Murray State Athletics celebrated back-to-back wins in the Heritage Bank Battle of the Border for the 2017-18 school year over Ohio Valley Conference rival, the Austin Peay State Governors.
The Heritage Bank Battle of the Border is an annual rivalry series between these two longtime OVC powers. Points are earned for each head-to-head regular season match, game or series, or their finish at the OVC Championship. The 67 total points possible represent the 67 miles separating the two universities.
The competition in the 2017-18 school year was tight with the Racers winning the bragging rights and getting to keep the traveling trophy by a score of 35-32. The Racers clinched the win on the final event of the school year by the women’s track & field team at the OVC Outdoor Championships. The Racers and Govs met in 16 different competitions in which MSU scored points in soccer, women’s cross country, volleyball, women’s and men’s basketball, women’s tennis, women’s golf and outdoor track & field. MSU also won points in the annual blood drive.
The Racers will house the Battle of the Border traveling trophy in Roy Stewart Stadium during the 2018-19 school year as the competition gets underway with the first meeting between the Racers and Govs coming in soccer on Oct. 12.
“This is an amazing rivalry we have with Austin Peay and the Battle of the Border is a great way to highlight the excitement of the rivalry each time we meet,” said Murray State Director of Athletics Allen Ward. “A special thanks goes to Heritage Bank for sponsoring this effort and we all look forward to the next go around.”
“The Battle of the Border is fun and we’re proud to help shine the light on these two great schools and their outstanding student-athletes,” said Amy Futrell, Heritage Bank Calloway County Market President. “The student-athletes from Murray State and Austin Peay represent themselves in a first class manner and all of us at Heritage Bank are extremely proud to be involved.”
(STORY FROM MURRAY STATE ATHLETICS)