Box Score 1 | Box Score 2 ALTUS, Okla. - The Murray State College baseball team was swept on Thursday by Western Oklahoma State College.
 
Game 1: Western Okla. State 9, Murray State 8
Murray State's offense exploded in the top of the first inning. Michael Barham got the Aggies started with a two-run home run to right field that scored Brady Taylor, giving Murray State a 2-0 lead. Later in the inning, Sean Keenen delivered another big swing, launching a two-run homer to right that plated Rayner Beene and pushed the advantage to 4-0.
 
The Aggies continued to apply pressure in the second inning. Eli Ramirez laid down a bunt single that allowed Brady LaViolette to score following an error by Western Oklahoma State. Later in the inning, Rayner Beene lined a single to left field that scored Ramirez, while a fielding error allowed Beene to advance to second and Taylor to move to third. Keenen added to his big day with a line-drive single to center field that brought home both Beene and Taylor, extending the Murray State lead to 8-0.
 
Western Oklahoma State began its comeback in the bottom of the third when the hosts from Altus hit a two-run home run to left field to cut the deficit to 8-2.
 
The Pioneers added another run in the fifth inning on an RBI single, trimming the lead to 8-3.
 
Momentum shifted further in the sixth inning. A run scored during a double-play sequence to make it 8-4 before the Pioneers launched a two-run home run to center field, bringing the Murray State lead to just two, 8-6.
 
Western Oklahoma completed the comeback in the bottom of the seventh inning. With the bases loaded, the Pioneers drew a walk that forced in a run to make it 8-7. A sac fly to center field tied the game at 8-8. Moments later, Western Oklahoma State delivered the decisive blow with an RBI single to defeat the Aggies, 9-8.
 
Tayte Dome got the start for the Aggies as he tossed five innings, while striking out six and allowing five runs. Hank Brown threw an inning in relief. 
 
Game 2: Western Okla. State 13, Murray State 10
Murray State got off to a strong start in the top of the first inning when Tanner Norman blasted a two-run home run to center field, scoring Michael Barham and giving the Aggies an early 2-0 lead.
 
Western Oklahoma State responded in the bottom of the inning. The Pioneers hit an RBI single and reached on an error to tie the game at two. Moments later, they scored one more on a fielder's choice, giving the hosts a 3-2 lead.
 
The Pioneers extended their lead in the second inning as an error and a balk stretched the advantage to 5-2.
 
Western Oklahoma State added another run in the third inning on a solo home run.
 
The Aggies responded in the fourth inning as Michael Barham lined a single to center field that scored Eli Ramirez and Brady LaViolette, cutting the deficit to 6-4.
 
The Pioneers answered again in the bottom half of the inning with a two-run home run to left field to extend the lead to 8-4.
 
Murray State battled back in the fifth inning when Fernando Jorge launched a two-run home run to left field, scoring Sean Keenen and trimming the deficit to 8-6.
 
Western Oklahoma responded immediately in the bottom of the fifth on a three-run home run to left field, pushing the lead to 11-6.
 
The Aggies added another run in the sixth inning when Barham connected on a solo home run to left field to make it 11-7. Western Oklahoma State, though, sealed the game in the bottom half of the inning on an RBI groundout and an RBI single to extend their lead to 13-7.
 
The Aggies mounted a late rally in the eighth inning. Barham started the push with a double to center field that scored Ramirez. Moments later, Beene delivered an RBI single to right field that brought Taylor home. Sean Keenen then lifted a sacrifice fly to right field that allowed Barham to score, cutting the deficit to 13-10.
 
Despite the late comeback effort, Murray State could not close the gap the rest of the way and fell to Western Oklahoma State, 13-10.
 
The Aggies return home to host Western 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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