The Murray State News

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THE MUR R AY STATE

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March 8, 2018 | Vol. 92, No. 21

‘Murray State is the real deal’ Lindsey Coleman News Editor

lcoleman7@murraystate.edu

Bryan EdwardsThe News

The Racers won their 16th OVC championship game punching the first ticket to the NCAA tournament.

For the first time since 2012, the Murray State men’s basketball team will be among the 68 teams competing in the NCAA Tournament after winning the OVC tournament.

Murray State Athletics is inviting students, faculty and those who consider themselves part of Racer Nation to attend a Selection Sunday viewing party on March 11 at 3:30 p.m. at the CFSB Center.

Admission is free.

At the beginning of the event, Coach Matt McMahon and many of the players will be interviewed live and highlight videos will be shown.

At 5 p.m. the selection will begin, and fans will learn which team the Racers will face, where the game will be played and their seeding.

“I know we don’t know who we’re playing yet, but whenever we find out we just have to get focused when the time comes,” se-

nior guard and OVC Player of the Year, Jonathan Stark said.

Vice President of University Advancement, Adrienne King said the recent tournament win has put Murray State in the national spotlight.

“The Murray State men’s basketball team’s OVC tournament win has created a national buzz about our athletics program and the University as a whole,” King said.

Murray State defeated the Belmont Bruins 68-51 in the OVC championship game, clinching its 16th OVC championship in program history and its first since 2012 when the Racers went 31-2.

“I think we deserve everything we’re getting right now,” Stark said. “We worked all year for this and it’s showed and it’s paid off.”

King said not only is the buzz about being the first team to punch a ticket to the NCAA tournament, but also because the Racers have the second longest win streak in the nation right now.

“This kind of publicity is great

for the University as a whole as it creates a sense of excitement shared by all members of our campus community, including current and prospective students, alumni, and donors, King said. “It’s a great time to be a Racer!”

The alumni association and the office of alumni relations wants to invite all alumni and fans to be part of the excitement.

“We know this is not just something that happens all the time and our fans, our alumni are excited and engaged and wanting to be part of it from beginning to end and be involved in any way that they can,” Director of Alumni Relations Carrie McGinnis said.

Alumni from all over the state and region has already contacted the office of alumni relations to ask if they can help host a party in their town.

“We will be there in addition to our Racer alumni and fans to show support for the team and coaches

see NCAA, page 2

March to end gun violence Paige Effinger

Contributing writer peffinger@murraystate.edu

Kalea Anderson/The News

At Cheri Theatre, customers are asked to leave backpacks at the box office and ushers ensure all exit doors are shut.

Cheri increases security James Turner || Staff writer jturner34@murraystate.edu

Cheri Theatre is making plans to prepare for emergency situations, including an active shooter scenario.

The recent shooting at Marshall County High School has caused places like the Cinemark in Paducah to implement preventative measures, and Cheri Theatre is no exception.

Brian Hopkins, digital operations manager at Cheri Theatre, said they are working with a consultant to make plans for such events as tornadoes, fires and an active shooter.

“Myself and the general manager know what to do, but we want to make sure that our employees know what to do and where to meet,” Hopkins said.

Although he could not divulge any further information, he said some plans have already been in place for a while.

Cheri Theatre started asking customers to leave their backpacks at the box office since the shooting in Colorado at an advanced showing of Batman. A month ago, before the Marshall County shooting, the theater started having ushers check to make sure exit doors are shut and not propped open.

Hopkins said he hopes any changes made are not noticeable to the pub-

lic. However, he said that’s just the theater watching the backs of their customers.

“Just because we’re a small town does not mean that something couldn’t happen,” Hopkins said.

Hopkins said that if an active shooter situation should occur, the best thing customers could do is get down on the ground and hide.

He said not to run, because running makes you a target.

Mikayla Marshall, senior from Frankfort, Kentucky, said changes would be mostly welcomed.

“I mean it wouldn’t hurt,” Marshall said. “Especially if the community would feel safer.”

Katie Schoenborn, a junior from St. Louis, Missouri, said the Paducah Cinemark’s new bag rule makes sense.

“I think it’s very rational with what has been going, especially with somewhere as close as Marshall County having a shooting,” Schoenborn said.

Hopkins said they just want everyone to feel safe, and they’re doing their best to look out for the safety of their customers.

“It’s a scary time in our world when we have to think of this stuff and plan for it,” Hopkins said. “But we just want people to know that we’re trying our best.”

A march to end gun violence and mass shootings in America is taking place at Memorial Park in Calvert City, Kentucky on March 24 in coordination with a larger national event.

March For Our Lives was created by students across the country who want to take action against school shootings. The national event is taking place in Washington, D.C. on the same day.

A sibling march is being held in Marshall County. The event is being coordinated by Shannon Jacobs, a Murray citizen, who strongly believes in the cause.

The location of the event is to be determined, but the group has several commitments from public officials. According to the event’s Facebook page, the Marshall County Mayor, the Marshall County sheriff’s department, EMTs and the Rescue Squad will be in attendance. Lourdes Hospital will also have a first-aid tent set up.

Along with the march, Jacobs has also made T-shirts people can buy for the event and has set up a GoFundMe page. All remaining funds from donations will go to the victims of the school shooting in our area.

“This is an issue directly affecting me and the people I love,” Jacobs said. “I felt like it was something I

had to do.”

The national march is led by students across the country. According to its site, these students “will no longer risk their lives waiting for someone else to take action and stop the epidemic of mass school shootings that has become all too familiar.”

Jacobs said she wanted to coordinate the sibling march for the kids.

She wanted to give them a way to get their message out.

The event will have speakers and possibly music, and they are looking for new ideas.

“We will take suggestions from anyone, especially kids and parents, grandparents, everyone,” she said.

“This march is for you. Your voices need to be heard.”

Ultimately, the goal of the march is to get attention from politicians and demand they take action. However, it is also to show solidarity to those victims lost around the country to school shootings.

According to the GoFundMe page created by Jacobs, “We stand and march with and for all the victims in Parkland, Florida and from every mass school shooting in the country, but especially those in our area: Marshall and McCracken Counties #EnoughIsEnough. It doesn’t have to be this way. Change is coming. And it starts now, inspired by and led by the kids who are our hope for the future. Their young voices will be heard.”

WHERE Calvert City, KY at Memorial Park

WHEN

Calvert City

March 23rd, 2018

32.7 miles from Murray State University Savanna Hatfield/The News

A national March For Our Lives is taking place, but in light of Marshall County High School’s shooting, students are leading their own sister march on March 23.

