MURRAY, Ky. (3/5/24) – Arkansas State baseball (9-4, 0-0 SBC) faced a large deficit early and could not recover as Murray State (7-5, 0-0 MVC) claimed a 12-7 victory on Tuesday evening at Johnny Reagan Field.
 
Collin Maloney made his third start of the season, allowing two runs (none earned) on two hits while striking out one over an inning to start the bullpen day. The Red Wolves had four batters record multiple hits while Cade Tucker led the team with three RBIs.
 
Wil French opened the game with a bang for A-State, recording his first home run of the season with a solo-shot to right field. It was the first leadoff home run for the Red Wolves since Drew Tipton opened with a dinger against Texas State in April 2021.
 
Murray State responded in the bottom of the first when Riley Hawthorne lined a two-run single off third baseman Daedrick Cail and into left field, taking a 2-1 advantage in the process.
 
Three innings later, Cason Tollett led off with a solo-homer of his own to left center, tying the game at 2-2. Cason Campbell put the Scarlet and Black back in front with an RBI-double off the wall in right field.
 
Ethan Krizen tied the game in the next frame with an RBI-double down the right-field line. Drew Vogel put the Racers back in front with an RBI-triple while Dustin Mercer launched a two-run homer to make the score 7-3.
 
Carson Garner capped off a seven-run inning for Murray State by launching another two-run home run beyond left field.
 
Two innings later, Jonathan Hogart hammered a solo-shot over the wall in left to extend the lead to seven runs. It was the third home run of the game for the Racers, and made the score 10-3 going into the seventh.
 
Murray State added two more runs on an RBI-groundout from Preston Shelton and an RBI-single from Vogel during the inning.
 
Tucker entered the game in the eighth for A-State and launched a three-run homer to left field, cutting the deficit to six runs. Blake Burris fired a line drive to centerfield that brought in another run, but the Scarlet and Black could not capitalize on a bases-loaded situation with two outs later in the frame.
 
The Red Wolves would get one runner on base in the ninth, but it would not be enough as they fell by five runs. Alex Elsing (1-0) earned the win while Coby Greiner (2-2) took the loss as A-State drops their second consecutive contest.

NEXT UP
Arkansas State returns to Tomlinson Stadium on Friday, March 8, for a three-game series against Eastern Illinois. First pitch is set for 6:00 p.m. on ESPN+ and can be heard on 95.3/96.9 The Ticket Radio Network along with the A-State Red Wolves mobile app.
 
SOCIAL MEDIA
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