MURRAY, Ky. (Interstat) — The Murray State Racers opened their 2026 season with an offensive showcase, overpowering the Ohio Bobcats 13-4 on Friday evening at Reagan Field.

The Racers, fueled by a 16-hit attack and a decisive five-run fifth inning, handed the Bobcats a loss in their season opener. Ohio managed 10 hits but stranded numerous baserunners and was unable to match Murray State’s relentless scoring.

Murray State chipped away at an early Ohio lead. The Bobcats struck first in the third inning, pushing across two runs on consecutive RBI singles from Cameron Boyd and Will Henson to take a 2-0 advantage. The Racers responded in the bottom half of the frame, scoring once on a groundout by Dustin Pena.

The game’s pivotal shift came in the bottom of the fifth. Already leading 5-4, the Racers erupted for four runs, capitalizing on Ohio defensive miscues to break the game open. With two runners on, Logan Mistone delivered a two-run single that also saw two additional runs score on a throwing error by the Ohio third baseman. Carson Cunningham followed with another run-scoring groundout, stretching the lead to 9-4 and effectively putting the game out of reach.

Murray State sealed the victory with a four-run eighth inning, highlighted by a two-run double from Anthony Perritano and a two-run single from Mistone, who finished with five RBIs. Perritano and Parker Airhart each had three of Murray State’s 16 hits.

Ohio’s offense was led by Boyd, who went 2-for-5 with a double and an RBI, and Henson, who added two hits and an RBI. The Bobcats’ bullpen struggled to contain the Racers’ lineup, as five Ohio pitchers combined to issue eight walks.

The most critical sequence of the game unfolded in that bottom of the fifth inning. After Ohio had clawed back to within a run in the top of the inning on an RBI single from Brady Alexander, making it 5-4, the Racers immediately answered. They loaded the bases against reliever Mason Gass and then exploited a key defensive error. Mistone’s sharp ground ball resulted in two runs batted in, but a subsequent throwing error on the play allowed two more to score, transforming a tight contest into a comfortable five-run cushion. This outburst demoralized the Ohio comeback attempt and allowed Murray State to cruise through the latter innings.

With the win, Murray State begins the season 1-0. Ohio starts 0-1. The teams are scheduled to continue their series with a doubleheader on Sunday.

Ohio’s upcoming schedule: at Murray State (DH), Feb. 15; at Tennessee Tech, Feb. 20-22; vs. Dayton, Feb. 27-28; at Dayton, Mar. 1-2; vs. Northern Illinois, Mar. 6.

Murray State’s upcoming schedule: vs. Ohio (DH), Feb. 15; at North Alabama, Feb. 18; vs. Butler, Feb. 20-22; at Tennessee-Martin, Feb. 24; vs. Mercyhurst, Feb. 27-28.