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March 8, 2018

News

News Editor: Lindsey Coleman Page Designer: Savanna Hatfield Phone: 270-809-4468 Twitter: MurrayStateNews

Emma Cook awarded Order of Omega scholarship Destinee Marking Staff writer

dmarking@murraystate.edu

Order of Omega chose a Murray State student out of 140 applicants nationwide to be awarded a top scholarship.

Emma Cook, junior from Marble Hill, Missouri, and president of Murray State’s Alpha Sigma Alpha chapter, received the 2017 Daisy Wood Scholarship valued at $2,000.

Order of Omega is a Greek leadership honor society.

According the organization’s official website, juniors and seniors, both men and women, who hold leadership positions and are highly involved within their fraternity or sorority, campus and local community are invited to join.

Members are also the top 3 percent of students at each institution.

The Murray State Order of Omega chapter meets monthly. Members work on up to two service projects per month that affect the school and the community.

The motivation to initially become involved with Order of Omega, Cook said, came from admiring her sorority sisters.

“The girls I looked up to in my own chapter were in it, so that pushed me to interview and apply,” Cook said.

To apply for Order of Omega scholarships, Cook said she first had to submit an essay to the Murray State chapter. From there, two people from the chapter were selected to apply for the national scholarships. The application involves a resume, list of leadership roles and involvement, essays on why she deserved a scholarship, what Order of Omega has done for her and her involvement in her own Greek organization.

Cook said she believes her overall involvement is what made her stand out.

“I served as president of my sorority as a sophomore. This is my second term and I’m vice president of our Order of Omega chapter,” Cook said.

Emily Perry, sophomore

from Paducah, Kentucky, said Cook is hardworking and deserving of the accolades she receives.

“She has such a giving attitude, loving heart and leader’s mentality,” Perry said. “When she does something, she does it with her whole heart.”

Although a successful leader, Perry said Cook does not let any power get to her head.

“She doesn’t do anything halfway and always has a humble attitude,” Perry said.

Emily Mitchell, senior from Spottsville, Kentucky, and president of Murray State’s Order of Omega chapter, said Cook’s ability to be a leader and her personality are what stand out about her.

“The passion that she has for philanthropy is evident through her sorority, as well as the ideas she brings to Order of Omega,” Mitchell said. “I believe her heart for service and her radiant personality allowed her to show our headquarters just how much she deserved this.”

Julie Boeker/The News

Emma Cook, president of Alpha Sigma Alpha, received the 2017 Daisy Wood Scholarship valued at $2,000, which was the highest award given by Order of of Omega nationals, a Greek honor soceity.

Women’s History Month NCAA From Page 1

Paige Effinger

Contributing writer peffinger@murraystate.edu

To celebrate Women’s History Month, faculty members and students of Murray State honored 25 women in 25 minutes on March 6.

Each person picked the woman they would like to honor and then spoke about their achievements. The women ranged from Queen Elizabeth I to Coco Chanel.

Marjorie Hilton, assistant professor in the department of history, coordinated the

event. She said initially her idea was to just open it up for students, but decided that faculty members should have an opportunity to speak about someone, too. A young daughter of a faculty member even spoke about her favorite historical woman, as well.

March is Women’s History Month, and more specifically, March 8 is International Women’s Day. The theme for International Women’s Day this year is #PressforProgress. The 25

faculty and students who spoke outlined a rich history of that progress for women.

This commemorative month means many things to people, and Hilton said she wanted to help make people aware the women not written in history books.

“I think making people aware that there have been so many women in history that have actually shaped our culture and influenced us in so many ways that many people don’t think about,” Hilton said.

and let the rest of our potential competition know that Murray State is the real deal.”

McGinnis encourages Racer alumni everywhere to watch the game and “if possible watch it together (with

Contributing Writer peffinger@murraystate.edu

Brock Kirk/The News

selling OVC championship t-shirts at the event for $10.

“The 2017-18 edition of Racer Basketball has given us amazing thrills this season and maybe there are a few thrills still left to see,” Associate Athletic director for Media Relations Dave Winder said.

National Panhellenic Council: smaller chapters, bigger bonds Paige Effinger

March is Women’s History Month and 25 women were honored in 25 minutes at an event with Murray State faculty, staff and students.

other Racer alumni).”

Alumni are also invited to attend the Selection Sunday viewing party at the CFSB Center.

Racer fans can mingle with players, get autographs and take photos before and after the selection. If fans can’t attend the selection show, they can tune in on Facebook Live.

Racer Athletics will be

National Panhellenic Council sororities and fraternities have been a part of Murray State’s campus since the late 1960s, and are currently in the process of recruiting new members.

The National Panhellenic Council is made up of four organizations. There are three sororities Alpha Kappa Alpha, Delta Sigma Theta and Zeta Phi Beta, and one fraternity Alpha Phi Alpha.

Kim Newbern, coordinator of Greek life and student leadership programs, said the NPHC is the ruling body over the nationally known African American fraternities and sororities.

Historically, there are nine sororities and fraternities that make up NPHC.

Newbern said these nine are often referred to as the “Divine Nine”.

Alpha Phi Alpha was the first NPHC organization to join Murray State’s campus in 1968. Newbern said they are getting ready for their 50th anniversary this year.

NPHC organizations do the ‘recruitment’ process differently than the IFC and NPC organizations. NPHC organizations go through periods called ‘intake’ that start a few weeks into the semester with informational meetings.

“There’s also an educational process that they have to go through,” Newbern said. “It is about a month for all of their activities, and then they will have a new member presentation at the end.”

Interested members are required to participate in four interest classes to enter into

any organization. Newbern said these classes talk about time management, the history of NPHC, programming, recruitment, and others like that.

Newbern started this position last July. She said one of her goals for this position was to make sure that NPHC organizations numbers were growing.

The NPHC are generally smaller than the other Greek organizations. The average chapter size is four members, but this also allows for a stronger bond between organizations and members.

She said the intake process makes a difference. It gives people time to learn their brothers or sisters.

“When you have smaller numbers, you have more of an intimate relationship with your brothers or sisters,” she said.

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The News

Page 3

March 8, 2018 Sports Editor: Bryan Edwards Assistant Sports Editor: Blake Sandlin Page Designer: Rosalyn Churchman Phone: 270-809-4481 Twitter: MSUSportsNews

Sports

Journey to the tourney

Blake’s Take

Seed speculation

With Saturday’s win over Belmont, Murray State punched its ticket to the NCAA tournament. They’ve done all a mid-major school of their stature can do. The only question that remains: Where will they be seeded?

