Racers and Governors Split Day One Doubleheader

Saturday, March 18

Reagan Field

1 p.m.

Murray State

10-7, 2-2

Austin Peay

9-8, 3-1

Austin Peay

Murray State

Photo by: Dave Winder-Murray State Athletics

3/18/2017 7:54:00 PM | Baseball

Box Score 1 Box Score 2 Game Notes (.pdf)Live Coverage Links Photo Gellery Photo Gallery

Murray State was able to jump out to a 7-0 lead in game one of a doubleheader with Austin Peay Saturday at Reagan Field and held on for an 8-6 victory in game one on the way to a split on the day. The Governors responded with an 8-5 win in game two.

The Racers (10-8, 2-3 OVC) opened the day with an RBI single from Ryan Perkins that scored Kipp Moore to give MSU an early 1-0 lead. In the second inning, Aaron Bence got an RBI double and later in the inning Bence would come home to score on a throwing error by the APSU (10-8, 4-1 OVC) catcher. MSU scored four unearned runs in the game one win.

MSU got a big four-run inning in the bottom of the third as Gutzler scored on an error and Davis Sims and Jaron Robinson each had RBI hits. Robinson's was a triple and he would later come home and score on a double steal put on by the Racers.

The Govs would respond with two runs in the sixth and had a big inning in the eighth, scoring four runs to cut the Racer lead down to 7-6. John Lollar was able to force a huge double play lineout in the inning to keep the Racers out front. Moore would provide an RBI single up the middle in the bottom half of the inning, give MSU an extra run of cushion at 8-6.

Chad Gendron came on and pitched a clean ninth inning to record his fourth save of the season. Ryan Dills picked up his second win of the year as he went seven innings and allowed four earned runs while striking out four.

In game two, it was the Governors that jumped out to the early lead as they scored two runs in the firsts and a run in the second on a solo home run to make it 3-0. MSU would claw its way back in it however as Tyler Lawrence and Perkins each recorded ribbies in the bottom of the third to make it 3-2.

After the two teams traded runs in the top half of the fourth and bottom of the fifth, APSU again got a four-run inning, this time in the seventh to brake open the game and take a 8-3 lead. The Racers would add runs in the bottom half of the inning on Perkins' RBI single and on a double in the ninth from Lawrence to make it 8-5.

Austin Dubsky started game two and took the loss. He pitched six innings and allowed four runs, three of which were earned on six hits. Dubsky also tied a career-high with eight strikeouts in the game.

On the day, Perkins led the Racers at the plate going 5-for-9 with four RBIs in the two games. Gutzler and Lawrence both went 4-of-9 on the day with Lawrence recording two ribbies. Adam Bauer led the team with three runs scored in the doubleheader.

The Racers and Governors will play the rubber match of this three-game set Sunday at Reagan Field. First pitch in game three is set for 1 p.m.