Racers Travel To Windy City For Missouri Valley Clash

Date (Time): Apr. 19-21 (6 p.m. CT, 2 p.m. CT, 1 p.m. CT)
Site (Venue): Chicago, Ill. (Curtis Granderson Stadium)
Opponent: UIC Flames
TV: ESPN+
Live Stats/Radio: GoRacers.com
All-Time Record vs. UIC: 39-4-1

The Racers look to take on the UIC Flames for a conference weekend series April 19-21 at Curtis Granderson Stadium in Chicago, Ill. This will be the first time in program history that Murray State takes on the Flames in a road matchup.

The Racers lead the all-time series with UIC 39-4-1. Last year's inaugural Missouri Valley matchup was the first time the two programs had played each other since the 1979 season. Prior to dropping last year's series to UIC 1-2, Murray State was unbeaten in their last 24 games with a 23-0-1 record from 1974 to 1979.

Scouting Report
UIC enters the weekend with a 22-11 record under head coach Sean McDermott, who is in his third year leading the Flames baseball program and sixth overall year in the head coaching role. Since his arrival to UIC, McDermott has totaled a 72-61 record.

The Flames' offense is led by Zane Zielinski, who currently leads The Valley in batting average (.400), base hits (54), triples (4) and is top three in the conference in stolen bases (13), on-base percentage (.494) and OPS (1.175). The senior is one of three UIC players to record at least 30 RBIs this season and has accounted for 37-percent of the Flames' total stolen bases this year.

UIC's pitching staff is led by Brandon Bak, who carries a 2-2 record and a 4.75 ERA in nine appearances. He has fanned 48 batters, which is tied for the third-most in the MVC, through 55 innings on the mound in 2024. Reece Lawler has been one of the key bullpen arms for the Flames, having recorded six saves through 17 appearances and holds a 3-1 record. The redshirt junior carries a 3.13 ERA and a 2-1 record in 23 innings of relief, allowing eight earned runs on 22 hits, five walks and 20 punch outs.

Weekend Notes
Carson Garner is riding a team-best 27- game reached base streak entering the weekend series at UIC, and is ranked 15th nationally in walks and 47th in home runs. Taylor Howell leads the team with 13 multi-RBI games; eight of which were two-RBI games and six games he recorded three RBIs. Murray State ranks among the top 75 nationally in base hits (64th), home runs (35th), runs scored (62nd), runs per game (74th), slugging percentage (63rd), strikeout-to-walk ratio (57th), WHIP (59th) and walks allowed per nine innings (24th).

Jacob Pennington's 230 career strikeouts are two shy of tying the second-most in program history, his 17 career wins are one short of tying the ninth-most all-time, and his 258.1 career IP are fourth-most all-time (3rd-264.1; 2nd-271.1). On April 14, head coach Dan Skirka earned his 150th career win at the helm of the Murray State baseball program.

Dustin Mercer and Drew Vogel lead the team with 47 base hits, tied for the 7th-most in the Missouri Valley. During the weekend at SIU, Vogel batted .536 with home runs in back-to-back games, four runs scored, 13 total bases and a staggering 1.600 OPS.

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

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Players Mentioned

Carson Garner

Taylor Howell

Dustin Mercer

Jacob Pennington

Drew Vogel

Murray State University Athletics