As we dive deeper into March and the frontrunners in each respective conference start to emerge, every Blake Sandlin amateur bracketologist Assistant Sports and their mother seems to emerge with them; each with Editor his/her own unique prediction, algorithm and blazing hot take.

But as much as I would love to plunge into the statistical world, my three credits in MAT 117 hardly give me the credentials. Thankfully, there are pundits out there whose expertise extends slightly beyond that of my Mathematical Concepts course.

Metrics like Ken Pomeroy’s statistical index and the infamous RPI are useful tools employed by the NCAA Selection Committee in order to seed the best 68 teams, but they aren’t the only ones. Lowly outsiders like us are oblivious to the the gamut of factors the NCAA aggregates to seed teams.

And while we can utilize indexes like KenPom and the RPI to supplement our conclusions, ultimately the most probable and realistic metric available to us is the past. Of course, the past isn’t always going to be transitive of the future, but it can sure help.

After some fluctuation down the stretch of the season, most experts have the Racers tabbed as a 13-seed, drawing a matchup with a 4-seed. However, some believe Murray State is deserving of a 12-seed.

And if you’re wondering, “Who cares about the difference between a 12-seed and a 13-seed?,” let me hit you with some knowledge. Since the tournament expanded to 64 teams in 1985, there have been 48 upsets from the No. 12 seed. As many as 10 upsets from the 12-seed have come in just the past five seasons. However, in 4-13 matchups, the 13-seed has been nearly half as likely to pull off the upset, winning just 26 games since 1985.

While bracketologists like Joe Lunardi currently have the Racers in the 13 slot in San Diego, that’s no more set in stone than the winner of the national championship. Although Lunardi is among the best in predicting the tournament’s field, his seeding and site predictions aren’t nearly as accurate. Last season, Lunardi picked 67 of the 68 teams in the tournament in his final bracketology of the season.

However, when it came to picking the correct seeding and sites for each tournament team, Lunardi only correctly prophesied the seeding of 28 of the 68 teams. He only picked the correct first round tournament site of 27 teams.

Long story short, everything’s on the table.

Well, not everything, but most agree the Racers could be up for a seed anywhere from a 12 to a 14.

Let’s jump right in.

Let’s start by analyzing Murray State’s RPI of 54 and how it compares to last year’s field. Out of all the 12-seeds selected last year - Princeton (50), UNC-Wilmington (27), Nevada (29) and Middle Tennessee State (29- each had a better RPI than Murray State. Those four teams averaged a strength of schedule of 155.5. Murray State’s strength of schedule is a 199.

Another metric that could prove detrimental to the Racers’ 12-seed hopes is their lack of notable wins. Nevada finished its season with an impressive 9-4 record against RPI Top 100 teams, while UNC Wilmington went 6-3 against the Top 100.

Middle Tennessee finished 4-1 against the Top 100, but compiled a 2-1 record against the RPI Top-50. Princeton was a slight aberration, finishing with a 1-5 record against RPI Top 100 teams.

While Murray State has a leg up on Princeton with a 3-3 record against the top-100 in wins against Belmont, Illinois State and Wright State, its lack of defining marquee wins will make earning a 12-seed challenging depending on how heavily the NCAA accentuates big wins.

I think the biggest thing the Racers do have going for them is their win streak. Their 13-game winning streak, tied with Gonzaga for the longest in the nation, is strikingly similar to Princeton’s winning streak. The Tigers, while not compiling the most prestigious wins in the most prolific

Nick Bohannon, Blake Sandlin and Bryan Edwards/The News

see BLAKE, page 4

The News

Sports

Page 4

March 8, 2018

Baseball wins series over Fort Wayne Gage Johnson || Staff writer gjohnson17@murraystate.edu

Murray State traveled back home for the first of a 4-game home series against Fort Wayne University and lost the series opener 7-5.

Junior pitcher Peyton Hayes took the mound in his third start of the year for the Racers. He is 0-0 on the year having received a no-decision in each of his appearances. Fort Wayne senior pitcher Brandon Phelps also started out on the hill for his third start of the young season. He is 1-0, winning one game and receiving a no-decision in the other.

Murray State got the action started in the bottom of the second inning. Graduate student outfielder, Gavin Wehby got the first hit of the ballgame and stole second after reaching base. Junior outfielder, Tyler Duke then singled to left field, driving in Wehby for the first run of the game and gaining a 1-0 lead going into the third inning.

The game was a pitcher’s duel for multiple innings after Murray State scored in the second inning. Fort Wayne was without a hit going into the sixth inning. After the Mastodons got their first hit, they put up a big inning.

After a lead off single and a strikeout to begin the inning for Fort Wayne, freshman pitcher Nate Pianto came in to replace Hayes for his third appearance out of the bullpen this season. Murray State was quickly forced to pull the plug on Pianto after hitting the only two batters he faced to load the bases.

Freshman pitcher Braydon Cook was not given a warm welcome from Fort Wayne in his third appearance on the season. He walked the first two batters he faced, scoring two for the Mastodons. Following an error and fielder’s choice by the Racers, Fort Wayne scored four runs off of one hit, leaving the inning with a 4-1 lead.

The Mastodons tacked on two more runs in the top of the eighth when sophomore outfielder Robert Young III hit his third home run of the season, making it a 6-1 ballgame.

After putting up one more toward their lead, the pitchers had plenty of run support for them, leading 7-1 heading into the final half inning of play.

Despite the 7-1 deficit, the Racers did not go down without a fight. Back-to-back walks got things started for Murray State in the inning. Freshman first baseman CJ Busch then earned himself a pinch-hit double, scoring one on the play. Following a pitching change for the Mastodons, a two-run single for the Racers from freshman outfielder Jake Slunder made it 7-4 ballgame.

After getting a single to get on base, sophomore outfielder Ryan Perkins forced a balk, advancing himself to second and scoring Slunder to make it a 7-5 ballgame.

Sophomore pitcher Duane Miller then entered the ballgame for Fort Wayne. After surrendering a single to the first batter he faced, a flyout and a groundout ended the rally for the Racers. Miller earned his first save of the season and claimed the 7-5 victory for the Mastodons.

Demolition doubleheader After losing the series opener, Murray State defeated Fort Wayne University in both games of a doubleheader 16-4 and 15-4.

Junior pitcher Blake Clynes took the hill for the first of two games for the Racers. This was Clynes’ second start of the year and his third appearance in total. He has been successful early on, owning a 1-0 record and only giving up three earned runs in 14.1 innings pitched. Freshman pitcher Spencer Strobel got his first starting nod of the season for

Kalea Anderson/The News

Junior pitcher Blake Clynes throws a pitch in the Racers’ series against Fort Wayne.

