TISHOMINGO, Okla. - The Murray State College baseball team delivered an emphatic statement Thursday afternoon, sweeping NOC-Tonkawa behind an explosive offensive showing. The Aggies will look to clinch the Region II Regular Season on Saturday as they complete the series with NOC-Tonkawa. 
 
Before the game, the Murray State College baseball sophomores - Caden Allen, Chance Baker, Michael Barham, Hank Brown, Carson Culbreath, Tayte Dome, Isaac Gammel, Brance Garrett, Heath Graf, Cason Johnson, Fernando Jorge, Marlon Moore, Tanner Norman, Lane Springfield, and Brady Taylor - were honored for their dedication and hard work while wearing the Aggie uniform.
 
Game 1: Murray State 13, NOC-Tonkawa 2
Murray State came out swinging early in the opener. In the bottom of the first, Michael Barham ignited the offense with a solo home run to left field. Moments later, Tanner Norman added to the fireworks with a two-run shot to center, scoring Rayner Beene and giving the Aggies a quick 3-0 lead. Eli Ramirez, then, laced a two-run single to center, bringing home Cason Johnson and Marlon Moore to extend the lead to 5-0.
 
The Aggies broke the game wide open in the fourth inning behind another surge of power. Barham struck again with his second home run of the day, a solo blast to center. Later in the inning, Sean Keenen crushed a three-run homer to right field, plating Beene and Norman to make it 9-0.
 
Later in the inning, Brady LaViolette reached on an error that allowed Moore and Johnson to score. He crossed the plate on a passed ball to push the lead even further. Brady Taylor capped off the inning with a solo home run to right, stretching the advantage to 13-0.
 
NOC-Tonkawa managed to get on the board in the fifth with a two-run homer, but the Aggies were firmly in control, cruising to a 13-2 victory.
 
Tayte Dome went the distance for the Aggies as he picked up the complete game victory. Dome struck out four over five innings of work, while giving up two runs.
 
Game 2: Murray State 13, NOC-Tonkawa 3
Game 2 started much differently as NOC-Tonkawa jumped out to a 2-0 lead on an RBI double and a solo home run.
 
The Aggies began their comeback in the fourth inning when Tanner Norman and Sean Keenen hit back-to-back solo home runs to tie the game at two.
 
After falling behind 3-2, Murray State responded with a huge fifth inning. Barham hit a two-run double to bring home Brady Taylor and Eli Ramirez, giving the Aggies a 4-3 lead. Rayner Beene, then, delivered a two-run homer to right field, scoring Barham and extending the lead to three.
 
The offense stayed hot in the sixth. Ramirez sparked the inning with a two-run triple, scoring Cason Johnson and Brady LaViolette, and Barham followed with another two-run homer to extend the lead to 10-3.
 
In the seventh, the Aggies put the finishing touches on the run-rule victory. Walks and patience at the plate led to runs from Moore and Johnson, and Rayner Beene was hit by a pitch with the bases loaded to drive in another run, sealing a 13-3 win.
 
Caden Allen picked up the win for the Aggies. Allen went four innings, while striking out 10 and giving up two runs. Hank Brown threw an inning in relief and Brance Garrett fired two scoreless innings, while striking out two.
 
The Aggies travel to NOC-Tonkawa for the final two games of the regular season on Saturday. First pitch of the doubleheader is set for 1:00 p.m.
 
Sports Information Director: Justin Wagner | jgwagner@mscok.edu
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