Racers Host Illinois State in MVC Preview

Murray State (8-4) baseball plays host to Illinois State for a three-game series with a single-game on Thursday (March 10) at 3 pm and a doubleheader on Friday (March 11) starting at 12 pm with all three games coming at Johnny Reagan Field in Murray, Kentucky. The Racers return to Johnny Reagan Field where they began the campaign 8-0 for the first time ever and will host the Redbirds in what will be a preview of Missouri Valley Conference foes.

After starting the season as the best in Racer history, the 2022 MSU squad now sits at 8-4 after a tough schedule of SEC opponents in Alabama and Kentucky over the last four games. Murray State is undefeated at home this season following sweeps of Butler and Northern Illinois to start the year while also defeating Bellarmine in a single game.

Graduates Jordan Holly and Jake Slunder lead the Racer bats to this point in the season with each hitting above .320 while driving in seven and 11 runs respectively. Slunder leads the team in triples with three on the year while Holly is tied for the team lead in doubles with five.

Jacob Pennington continues to show an elite level on both sides of the game tossing 10.1 scoreless innings on the year while batting .414 with a slugging percentage at .724 and posting a .564 on-base percentage. Pennington is also tied for the team lead in home runs with the bat in his hands. While he has done damage at the plate, on the mound, the redshirt sophomore has been dominant striking out 10 and walking just one in three appearances for the Racers.

Scouting Report

Illinois State comes into the series at 6-4 on the season with wins over at the time number two Arkansas to open the year and most recently defeating fellow OVC member UT Martin on Tuesday.

Redshirt junior Jake McCaw leads the Redbirds on the offensive side batting .350 on the year with three home runs and 13 RBIs on the season. McCaw has collected 14 hits on the year to go with his impressive .625 slugging percentage and .426 on-base percentage.

The Illinois State arms are led by Jared Hart and his minuscule 0.82 ERA in 11 innings on the season. The junior left-hander has struck out 16 while walking just three batters through six appearances.

The Racers and Redbirds have met 10 times with Illinois State taking seven of the 10 meetings while taking two of three in the last series between the two sides in 2019.

First pitch for game one of the series comes on Thursday at 3 pm.

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Players Mentioned

Jordan Holly

Jacob Pennington

Jake Slunder

Murray State University Athletics