Fort Wayne.

During the fourth inning of the series opener on Friday, Fort Wayne managed to score four runs on just one hit in an inning. They got a taste of their own medicine in the bottom of the first in the first game on Saturday.

Strobel struggled in his first start of the year, walking seven batters in the inning and allowing four runs in the inning before being replaced. Following the early pitching change to senior first baseman Brock Logan, because of a shortage of pitching availability, another run was scored on a hit-by-pitch. Fort Wayne managed to stop the bleeding there, but not before Murray State put up five runs on no hits in the inning.

Both offenses remained stagnant until the fifth inning following the scoring outburst from the Racers. After bringing one across the plate for Fort Wayne’s first run of the ballgame, Murray State had another big inning.

The Racers put up seven runs in the inning on five hits and two errors in the bottom half of the fifth, making it a 12-1 ballgame. Two innings later, Murray State showed they weren’t done offensively. A lead off walk from junior shortstop Jaron Robinson sparked a rally for the Racers in the inning. After four more walks and one hit for Murray State, four runs reached the plate and extended the Racers lead to 16-1.

Fort Wayne scored three runs in the top of the seventh, but it was all for naught, as the Racers came away with a 16-4 win after seven innings of play.

Junior pitcher Gray Dorsey made his first start of the season for the Racers in the second game of the doubleheader, while senior pitcher Damian Helm made his third

start of the year for the Mastodons. Helm was 1-1 with three earned runs given up over 10 innings in his previous two appearances.

Fort Wayne seemed to show some life in the second game, driving in the first run of the game after a wild pitch. Freshman pitcher Jake Jones came in to replace Dorsey and closed out the inning following the run from the Mastodons.

Murray State’s offense stayed hot by answering Fort Wayne’s attack in its half of the inning. After back-toback walks to start the rally for the Racers, a sacrifice-fly and multiple hits in the inning, the Racers jumped out to a 5-1 lead.

After entering the game for Murray State, Jones stifled the Mastodons offense. Over his next three innings pitched, Jones only allowed one run to cross the plate for Fort Wayne. While Jones was busy mowing down batters, the Racers were giving him plenty of run support.

A 2-RBI double from junior catcher Mike Farnell helped Murray State secure a 7-1 lead going into the third inning. The Racers tacked on to their lead in the bottom of the third inning. Six hits, capped off by a three-run homer from graduate student outfielder Brandon Guntzler, led to six runs in the inning, giving Murray State a 13-2 lead.

Both teams managed to claim two more runs in the following innings, but the Racers lead was too much for the Mastodons to overcome. This gave Murray State its second win of the day in seven innings with a score of 15-4.

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conference, ended with a 19game winning streak with an RPI very similar to the Racers.

Although there’s a big difference between a 19-game winning streak and a 13, when you consider the climate of college basketball this year, plagued with inconsistency and unreliability, I think there’s something to be said for a 13-game streak. The committee could show favor to the Racers, considering their strong play down the stretch.

To draw a larger sample size, I averaged these same statistics from 12-seeds from the 2012-2013 season through the 2015-2016 season. The average record of 12-seeds over the course of these four seasons against DI opponents was 24-7. They averaged 4.5 RPI Top 100 wins and a strength of schedule of 159.7.

The mean RPI of these teams averaged 46.5.

Now onto 13-seeds. From the 2012-2013 through last year’s tournament, the average record of 13-seeds was around 24-8, while averaging 3.3 RPI Top 100 wins. The biggest distinction between the two seeds came with the variance in RPI and strength of schedule ranking. The mean strength of schedule of these seeds was 196.45, nearly mirroring Murray State’s SOS. Additionally, the RPI of 13-seeds averaged 64.95.

Does Murray State’s 49 RPI, 199 strength of schedule, 3-3 top-100 record and 24-5 record against DI teams (26-5 including non-DI) deem it worthy of a coveted 5-12 matchup in the tournament?

By the numbers in recent history, Murray State’s analytics suggest they fall somewhere near the middle of a 12 and 13 seed, but ultimately, I think the Racers will drop to a 13. But in all reality, maybe a 13-seed isn’t all bad- just ask Danero Thomas.

The News

Page 5

March 8, 2018 Features Editor: Emily Williams Assistant Features Editor: Nick Erickson Page Designer: Rachel Solomon Phone: 270-809-5871

Features

Experiential learning gives students new perspective

Graduate students of clinical psychology visit women’s prison once a week Emily Williams Features Editor

ewilliams15@murraystate.edu

It has been said that some of the most useful lessons you can learn in your field of work cannot be found within the bindings of a textbook.

Murray State graduate students, Morgan Wild of Pinckneyville, Illinois and Tara Pursley of Marshall County, Kentucky, have found this to be true after taking part in an experiential learning program that gave them the tools they needed to move forward boldly in their pursuit of a career in the area of clinical psychology.

Under the guidance and leadership of Marie Karlsson, assistant professor of psychology, the two students had the opportunity to learn outside the boundaries of their classroom and a runof-the-mill clinic last semester.

The program, which was brought to Murray State by Karlsson shortly after her arrival in the fall of 2016, allows two clinical psychology graduate students per semester the opportunity to visit a women’s prison once a week for eight weeks.

During this time, students are able to work with incarcerated women who have been sexually abused in their lifetime.

“Research shows that most incarcerated women have sexual victimization experiences, especially childhood violence,” Karlsson said.

She said research suggests sexual abuse is a pathway to prison for the women they work with, meaning that they tend to grow up in very abusive households. As the effect of the abuse progresses, it becomes substance abuse

and mental health problems which eventually leads them into the prison system or the legal system.

“Most of them have been through a lot of trauma,” Karlsson said. “The reason we focus on the sexual violence is because that tends to lead to most problems. So our assumption is that even though they have all these things going on, the sexual trauma is kind of underneath all of it.”

Pursley said she has always been very passionate about working with women who have been sexually assaulted. She said the women in the prison system oftentimes are not given the opportunity to receive help in addressing the mental health issues that stem from their abuse.

“For me, it was very rewarding to give services to a group that wouldn’t get it if we weren’t to provide it for them,” Pursley said. “It was also really rewarding on a personal level. There are a lot of things that I wouldn’t have been able to learn from an academic standpoint, had I not been able to do this.”

Karlsson said the key point is to give these women a safe environment to make sense of the trauma they have undergone through a treatment called exposure therapy.

