Murray State
Illinois State
Players Mentioned
Racers and Redbirds Set For Weekend Series
2/28/2019 5:15:00 PM | Baseball
Illinois State at Murray State
GAMES 9-11
March 1-3
First Pitch:Â Friday: 1 p.m. (DH), Saturday: 1 p.m.
Series History:Â Illinois State leads, 5-2
Last Meeting:Â MSU 1, ISU 0 - February 27, 2009
Stadium: Johnny Reagan Field
Dimensions:Â 330 (LF), 400 (CF), 330 (RF)
Live Audio
Live Stats:Â Game 1 | Game 2 | Game 3
In-Game Twitter:Â @RacersBaseball
First Pitch
The Racers begin an eight-game homestand this weekend with three games against Illinois State. MSU is coming off a 9-5 loss to Western Kentucky while the Redbirds recently split a four-game series with Central Arkansas.
Inside the Series
The Racers and and Redbirds have only met seven times on the diamond and not since 2009. Murray State won the first game of the series and the most recent but ISU won five in a row in between.
Slunder Shines
Jake Slunder had his best game as a Racer against Western Kentucky, going 4-4 with an RBI and a run scored. It was the first four-hit game for a Racer since Gavin Wehby went 4-4 against EKU on May 6, 2018.
Triple Play
In the eighth inning against Miami (OH), Monday, the Racers pulled off one of the rarest plays in baseball, the triple play. A grounder right down the third-base line allowed MSU to go around the horn to get out of the jam. It was the third triple play in Racer history, previously done on March 8, 2006 at Ole Miss and March 16, 2016 vs. Kentucky State.
Running Wild
The Racers are nearly a third of the way to matching last season's stolen base output after stealing their 16 base against WKU, Wednesday. Against Memphis earlier in the season, the Racers stole eight bases, which is the most in one game the Racers have had in the last 15 seasons.
New Faces
In addition to a new coaching staff, the Racers will add 13 new players to the 2019 team.
Fresh Lineup
There will be significant changes to the Racer lineup as they will have to replace seven starters. Senior shortstop Jaron Robinson and junior outfielder/first baseman Ryan Perkins are the only returning starters.
Familiar Rotation
Unlike the lineup, the Racers will return a majority of their pitching staff, including their top nine pitchers in innings pitched in 2018, led by junior Trevor McMurray
Tournament Trip
MSU is looking to make their third straight trip to the OVC Tournament this season. The Racers went 1-2 down at Choccolocco Park in Oxford, Ala., defeating Eastern Illinois in the first round.'
Scouting Illinois State
The Redbirds are coming off a series with Central Arkansas, splitting the four-game series.
Illinois State ranks eighth nationally in runs per game, averaging 10.7 through the first two weeks of play
ISU was picked to finish sixth in the strong Missouri Valley Conference. Missouri State was predicted to be on top at the end of the season.
The Redbirds return a very experienced pitching staff as the team returns starters from 49 of their 52 games a season ago.
Probable Starters
Brent Headrick (LHP) (0-0, 3.97 ERA) vs. Trevor McMurray (RHP) (0-1, 7.88 ERA)
Jeff Lindgren (RHP) (2-0, 2.25 ERA) vs. TBA
Matt Walker (LHP) (1-1, 1.12 ERA) vs. TBA
