double play of the game ended the inning.

Luke Brown took the loss in the game as he got the start on the mound. Brown pitched just the first inning and allowed those three early KU runs. Braydon Cook pitched the second and third inning to make his MSU debut while Blake Clynes was stellar in relief Sunday. Clynes pitched five innings in the game, which is a career-best for him in a relief appearance. Clynes allowed just one hit in the outing and struck-out six batters.

The Racers have a quick turnaround in next week's action as Tuesday will bring another road trip, this time to Alabama A&M for a 2 p.m. first pitch. After Tuesday, 11 of the next 12 games will be at home for the Racers.