ENID, Okla. - The Murray State College baseball team dropped their opening game of the NJCAA Region 2 Tournament on Thursday, falling to NOC-Enid, 11-9, despite a late rally that nearly erased a large deficit.
 
Murray State grabbed the early lead in the bottom of the first inning when Sean Keenen grounded into a fielder's choice that allowed Brady Taylor to score, giving the Aggies a 1-0 advantage.
 
NOC-Enid answered in the third inning, tying the game after a single and a passed ball brought in the equalizer. The Jets took control in the fourth, stringing together RBI singles to move ahead 3-1.
 
The Aggies struggled to slow the momentum as NOC-Enid added three runs in the fifth inning on a two-run single and another RBI knock. An error in the sixth inning allowed two more runs to cross, pushing the Jets' lead to 8-1.
 
Tanner Norman provided a spark in the bottom of the sixth, blasting a solo home run to center field to cut the deficit to 8-2.
 
NOC-Enid extended its lead to 11-2 in the eighth inning with a three-run frame, seemingly putting the game out of reach.
 
Murray State, though, responded with its most explosive inning of the day in the bottom of the eighth. Rayner Beene ignited the rally with an RBI double, followed by an RBI groundout from Norman. Keenen added an RBI single before Fernando Jorge delivered a two-run single to trim the deficit. Moments later, Taylor came through again with a two-run single, bringing the Aggies within two.
 
The Aggies loaded the bases in the ninth inning, but were unable to scratch two across to tie the game and fell to NOC-Enid by a score of 11-9.
 
Murray State will now play on Friday against Southeast Arkansas College. First pitch is scheduled for 10:00 a.m.
 
Sports Information Director: Justin Wagner | jgwagner@mscok.edu
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