Sports > May 1, 2008

By Jeff Merski | Senior writer

Sophomore catcher Mike Murray has become one of the leading hitters on the baseball team over the past several weeks as the Deacons have played much better baseball.

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(Photo by Jeff Merski/Old Gold & Black / Graphic by Allison Lange/Old Gold & Black)

He is currently hitting .298 with 37 hits, 19 runs, four home runs and 25 RBIs in 40 games (of which he started 27).

Murray had a 13 game hitting streak that ended on April 23 at Coastal Carolina, but he picked up right where he left off, starting a five game hitting streak the next game at Georgia Tech that he has carried through the April 30 contest against Davidson. Over the stretch in which Murray safely hit in 18 out of 19 games, his batting average was .338.

The Old Gold & Black’s senior writer Jeff Merski caught up with Murray after the Davidson game to discuss his recent success at the plate, the toughest pitch to catch and the Bruce Springsteen concert that occurred on April 28 in Greensboro.

On his recent success hitting:

I’ve had the opportunity to get some consistent at-bats and Coach Palmeiri and I have been working on some things in my swing.

With the consistent at-bats I’ve been able to get into a rhythm and when you know you’re going to be in the lineup everyday it gives you a little bit of comfort and you’re able to take some good at-bats and that’s what I’ve been doing.

On the hardest pitch for him to catch:

I’m going to say (senior) Ben Hunter’s slider. He’ll like that. It’s his self-proclaimed best pitch in college baseball.

On the toughest pitch for him to take:

For me being a left-handed hitter, there are some tough lefties out there with left-handed sliders coming in.

You have to bear down and stay on the pitch and do your best with it.

On the team’s improved play over the past several games:

We went through a rough stretch when we weren’t playing that well; we had to get back to basics and get back to pitching well and taking good at-bats and we’ve been doing a much better job at that.

We’re trying to peak at the right time and we’ve got some big ACC series coming up and we’re trying to play well, make our way to Jacksonville, Fla., and try to make a run in the tournament.

On his favorite class at the university:

History with Professor Kent McConnell. He’s really great professor with great insight and a very interesting class.

On the Bruce Springsteen and the E Street Band concert on April 28 in Greensboro:

It was fantastic.

They still have it. They’re nearing 60 but the E Street Band still has it.

“Trapped” was fantastic and “Born to Run” – you haven’t lived until you’ve seen “Born to Run” live.