MURRAY —There is an old saying about unusual things happening in succession.
One time is an accident. Two times is a coincidence. Three times is a pattern.
It now appears defending Missouri Valley Conference and NCAA Super Regional baseball champion Murray State baseball has a big problem with Valley rival Belmont, for some reason, when it comes to playing the Bruins at, of all places, Johnny Reagan Field in Murray.
After handling the Bruins, 10-3, in Thursday’s opener of a three-game series on the Racers’ newly-renovated home field, a familiar song returned for the final two games on Friday. Wins by scores of 12-1 (a run-rule knockout in seven innings) and 9-5 not only gave Belmont the series and marked Murray State’s first two losses in league play (now 7-2 and 20-12 overall), they gave the Bruins (3-5 in Valley play and 12-20 overall) their eighth win in the last nine games against the Racers at Reagan, dating back to 2022. Thursday’s loss and Friday’s second game also marked the only times Belmont has not scored in double digits in this period, with three of those wins having been early KOs.
In reverse, Murray State has won four of the last six games on the Bruins’ home turf in Nashville, so obviously being the road team in this series has strong appeal … again, for whatever reason.
Friday, it was the Bruins taking advantage of a very windy day at Reagan, slugging eight home runs, five in Game 1. Belmont also outhit Murray State on the day, 26-13, with starting pitcher Mckale Stevenson handcuffing the Racers in the opener, allowing only four hits in going the distance.
Murray State did mount a strong challenge in Game 2 after falling behind, 4-0, in the first two innings. In fact, the Racers scored four times in the third with Kris Hokenson’s two-run home run following Luke Mistone’s RBI sacrifice fly and Connor Chisolm’s RBI single, tying the game.
However, unlike Thursday, where the Racers trailed, 2-0, early in that game, they could not gain the lead. They had a runner in scoring position in the fourth and had the leadoff man on base in the fifth but could not dent the scoreboard.
After being stymied for three straight innings, Belmont regained the lead in the sixth on IsaacVanderWoude’s two-run homer. That was followed by a run in the seventh that was countered by Kainen Jorge’s RBI sac fly in the eighth that, again, pulled the Racers within only two runs.
However, Belmont had the answer with Caven Means’ RBI triple and Jake Maddox’s RBI single supplying the final two runs.
The Racers did attempt a ninth-inning rally but could get no farther than having two runners on base. In Game 1 Friday, Murray State’s only run came on a homer from pinch hitter Tyler Butina.
Chisolm was 2-for-5 in Game 2 with an RBI.
“Obviously, today didn’t go our way, and I know the guys are disappointed,” Racer Head Coach Dan Skirka told Racer Athletics after the game. “We were right there, especially in Game Two of that doubleheader. A couple bounces went their way and we were on the barrel a couple times. We couldn’t get a big knock.”