MURRAY, Ky. (Interstat) — Dean McCalla tossed eight innings of one-run, no-hit ball and the Tennessee-Martin Skyhawks broke open a scoreless tie with four runs in the eighth inning to defeat the Murray State Racers 5-1 on Wednesday afternoon at Reagan Field.

McCalla, who entered with a 4-4 record after a rough outing against Belmont on April 28, rebounded with a dominant performance. He struck out four, walked none and allowed only an unearned run. The only hit against him came in the bottom of the eighth, when Conner Cunningham singled up the middle with one out. McCalla then induced a popup and a flyout before Connor Chisolm singled through the left side to drive in Cunningham for the Racers’ lone run.

The game was a pitcher’s duel through the first seven innings. Murray State starter Ethan Lyke worked four innings, scattering four hits and striking out three while allowing no runs. Derek Lebron followed with 3⅓ innings of one-hit relief, striking out four. The Racers’ defense also helped keep the game scoreless, turning a double play in the first inning after TJ Grines was caught stealing third, and erasing a Garner Anderson caught stealing in the third.

Tennessee-Martin broke through in the top of the eighth against Lebron and reliever Reese Oakley. Tommy Koch walked leading off. Garner Anderson walked, and TJ Grines walked to load the bases. Colten Payton then walked to force in Koch with the first run. TJ Dunsford followed with a two-run single up the middle, plating Grines and Anderson to make it 3-0. Dunsford finished 2 for 4 with two RBIs.

The Skyhawks added two more runs in the top of the ninth off Ben Rosin and Jack Wajda. Koch walked again, Anderson doubled down the left-field line, and Grines doubled to right field, scoring both runners. Grines was thrown out trying to stretch the hit into a triple. Grines ended the day 1 for 3 with a walk, two RBIs and a run scored. Will Turner pitched a scoreless ninth inning for Tennessee-Martin, allowing no hits and striking out one.

Tennessee-Martin’s offense collected eight hits. Anderson went 2 for 3 with a walk and two runs scored. Dunsford also had two hits. Murray State managed four hits, including doubles from Kris Hokenson and Colby Ott. Hokenson was hit by a pitch in the ninth but was erased on a double play.

The win improved Tennessee-Martin to 22-23 overall, while Murray State fell to 26-22. The Skyhawks had won two of their previous three games, including a 19-10 victory at Western Illinois on May 3, but had lost the series opener to the Leathernecks. Murray State came in having lost seven of its last eight games, including a three-game sweep at Purdue over the weekend.

The two teams had met once earlier this season, on Feb. 24, when Murray State won 7-5 at Tennessee-Martin.

Interstat’s game simulator had projected a final score of Murray State 5, Tennessee-Martin 4, and its ELO system gave the Racers an 80.00 percent probability of winning.