WARNER, Okla. - The Murray State College baseball team split with Connors State College on Friday, dropping game one, 7-5, and winning game two, 10-9.
 
Game 1: Connors State 7, Murray State 5
Murray State struck first in the opening inning when Rayner Beene lifted a sacrifice fly to right field to score Brady Taylor, giving the Aggies a 1-0 lead.
 
The Aggies added another run in the second as Marlon Moore stole third and later scored on a groundout by Cason Johnson, extending the advantage to 2-0.
 
Connors State answered in the bottom of the second, taking advantage of a fielder's choice and an error to tie the game before a two-run double put the Cowboys ahead 4-2.
 
The Cowboys continued to build their lead in the third with a solo home run and an RBI single to push the margin to 6-2, then added another run in the fourth to make it 7-2.
 
Murray State rallied in the fifth inning. Tanner Norman delivered an RBI double to score Beene, and Sean Keenen followed with a two-run home run to cut the deficit to 7-5.
 
The Aggies, however, could not push across any additional runs in the sixth or seventh inning as Connors State held on for the 7-5 win.
 
Eli Ramirez, Chance Baker, and Caden Allen each threw two innings in the contest, highlighted by a pair of scoreless innings from Allen.
 
Game 2: Murray State 10, Connors State 9 (13 Innings)
Connors State opened the scoring in the bottom of the second inning, capitalizing on timely hitting to build an early lead. A two-run single to center field gave the Cowboys a 2-0 lead. Connors State would tack on two more in the inning to double the advantage to four.
 
The Aggies responded in the fourth inning behind Tanner Norman. Norman ripped a two-run double to right field that brought home Brady Taylor and Michael Barham, cutting the deficit to 4–2.
 
Murray State continued to chip away in the fifth when Eli Ramirez scored on a steal of home, trimming the margin to one run.
 
Connors State answered immediately in the bottom of the fifth,though. A single, bases loaded walk, and an error stretched the Cowboys lead to 8-3. 
 
Trailing by five runs entering the ninth inning, Murray State mounted a late surge. Eli Ramirez singled to right field to drive in a run, and Brady Taylor added a sacrifice fly to bring home another and trim the deficit to 8–5. Later in the inning, Rayner Beene delivered a two-run single to score Ramirez and Sam Kleman, making it a one-run game.
 
The rally continued when Sean Keenen singled through the 3-4 hole to right field, allowing pinch runner Grey Johnson to score the tying run at 8–8. The potential go-ahead run was thrown out at the plate to end the inning.
 
The game remained deadlocked until the 12th inning when Keenen opened the inning with a triple to center field. Two batters later, Cason Johnson delivered an RBI groundout to first base, plating Keenen for the go-ahead score and a 9–8 lead.
 
Connors State answered back with a leadoff home run in the bottom half of the inning to knot the game at nine.
 
Taylor led off the top of the 13th inning with a single. Two batters later, Beene laced a double to center field, scoring Taylor and giving MSC a 10-9 lead.
 
Carson Culbreath got the start for the Aggies. Culbreath went 2 ⅓ innings striking out two and giving up four earned runs. Brance Garrett threw a pair of innings in relief, while striking out two and giving up a pair of runs. Isaac Gammel threw a scoreless 2 ⅓ innings. Hank Brown was dominant in relief, earning the win after tossing 5⅓ strong innings, while allowing just one run and striking out two. Rayner Beene came on in the 13th inning and slammed the door on the Cowboys, giving Murray State a 10-9 win on Friday.
 
The Aggies return to the diamond Feb. 18 to host Dallas College-Brookhaven. First pitch is set for 1 p.m.
 
Sports Information Director: Justin Wagner | jgwagner@mscok.edu
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