“The idea for someone who’s had sexual trauma, or any kind of trauma, is that they need time to process the memory,” Karlsson said. “Because the memory itself has become scary and out of control. So the main part of the treatment is that each one of these women will share their story around sexual trauma and we help them to select the one that has affected them the most.”

Wild said while everything is rather unpredictable while they are at the women’s prison, it’s helpful to see their supervisor in action and watch first-hand how to deal with situations.

“Marie teaches us really innovative ways to rely on our gut and feel in the moment, so it was a really cool experience to apply that to individuals,” Wild said.

Karlsson said the most challenging aspect of going to the women’s prison for students is the massive learning curve.

“When you go to the prison, everything intensifies,” Karlsson said. “It’s overwhelming and there’s a lot going on that you’re trying to make sense of. Then you get through all of that and you learn a lot.”

Pursley said this learning curve is not something she would get in a classroom.

“The experience that I got from that group has helped me tremendously,” Pursley said. “Because we’re very protected here, right? We’re very safe, we have rules and a structure on what we can do. But in the real world, you really kind of have to fend for yourself and figure out what’s right, what’s wrong, what’s the best way to do things, what’s the worst way to do things. The experience that we got in that group has helped a ton with trying to determine how to practice in a real world setting.”

Wild said before jumping into this program, she did not really have an idea of what she wanted to specialize in within her field. But after jumping in headfirst, she learned a lot.

“Up in this [Murray State’s Psychological] clinic, you have a caseload of seven

Photo contributed by Marie Karlsson

Marie Karlsson, Tara Pursley and Morgan Wild share their hands-on learning experience. therapy clients and four assessments,” Wild said.

“I thought this would be a really different way to get outside of the clinic as well as do something in a group.

That’s really unique to the type of work we’re doing, because not a lot of people are doing this therapy in a group and in a women’s prison. It ended up really helping me in my individual sessions.”

Karlsson said she began doing this work when she was a graduate student at The University of Arkansas in January of 2012. She said they now have research on treatment outcomes from over 30 groups.

“We’ve collected data in these women’s prisons now for six years or so and we

know that this works,” Karlsson said. “The techniques that we’re using are not new, but what is new is to do it in the prison. About seven out of 10 women improve so much that it suggests they are qualitatively feeling and doing a whole lot better.”

Wild said the experience has opened her eyes to all the different possibilities of how she and others like her can help women.

“What I learned, I learned in the group,” Wild said.

“Really, like, experiential learning. I learned it on the fly and then if we messed up, then we knew what to do better next time. It was really easy to self-correct and learn from it.”

Nick’s Notes

Take time for yourself With just over two months left of my college career, I had hopes that by this time I would be at ease and optimistic at Nick Erickson Assistant Features how smooth my remainEditor ing days were going.

Unfortunately, that is not the case and I’m finding myself more on edge than ever before.

Between juggling writing assignments for my remaining JMC classes, working nights and the strenuous task of waking up for a morning archaeology course, I’m trying to find time to catch my breath.

I’ve gotten into a routine of falling asleep every night around 3 a.m. Even nights I have taken care of the work I’ve needed to do for the day and really should be utilizing the time to sleep, I never fail to become distracted by something that keeps me up.

In doing so, I sometimes remind myself that there are things I COULD be doing to potentially relax my mind a bit more than whatever I’m doing. However, I often dismiss this. After all, practicing guitar is more appealing to me than working on that thesis due the following week.

Sometimes I resent myself for the way I use my time. The more the semester has progressed and the more stress has piled on, I’ve simultaneously been met with a different mindset: maybe everything’s importance is subjective.

Yes, I might have a lot on my plate. Though I’m getting my “priority” assignments done, I still find myself stressed. In thinking about this, I believe it’s the times I remove myself from the abundance of work assigned to me, focusing on my creativity, where I truly feel at ease.

Maybe because of that, the time I spend giving myself this outlet is equally as important as the work leading me to graduation because without it, I wouldn’t know how to compose myself.

These remaining weeks are going to be persistently hectic.

As paperwork piles up, try to remember to take time for yourself and do what it is you love most.

Come the time you walk the stage at CFSB, you’ll be glad you did.

Drag show highlights acceptance Sara Howell

Contributing writer showell6@murraystate.edu

Nick Bohannon/The News

Terrapin Station of Murray has noticed an increase in record sales over the past few years, suggesting the return of vinyl.

Taking the past for a spin A look into the comeback of the vinyl

Nick Erickson

Assistant Features Editor nerickson@murraystate.edu

It’s undeniable that everyone listens to music. The preferred method of listening to music varies from person to person, however. In the middle of a digital age, millions use streaming services such as Spotify or Apple Music. On the analog side, some people prefer purchasing physical CD copies of albums. More recently, vinyl records have made a surging comeback.

Terrapin Station, located on the south end of Murray, is home to a wide array of music. Owner, Tim Peyton said over his years of business, the number of vinyl sales has risen exponentially.

“Around 2008, I started noticing people ordering them more and there being more available from our distributor and people were selling more of them to us locally,” Peyton said. “In 2011, I remember talking with Valerie Hancock, one of the owners of the shop and her saying that within two or three years she thought we’d be selling more records than CDs all together. I’d

say about 15-20 people buy records from us a day on average, some more some less.”

Peyton said it was 2014 when the store began regularly selling more vinyls.

“We sold more and more records each year since,” Peyton said. “CD sales have dwindled a lot, some days we don’t sell any.

This was never the case with vinyl.”

As with most things in life, there are pros and cons to music streaming services in regards to artists. Peyton said he believes no matter how someone feels about it, they should at least acknowledge that streaming probably is only going to increase in use.

“From the point of view of someone whose livelihood partially depends of sales of physical media, sometimes it’s a hard thing to observe,” Peyton said.

“It seems like, from where I sit, that if people are going to actually pay for new music these days, that a lot of people prefer to go ahead and buy vinyl. Some people have the mindset of ‘if I can just stream it, why would I

buy a CD?’” Peyton said he believes there is a discernable difference in quality in listening to vinyl opposed to digital.

“It can be difficult, in my experience, to tell the difference in sound quality between a CD and streaming but with vinyl you can really tell a difference,” Peyton said. “ You can hear the reason you wanted to pay for the music you just bought.”

In addition to music, Terrapin Station sells a variety of other items.

“You have to try your best to adapt, pay attention to what your customer base wants from their experience in the shop and ride the wave.”

As vinyl sales skyrocket, Peyton says he hopes Terrapin Station will tread the same path.

