Racers Take Series Opener In Chicago

Friday, April 19

Chicago, Ill.

6 p.m.

Murray State

23-14, 0

UIC

22-12, 0

Murray State

UIC Flames

4/19/2024 9:55:00 PM | Baseball

Box Score Box Score (PDF)

Jonathan Hogart went 4-4 with a three-run homer in Friday night’s win.

By: Drew Parsley

The Racers opened the series with the UIC Flames with a 13-9 victory at Curtis Granderson Stadium in Chicago, Illinois.

Murray State opened up their scoring affair with a 2-0 lead in the first inning after Drew Vogel led off the game reaching base on a fielding error then scoring on an RBI triple hit by Dustin Mercer. Mercer then scored a run on an RBI groundout credit to Carson Garner.

UIC struck the scoreboard with a solo homer in the second inning then took a 5-2 lead with a two-run home run, an RBI double and an RBI single in the third inning.

The Racers continued their battle after Taylor Howell drove in Jonathan Hogart on an RBI base hit in the fourth. Dan Tauken then drove in Hogart's second run scored of the game with a double to left field and scored the tying run on another fielding error. MSU then exploded for a five-run frame in the seventh on RBI base hits from Hogart, Howell and Ethan Krizen.

The Flames clawed back into the game with three runs of their own put up in the bottom half of the seventh, but Hogart provided insurance for the Racers with a three-run homer for his fourth hit of the game to make it 13-9 in the eighth. His three-run blast gave the redshirt junior four RBIs on the day.

Cade Vernon earned his sixth win of the year after tossing 6 2/3 innings in his start on the mound with four punchouts in the outing. Nathan Holler efficiently closed the door on the Flames by striking out four batters and allowing just one walk and two hits in 2 1/3 innings out of the bullpen.

Five Racers scored at least two runs Friday night and four tallied multi-hit games. Hogart and Howell each recorded four-RBI games.

Murray State looks ahead to the second game of the weekend series with UIC at 2 p.m. CT on Saturday, April 20 at Curtis Granderson Stadium in Chicago.

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