MURRAY, KY – A six-run eighth inning was the ultimate undoing for the Kentucky State University baseball team as the Thorobreds went toe-to-toe with Division I Murray State Tuesday before falling 12-8 in non-conference action.

"We competed really well tonight," said Kentucky State head coach Rob Henry. "It was a back and forth game where both teams kept after each other all game long. Our pitching and defense was good most of the game, and our hitters had a really good game plan at the plate to the tune of 16 hits. We put ourselves in the position to win, but didn't finish it off. Our job now is to bounce back tomorrow and compete against a very good Eastern Kentucky University team that is playing well right now."

Freshman Josh Graves (Springfield, KY) connected on his first career bomb, a two-run shot to knot the game at two in the top of the third inning. MSU reclaimed the lead with two in the fourth, before the Thorobreds dropped a five-spot in the fifth inning.

Senior Jay Poullard (Louisville, KY) drove home a run, and then sophomore Adren Thompson (Lexington, KY) gave KSU the lead with a two-run double. Junior Chase Egnor (Shepherdsville, KY) added a sacrifice fly and junior Kevin Givhan II (Chicago, IL) capped the scoring with an RBI single.

After the Racers got a run back in the bottom of the fifth, KSU retaliated with a run in the sixth.

Murray State scored a run in the seventh, and then exploded for the six runs in the eighth inning for the victory.

Junior Brandon Mason, 1-1, (Chattanooga, TN) was saddled with the loss, allowing four earned runs on just three hits in just a third of an inning. Junior Jacob Kelly (Shepherdsville, KY) went three innings in the start, allowing two runs on two hits with five walks.

Senior Cam Starks (Alpharetta, GA), just one game after his 15-game hitting streak come to an end, went 3-for-4 with a double and run scored. It was the third three-hit game and ninth multi-hit game of the season. Givhan II posted a 3-for-4 game with an RBI and stolen base.

Senior Jordan Ransom (Ringgold, GA) was 2-for-5 with an RBI, while Egnor was 2-for-4 with a double, RBI and run scored. Graves finished 2-for-4 with a home run and two RBI.

Sophomore De'Nayus Johnson, 1-0, (Detroit, MI) is scheduled to start as the Thorobreds travel to Eastern Kentucky University 4 p.m. Wednesday. It will be a staff day as several pitchers will grace the mound.