Racers Host Bruins For MVC Home Opening Series

Thursday, March 28

Murray, Ky.

5 p.m.

Murray State

Belmont

Photo by: David Eaton-Murray State Athletics

3/27/2024 5:31:00 PM | Baseball

Murray State aims to maintain its undefeated 12-0 record at home.

By: Drew Parsley

Date (Time): Mar. 28-30 (5 p.m. CT, 5 p.m. CT, 1 p.m. CT)
Site (Venue): Murray, Ky. (Reagan Field)
Opponent: Belmont Bruins
TV: ESPN+
Live Stats: GoRacers.com
All-Time Record vs. Belmont: 22-31

The Racers are slated to play the Belmont Bruins for their Missouri Valley Conference home opener March 28-30 at Reagan Field in Murray, Kentucky. Murray State is 4-6 against the Bruins in the last 10 matchups and 22-31 all-time dating back to the first meeting in 1997.

With a long previous history in the Ohio Valley Conference, last year's campaign was the first season both the Racers and Belmont competed in the MVC. MSU took the series in Nashville 2-1 in a three-game series. The Racers are 13-11 at home all-time against the Bruins.

Scouting Report
Belmont enters the series with a 12-13 record and are 1-2 in conference play after their conference-opening series at home against UIC. Dave Jarvis, the head coach for Belmont, is in his 27th season at the helm of the Bruins' baseball program. Since the 1998 season, he has amassed a record of 749-691-2 with nine seasons of 30 wins or more.

Belmont's offense is led by Sam Slaughter, Mason Landers and Pete Daniel. Slaughter is the team's leader in batting average and OPS at .355 and 1.006. Landers leads the team with seven home runs, 24 RBIs, 31 base hits and a .598 slugging percentage.

The Bruins defense ranks among the top 3 in The Valley in fielding percentage (0.976) and double plays turned (16). Belmont's pitching staff is led by Will Pryor, who holds a 2-1 record through six starts with a 4.06 ERA. He has fanned 33 batters through 31 innings on the mound while allowing 14 runs on 28 hits and 17 walks. Five players on the Bruins pitching staff have totaled at least two wins this year.

Weekly Notes
The Racers are coming off a run rule over Western Kentucky, 15-2, to extend their winning streak to seven games and maintain a perfect 12-0 record at Reagan Field. Murray State still remains among the top 40 in Division I RPI rankings at 37th and are among the top 50 nationally in batting average (.302), ERA (4.49), home runs (43), slugging percentage (.525), WHIP (1.35) and walks allowed per nine innings (3.61).

Carson Garner hit his 10th home run in the route over WKU, matching his previous season total in 2023. He sits top 10 in Division I with 28 walks drawn and is 29th in the country while also leading the conference in homers.

The Franklin, Tennessee native also sits top 40 nationally in on-base percentage at .532.

Jacob Pennington holds the highest strikeout-to-walk ratio in the MVC at 5.00 and is tied for second in walks allowed per nine innings with 1.82. Cade Vernon is among the top 25 with four wins this season.

For more information on the Murray State baseball program, visit GoRacers.com or @RacersBaseball on Instagram and X.