The Tribune

By RENALDO DORSETT

Tribune Sports Reporter

rdorsett@tribunemedia.net

BYRON Murray’s day at the plate led his Lynn Fighting Knights to a much-needed win over the Nova Southeastern Sharks in the series finale.

Murray finished 3-4 with a team high four RBI to lead Lynn to the win and bring an end to a five-game losing streak at the NSU Baseball Complex in Fort Lauderdale, Florida.

Lynn improved to 19-12, 7-8 in the Sunshine State Conference.

In the first inning, Murray hit a two-RBI double down the left field line to give the Fighting Knights a 2-0 lead.

He returned in the third with another RBI double to left centre and after a stolen base, eventually scored on a wild pitch. Murray also hit an RBI single through the left side in the ninth inning to cap his afternoon. It was his third four-RBI game of the season.

Through 30 games this season, Murray is hitting .282 with three home runs, 30 RBI and scored 31 runs with four stolen bases.

A former San Francisco Giants draft pick, Murray made the transition to Division II baseball after his stint in the minor leagues.

As a freshman he appeared in 18 games, hit .284 with six doubles, one triple, three home runs and 11 RBI, a .383 OBP and .537 slugging percentage.

In his sophomore season, he appeared in 22 games, batting .377 with seven doubles, one triple and one home run with 23 RBI and 30 runs. Murray led the team in slugging percentage (.766) and OBP (.505). He was also named to the SSC Commissioner’s Honour Roll.

Murray was selected by the Giants in the 2014 draft in the 25th round with the 748th pick.

As a rookie in August 2014, he was assigned to the Arizona League Giants and in 19 games, he hit .279 with 12 RBI, five doubles, two triples and a .758 OPS.

The following September, he was assigned to the Volcanoes for the first time and spent six games with the club.

His combined totals in 2015 across the Northwest League and Rookie League (53 games total) included an average .251 with 28 RBI, three home runs, nine stolen bases and a .723 OPS. He was called up to Class A Advanced with the San Jose Giants, but his 2016 season was cut short due to injury and he was sent back to the AZL on a rehab assignment, where he appeared in just four games. He was called up to the Salem-Keizer Volcanoes in the Class A Short Season in 2017, his last appearance in the minors. Out of Trinity Christian in Lake Worth, Florida, Murray was a 2014 Florida All-Region and was an Underclass High Honourable Mention in both 2012 and 2013.