“We’re selling more records than ever and hosting more live music than ever with bands from all over the country multiple days a week and continue creating a unique atmosphere Murray deserves,” Peyton said. “As long as people want that to be the case, we will be here.”

The LGBTQ and ally community gathered in celebration of unity at FAME: Drag and Variety Show on Feb. 28 in the Curris Center Ballroom. Both drag kings and queens took to the stage and entertained the crowd with upbeat, energetic performances.

MC Lampe, LGBTQ coordinator at Murray State, said drag has been an integral part of LGBTQ history. For decades, these shows have been a way of celebrating identity and building community, especially during times when identifying as LGBTQ was seen as shameful or even illegal.

“While we have made great strides in progress for LGBTQ individuals, we still have a long way to go but drag continues to bring the community together,” Lampe said. “Having a drag show on campus communicates the openness and acceptance of our campus community, as well as how much we appreciate diversity.”

The night began on a fun note with drag show virgins, first-time drag show goers, coming onto the stage to have a runway walk competition.

Soon after, the show began.

Performers left the stage to interact with members of the audience and some singled people out to dance with, or on them.

During the intermission, the audience was invited on stage to dance. This proved

Kalea Anderson/The News

The LGBTQ and ally community gathered to celebrate unity at FAME, a Drag and Variety show. successful in keeping the feeling of acceptance alive in the crowd. Those who stayed in the crowd were eager to cheer on those who had stepped on stage.

Tessa Sipe, senior and performer from Hutchinson, Kansas, said that planning for the show began in January. To her, the show was important because everyone was able to come together to celebrate each other’s differences.

“A lot of the performers are part of the LGBT community and a lot of the allies that are friends with those people will come out and bring hoards of people,” Sipe said. “Everyone comes together to show love and support.”

Students who came to the show were able to have fun while showing support for the LGBTQ community.

Marie Norris, senior from Owensboro, Kentucky, said she has been coming to these shows since her freshman year.

“I think they’re really fun to watch,” Norris said. “This usually draws a big crowd, so it gives people more exposure.”

Norris said she thinks that the more people get exposed, the more likely they are to have accepting views towards the LGBTQ community.

Audience members were able to show their support by tipping their favorite performers. These tips, as well as the money earned from concessions, went to support Alliance, Murray State’s LGBTQ student group.

This organization is for gay, lesbian, bisexual, transgender, questioning and ally students. Meetings are held every other Tuesday in the Women’s Center Lounge from 8-10 p.m. to provide social events and support for students.

To find out more about this group join their Facebook group, Murray State Alliance or email them at murraystatealliance@gmail.com.

The News

Features

Page 6

March 8, 2018

Women’s summit urges community involvement letter, go to that meeting and voice your opinion.

“As women, we will have to stand in an effort to make our community a better place to live for all,” Horn said. “Because if it had not been for women, where would we be?”

FINDING YOUR PASSION AND BECOMING AN ENGAGER

Photo courtesy of Janine Duncan

Walter McKusick, national director for Vote Smart, was a guest speaker at the event.

Sara Howell

Contributing writer showell6@murraystate.edu

The Summit on the Status of Women: Shaping and Engaging in Community Life encouraged its audience to get involved within the community in more ways than one this year. The panel discussion, Tapping Women’s Potential for Full Engagement in Community gave speakers the opportunity to offer ways for women to make change within their community.

SUPPORT OTHER WOMEN

Jennifer Morrison, assistant professor and public administrator, was the first to speak in the panel discussion.

Morrison said women have a lot of responsibilities at home, work and school. With these responsibilities come a chance for communication.

“Talk to your friends,” Morrison said. “Talk to the moms in the carpool line, talk to the moms at soccer practice, talk to the moms at church, talk to the people at the grocery store.”

She said there are a hundred women running for office in Kentucky and we as women should show support for them.

Use social media like Facebook, Twitter and Snapchat.

“Women are standing up and women are being heard,” Morrison said. “And when they are knocked down, they are standing up again. Figuratively and literally.”

STAND UP FOR WHAT YOU BELIEVE IN

Mary-Elaine Horn, coordinator of Student Health Services and Regional Academic Outreach, said she believes women need to step up in the community.

“We have to come out of our little boxes and we have to come together in a circle and move forward,” Horn said.

She said there will be challenges along the way but it is important to not let them become barriers that hold you back. These challenges will become stepping stones toward the goals you are trying to reach.

Make that phone call, write that

Vonnie Hays-Adams, director of Patient Access at Murray-Calloway County Hospital/ Community Change, said the first thing that should be done to encourage engagement is getting people to make your cause a priority in their lives.

She said as individuals, women should take the time to figure out their calling. Asking themselves, “What is important to me?”

To get involved locally, the Murray Woman’s Club is a doorway for involvement within the Murray Community.

They have 10 different departments that give women different ways to show community support, according to murraywomansclub.org.

“Action engagers are the women who want to see tangible evidence that what they believe in or what they’re doing is going to produce something,” Hays-Adams said.

HAVE COURAGE

“I’ve caught myself many times in my life saying, ‘Well someone should do something about that’,” Hays-Adams said.

“At some point you gotta quit saying that, you gotta be the somebody to actually do it.”

She said you are in a place where you can be exposed to other things and embracing that can guide you in figuring out who you are and what you stand for.

Graphic courtesy of Pixabay

Four ways to enjoy warmer weather Amy Turner Staff writer

aturner32@murraystate.edu

Warmer weather and longer days are upon us. Spring seems to have arrived early this year and brought the sun out of its winter hibernation.

These bright and warm days are great opportunities to try new hobbies and spend some time having fun in the sun.

GO HAMMOCKING

Portable hammocks have become a growing trend these past couple of years, especially among college students. There are several places across campus to set up your hammock for a nap, time with friends or even a homework and study session. The trees across the sidewalk from the Curris Center have hosted several

hammocks this semester alone. The quad has also emerged as a popular hammocking place for time in between classes. Regents Residential College also has several trees ideally placed for an afternoon in a hammock.

HIKING

For students looking for a little more active fun in the sun, hiking can be the perfect activity. Murray is surrounded by several trails such as Murray State Arboretum, which is only five miles away from campus.

Other trails are further away but include the Hematite Trail at Land Between the Lakes.

KAYAKING

All the lakes near Murray that provide scenic hiking

trails are also great places to go kayaking. Paddling.com is a website dedicated to helping you find great places to go kayaking depending on your location. It can also be downloaded from the app store. Kentucky Lake, Lake Barkley and Land Between the Lakes all rent out kayaks and canoes.

