TISHOMINGO, Okla. - The Murray State College baseball team completed a four-game series sweep of UA Rich Mountain on Saturday, earning a pair of victories to cap the weekend. The Aggies opened the day with a 5-0 shutout in Game 1 before rallying late in Game 2 for a dramatic 6-5 walk-off win.
Game 1: Murray State 5, UA Rich Mountain 0
The Aggies broke through in the bottom of the third inning.
Fernando Jorge got Murray State on the board with a line-drive double to center field that brought home
Tanner Norman for a 1-0 lead. Moments later,
Braden Hitchcock followed with another double, allowing Jorge to score and extending the advantage to 2-0.
Murray State added to its lead in the fourth inning when
Michael Barham launched a solo home run to left field, pushing the Aggies ahead 3-0. The offense continued to apply pressure in the fifth inning as Hitchcock produced again, lifting a sacrifice fly to left field that allowed
Sean Keenen to score and make it 4-0.
The Aggies added one final insurance run in the sixth inning when
Brady Taylor connected on a solo home run to right field, stretching the lead to 5-0.
Eli Ramirez was outstanding for the Aggies on the bump this afternoon. Ramirez threw six scoreless innings, while striking out 14.
Chance Baker slammed the door in the seventh to get the final three outs of the contest en route to a 5-0 victory.
Game 2: Murray State 6, UA Rich Mountain 5
UA Rich Mountain jumped out to a 1-0 lead in the first inning after a bases-loaded walk, but the Aggies quickly responded in the bottom half when
Tanner Norman delivered an RBI single to left field to score Barham and tie the game.
Murray State took a 2-1 lead in the third inning as
Sean Keenen singled to center field, bringing home Taylor. The Bucks answered in the fifth inning with a two-run home run to regain the lead at 3-2.
The Aggies tied the game in the bottom of the fifth when
Marlon Moore lifted a sacrifice fly to center field that scored Norman.
UA Rich Mountain pulled back in front in the sixth on a solo home run, but Murray State responded once again in the bottom half.
Boston Knowles scored on a sacrifice fly by Norman to even the game at four.
UA Rich Mountain regained the lead in the eighth inning on an RBI single, putting the Bucks ahead 5-4 heading into the final frame.
Murray State saved its best for last in the bottom of the ninth. With runners on base,
Fernando Jorge came through with a clutch RBI double to right field that scored Norman and tied the game at five. Moments later,
Marlon Moore delivered the game-winning hit, lining a single to left field that brought home Keenen and sealed the 6-5 walk-off victory.
Carson Culbreath got the start and went two innings.
Brance Garrett threw four innings in relief, while
Isaac Gammel went the final three innings and picked up the win.
The Aggies travel to take on Eastern Oklahoma State College on Monday. First pitch is scheduled for 1:00 p.m.
Sports Information Director: Justin Wagner | jgwagner@mscok.edu
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