MURRAY, Ky. (Interstat) — Easton Romero’s grand slam in the third inning lifted Murray State to a 9-5 victory over North Alabama on Tuesday afternoon at Reagan Field.

The Racers improved to 28-24, while the Lions dropped to 25-26.

North Alabama struck first in the opening inning. Jack Wes doubled to right center and scored two batters later when Dylan Coleman homered to left field, giving the Lions a 2-0 lead. Murray State answered in the second. Connor Chisolm and Romero drew walks before Luke Mistone launched a three-run homer to left field, putting the Racers ahead 3-2.

The Lions regained the lead in the third. Tyler LePage singled, and Coleman walked. After a wild pitch moved both runners into scoring position, Nash Rippen walked to load the bases. Wes Walker singled to center field, driving in LePage. Cayden Sheffield followed with a sacrifice fly to center, scoring Coleman, and Justin Santoyo added a sacrifice fly to left, scoring Rippen. North Alabama led 5-3.

The decisive moment came in the bottom of the third. Daylan Pena was hit by a pitch, and after a strikeout and a walk to Anthony Perritano, a wild pitch advanced both runners. Jack McCoy walked to load the bases. Romero then hit a grand slam to right center, scoring Pena, Perritano and McCoy, and giving Murray State a 7-5 lead. Romero finished with five RBIs.

The Racers added insurance in the eighth. Perritano doubled to left center and was replaced by pinch runner Brady Grabowski. Jack McCoy walked, and after a sacrifice bunt by Romero, a wild pitch allowed Grabowski to score and moved McCoy to third. Colby Ott then lifted a sacrifice fly to left, scoring McCoy for a 9-5 lead.

Murray State’s bullpen held North Alabama scoreless after the third. Jack Wajda, Jackson Ugo, Carter Boyd and Dylan Zentko combined for 6 1/3 innings of three-hit relief. Zentko retired the side in order in the ninth.

For North Alabama, Jake Boynar, John Allen Stogner, Justin Battle, Josh Bowerman, Jordan Touhey and Landon Scruggs saw action on the mound. Touhey allowed the two runs in the eighth.

The Lions had seven hits, matching Murray State’s total. Coleman led North Alabama with two hits and two RBIs. Mistone and Romero each had two hits for the Racers.

North Alabama took the previous meeting between the teams this season, a 15-5 win on Feb. 18. The Lions have lost two straight after splitting a doubleheader at Central Arkansas last weekend. Murray State had dropped two of three to Indiana State in its previous series.

Both teams open conference series Thursday. North Alabama hosts Austin Peay, while Murray State visits Evansville.

Interstat’s game simulator had projected a 5-3 victory for North Alabama. Interstat’s ELO system gave Murray State a 75.30 percent probability to win the game.