BIKING

Several students use bikes to zip to class or quickly reach the other side of campus. It is a great way to get some exercise outside of the gym. So grab your bike, take to the sidewalk and get those legs pumping. Resources for finding popular trails around Murray can be found online from several different websites which can be found at thenews.org.

The News

Page 7

March 8, 2018

Opinion

Opinion Editor: Tyler Anderson Page Designer: Tori Wood Phone: 270-809-5873

Our View

A not-so-free throw The staff editorial is the majority opinion of The Murray State News Editorial Board.

Ashley Traylor Interim Editor-in-Chief • 270-809-6877 atraylor@murraystate.edu

Austin Gordon Production Manager • 270-809-5877 agordon4@murraystate.edu

Lindsey Coleman News Editor • 270-809-4468 lcoleman7@murraystate.edu

Tyler Anderson Opinion Editor • 270-809-5873 janderson49@murraystate.edu

Emily Williams Features Editor • 270-809-5871 ewilliams15@murraystate.edu

Bryan Edwards Sports Editor • 270-809-4481 bedwards16@murraystate.edu

Ginni Sisemore Chief Copy Editor • 270-809-5876 vsisemore@murraystate.edu

Chandler Cochran Ad Sales and Circulation Manager • 270-809-4478 ccochran3@murraystate.edu

Rhiannon Branch Photography Editor • 270-809-5878 rbranch@murraystate.edu

Rebecca Mosella Chief Videographer • 270-809-5878 rmosella@murraystate.edu

Dr. Stephanie Anderson Adviser • 270-809-3937 sanderson37@murraystate.edu

If you have a television, radio or internet access, chances are you’re aware basketball season is in full swing. And for those keeping score, the Murray State Racers are having an exceptionally great season so far.

But while the points are adding up for college teams across the nation, the paychecks certainly are not.

Thanks to NCAA amateurism standards, student athletes (a loaded term in itself) are required to abide by pages upon pages of guidelines in order to play for their chosen university. This includes being barred from accepting funds beyond those considered reimbursement for self-accrued participation costs. That means no endorsement deals or comped meals—not even a McDouble!

Much like the Prohibition drove the alcohol business underground during the ‘20s, these stringent rules have only served to create a seedy pay-for-play market out of the public eye. The practice has become so widespread and integrated into NCAA culture that the FBI has become involved, and these men and women in black certainly aren’t looking to play around.

There’s one big question being passed around: why can’t the players get paid what they’re worth? Since the NBA began requiring at least one year of collegiate experience before qualifying for the draft, the college basketball business has exploded.

And since the NCAA tightened its vice-like grip on the cash flow from said business, these athletes are missing out on huge opportunities to make serious money.

Though to be fair, they do often receive other forms of compensation.

According to the NCAA website, “In the collegiate model of

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TheNews.org The News welcomes commentaries and letters to the editor. Submissions should be 600 words or less, and contributors should include phone numbers for verification. Please include hometown, classification and title or relationship to the university. The News reserves the right to edit for style, length and content. No anonymous contributions will be accepted. All contributions should be turned in by noon on Monday of each week via email to janderson49@murraystate.edu. Contributions to The News are the opinion of the author and not that of The Murray State News.

The News strives to be the university community’s source for information. Our goal is to present that information in a fair and unbiased manner and provide a free and open forum for expression and debate.

The News is a designated public forum. Student editors have authority to make all content decisions without censorship or advance approval.

The paper offers a hands-on learning environment for students interested in journalism. The campus press should be free from censorship and advance approval of copy and its editors should develop their editorial and news policies.

The News is prepared and edited by students and is an official publication of Murray State University. The first copy is free. Additional copies are available for 25 cents at 111 Wilson Hall.

Cheers to ...

New Hampshire

The northeastern state has passed a non-disrimination law protecting transgender citizens. Finding a state willing to protect all of its citizens, not simply a select few, is rare.

Autumn Brown/The News

sports, the young men and women competing on the field or court are students first, athletes second.”

Student athletes more often function as university recruiting tools than, well, students. To bolster this thin illusion, many athletes are given scholarships. So even though many collegiate basketball players only complete one year of school

before moving on to professional play, they’re siphoning scholarships which could go to those serious about their studies.

The “students first, athletes second” tagline is a farce that has gone on far too long. This is not meant to discredit the work many college athletes put into completing their respective degrees, but to illuminate

CHEERS & JEERS

the “one and done” trend in collegiate sports. It’s been a long-running joke with more than a pinch of truth.

So why waste everyone’s time?

Why not let athletes compete professionally directly out of high school?

Who loses when they’re given the freedom to choose?

The short answer is the NCAA and the NBA. Since the draft rule changes in 2006, the college sports industry has become very successful. It was big before, but could anyone really fathom how much money was to be made by coaches with winning streaks and organization officials? Well, yes, they did.

Protecting the interests of new and established players was the facade, but money was the motive.

As has been brought to light with the recent investigation, the current collegiate athlete system is failing its players. Our nation’s cash-strapped universities shouldn’t have to pay these athletes as if they’re employees (they are “students first,” after all).

Instead, the rule-making bodies must evolve. If these athletes have to play in college first, then allow them to be paid. A comped meal shouldn’t disqualify the hard work they have put into their careers.

Or better yet, ditch the college requirements altogether. Let them do what they want to do: play basketball. The NCAA and universities shouldn’t be earning money off of the hard work of others.

The current FBI investigation threatens to put everyone’s brackets in jeopardy. To save what’s left of the honor and integrity in American sports, we have to leave behind the notion that these athletes are commodities to be purchased at a steep discount.

Jeers to ...

MoviePass The app can save you more than a few dollars if you’re an avid movie goer, but CEO Mitch Lowe may have ruined it for everyone. A word of advice: don’t tell everyone you’re tracking everything we do.

Contributor’s Column

Rising to the occasion Victoria Main

Contributing writer vmain@murraystate.edu

Teenagers are here to change the world. Despite most of the demographic being unable to vote, they will not let age muffle their voices and demands for change.

With the most recent tragedies occurring at Marshall County High School and Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in Parkland, Florida, students have had enough. Survivors and student activists have galvanized the national debate over school safety and gun violence.

School walkouts and protests have been organized all over the nation in response to the #NeverAgain movement, along with a national “March for Our Lives” that will take place in Washington, D.C. on March 24.

Though many of these students are still in high school, they do not let their youth prevent them from standing for what they believe in. This time they are making sure their voices are heard loud and clear. This is why I believe teenagers are going to be the leaders of change. The students affected have heard enough of the “thoughts and

prayers,” and are now wanting real political action to take place.

