Racer Baseball Off to Best Start Since 1975

Monday, February 28

Murray, Ky.

2 p.m.

Murray State

Northern Illinois

Photo by: Dave Winder-Murray State Athletics

2/28/2022 6:40:00 PM | Baseball

Box Score Photo Gallery

Murray State Won Their Seventh Consecutive Game to Start the Season, the Longest Stretch to Begin the Year since ’75

Murray State (7-0) baseball tied the best start in school history with the 1974 and 1975 seasons after their 7-6 win over Northern Illinois on Monday afternoon. The Racers came into Monday's matchup as one of just 18 undefeated teams left in the nation.

NIU jumped out to an early lead thanks to two unearned runs off graduate left-handed pitcher Adrien Reese. Reese finished the day going five innings with zero earned runs and two strikeouts. The MSU bats went to work in the third inning putting up four runs to take back the lead from the Huskies. Sophomore Parker Estes extended the Racers lead in the seventh inning on his first career home run, a deep solo blast to dead center field.

NIU would fight back, however, scratching together three runs in the top of the eighth inning to tie the game at five. The Murray State bats showed their firepower once again in the bottom of the inning plating Cade Sammons and Jacob Pennington to give them a 7-5 lead. Alec Whaley earned the win in relief while making his MSU record 86^th appearance on the mound. Whaley would allow one NIU run in the ninth but would slam the door with a strikeout to end the game.

Murray State tied program-record 7-0 start, the first time since 1975
Parker Estes blasted his first career home run in the Monday matchup with NIU
The Racers stole 23 bags on the weekend and have now scored 90 runs on the year

Murray State will be back in action going for the best start in program history on Wednesday against Bellarmine. First pitch will be at 3 pm and will be streamed on ESPN+.