Since the Parkland shootings, student activists such as Emma González, 18, and David Hogg, 17, are supporting and demanding change when our leaders will not, and they will not take no for an answer.

Their current target is the National Rifle Association. Since González’s “We Call BS” speech, many across the nation have rallied and called for companies to retract support and discounts for members of the NRA. Walmart and Dick’s Sporting Goods have already raised the age to purchase firearms at their stores to 21. This is due in part to the relentless actions taken by these individuals across the nation.

This movement, and those like it, has lead to changes in communities all over the world. In India and Sudan, for example, children are fighting to end child marriage, campaigning for free education and even suing over the effects caused by climate change.

I think that it is important that young people are getting involved in politics and the workings of the world. Even though they don’t have a say at the voting booth, it does not mean that they do not have a voice. What is happening in America

and all over the world is going to impact their future. I believe they have the right to speak up for what they believe in and make it known they want change.

I do not think that anyone should underestimate the power of these students. With the connection of social media, they are able to spread their message throughout the Internet. Student activists are turning to news stations, speaking at rallies and creating hashtags to create a large presence online and in media. González never had a Twitter until after the attack on her high school. She is now not only speaking at events and to news stations, she is able to express her ideas on Twitter to reach larger audiences as well. These students are going full force when it comes to standing up for what they believe in, educating themselves and others, and I think that it is not going to end anytime soon.

I am proud of the younger generation advocating for positive change. They’re strong enough to change the world and are taking action when our political leaders won’t. Our future will be constructed by those who participate in elections and fight for what they believe in. It’s time we all join this movement.

The News

News

Page 8

March 8, 2018

ACLU argues against Bible literacy courses in Kentucky schools Destinee Marking Staff writer

dmarking@murraystate.edu

The American Civil Liberties Union of Kentucky has written a letter to the Kentucky Department of Education expressing concerns regarding new “Bible Literacy” classes.

When House Bill 128 was signed into law by Gov. Matt Bevin in June 2017, public schools in Kentucky gained the option to teach Bible courses.

According to the bill, the Kentucky Board of Education is required to promote administrative regulations that establish an elective social studies class on the Hebrew Scriptures, Old Testament of the Bible, the New Testament or a combination.

The courses exist to provide students with knowledge of biblical content, characters and poetry.

In the ACLU’s letter, sent Jan. 5, 2018, it explained that the organization sent records requests to every Kentucky school district requesting documentation on offered “Bible Literacy” courses.

“It appears that the vast majority of schools currently do not offer a ‘Bible Literacy’ course,” the letter states.

“However, several schools do offer such classes, and there appears to be serious fundamental and constitutional issues with those courses.”

The letter includes descriptions of specific issues identified in four public school districts throughout the state.

McCracken County students were encouraged to read the book of Philippians to learn about anxiety and coping skills. According to the letter, it is not constitutional for schools to use religious material to serve nonreligious interests.

Students in Barren County were to write a family member and attempt to persuade them to appreciate the faith and religious heritage found in an exhibit at the South Central Kentucky Cultural Center. According to the ACLU, this is considered proselytizing.

The ACLU found Letcher County Bible electives are taught using lessons and worksheets found on an online database called “Teen Sunday School Place.”

S t u d e n t s i n L e t c h e r

County and McCracken County have been expected to memorize Bible verses for assignments and quizzes, but not to analyze the verses for deeper meaning and influence.

In Lewis County’s “Bible Literacy” class, the ACLU found that a teacher relied on her students to shape the course since the Kentucky Department of Education has not yet finalized standards for these courses.

“Religious education is best left to parents and churches, not school or government officials,” according the the ACLU. “Religion is a deeply personal matter, and families are in the best position to introduce their children to religious belief systems.”

Julie Boeker/The News

McCracken County students were encouraged to read the Book of Philippians to learn about anxiety and coping skills, according to the ACLU letter.

BASEBALL

From Page 4

Racers keep rolling Murray State baseball took on Fort Wayne for the final time on Sunday and won 13-2.

Sophomore pitcher Trevor McMurray took the hill for the final game of the series for the Racers. He looked to earn his second win of the season, going 1-1 in his previous two starts. Junior pitcher Shane Odzark started out on the hill for the Mastodons.

Odzark hasn’t excelled early on, going 0-2 in his previous two starts.

After the Racers lost the first game of a 4-game homestand, they have bounced back due, in large part, to their offense. In its doubleheader on Saturday, Murray State scored a combined 29 runs. The offensive outpouring from the Racers continued into Sunday afternoon.

Murray State got things going first in the bottom of the second inning. A walk to freshman second baseman Grant Wood and a single from junior catcher Mike Farnell put a runner in scoring position early on for the Racers. Senior designated hitter Caleb Hicks took advantage of the opportunity, driving

in Wood on a sacrifice-fly to take a 1-0 lead.

In the top of the third, Fort Wayne answered with a sacrifice-fly of its own, tying the game 1-1. However, the Racers returned the favor in the bottom of the third. Four walks and a hit-by-pitch led to two runs despite not having a hit in the inning, giving Murray State a 3-1 lead.

Murray State wasn’t done there. They added three more runs to their lead in the bottom of the sixth on four hits in the inning. After Fort Wayne squeaked a run across in the following inning, the Racers continued the onslaught.

After a leadoff single from sophomore outfielder Ryan Perkins, Gutzler homered for the second time this season.

Sims then made back-to-back home runs for Murray State with a solo shot for his second bomb of the season, making it a 12-2 ballgame. After tacking on one more run in the bottom of the eighth, sophomore pitcher Alec Whaley closed out the ninth for the Racers to claim the 13-2 victory.

The win gives Murray State its third-straight victory of 10 or more runs, heading into a week with four more home games. They will take on Southern Illinois University first at 3 p.m. on Wednesday, March 7, at Reagan Field.

Total Racer

WIN

the

Kalea Anderson/The News

Freshman Grant Wood follows through on a swing during the Racers’ weekend series.

EXPERIENCE

Complete your 2018-19 on-campus housing application and pay your deposit by April 15. You’ll be entered to win the Total Racer Experience beginning this fall:

$50 dining flex dollars

Parking permit upgrade

Free textbook rentals

Learn more and complete your housing application today at murraystate.edu/tre

Racer gift pack

One grand prize winner will be selected from every on-campus housing facility!

Every student who secures on-campus housing

by April 15 will receive a Murray State t-shirt.

Equal education and employment opportunities M/F/D, AA employer.

Murray State University supports a clean and healthy campus. Please refrain from personal tobacco use.

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