Murray State University Athletics
Saturday, May 11
Murray, Ky.
5 p.m.
Murray State
7
vs
3
Valparaiso
Pennington’s Record Day Carries Racers To Series Victory
5/11/2024 9:05:00 PM | Baseball
Jacob Pennington tossed a career-high 12 strikeouts in Saturday’s win over Valparaiso.
The Racers secured the weekend series with a win over the Valparaiso Beacons, 7-3, on Saturday at Reagan Field in Murray, Kentucky. With the win, Murray State extends its win streak to four games.
Jacob Pennington shined on the mound, recording a new career high of 12 strikeouts through 6 2/3 innings. The graduate allowed just three runs on five hits and one walk. In five of the seven frames Pennington pitched in he punched out at least two batters, including a three-strikeout inning in the top of the fourth.
Pennington's 12-strikeout performance is tied for the fifth-most in a single game in Murray State history.
Drew Vogel led off the bottom of the first with a solo home run on the first pitch thrown by the Beacons. He is now tied with Taylor Howell for the team lead with 19 home runs and has homered in three-straight games.
The Racers added three more runs in the second on an RBI double off the right-center wall from Ethan Krizen, followed by a two-run ground-rule double off the bat of Vogel. Vogel pushed Murray State's lead to 5-0 with his fourth RBI in as many innings. Dustin Mercer then gave the Racers their largest lead of the day with an RBI on a fielder's choice to score Krizen.
Valparaiso cracked the scoreboard for the first time in the seventh with an RBI double and a pair of RBI base hits to cut the Racers' lead to three. Carson Garner pushed MSU's lead to four in the home half with a sacrifice fly.
Nathan Holler earned his eighth save of the season after getting the final two outs of the game to secure the series win. With his save, Holler sits in a six-way tie for the most saves in program history.
Garner extended his reached-base streak to 13 games and Krizen pushed his streak to 10 games, which is his longest of the year.
The series finale is set for Sunday, May 12 at 1 p.m. CT at Reagan Field.
For more information on the Murray State baseball program, visit GoRacers.com or @RacersBaseball on Instagram and X.
Jacob Pennington shined on the mound, recording a new career high of 12 strikeouts through 6 2/3 innings. The graduate allowed just three runs on five hits and one walk. In five of the seven frames Pennington pitched in he punched out at least two batters, including a three-strikeout inning in the top of the fourth.
Pennington's 12-strikeout performance is tied for the fifth-most in a single game in Murray State history.
Drew Vogel led off the bottom of the first with a solo home run on the first pitch thrown by the Beacons. He is now tied with Taylor Howell for the team lead with 19 home runs and has homered in three-straight games.
The Racers added three more runs in the second on an RBI double off the right-center wall from Ethan Krizen, followed by a two-run ground-rule double off the bat of Vogel. Vogel pushed Murray State's lead to 5-0 with his fourth RBI in as many innings. Dustin Mercer then gave the Racers their largest lead of the day with an RBI on a fielder's choice to score Krizen.
Valparaiso cracked the scoreboard for the first time in the seventh with an RBI double and a pair of RBI base hits to cut the Racers' lead to three. Carson Garner pushed MSU's lead to four in the home half with a sacrifice fly.
Nathan Holler earned his eighth save of the season after getting the final two outs of the game to secure the series win. With his save, Holler sits in a six-way tie for the most saves in program history.
Garner extended his reached-base streak to 13 games and Krizen pushed his streak to 10 games, which is his longest of the year.
The series finale is set for Sunday, May 12 at 1 p.m. CT at Reagan Field.
For more information on the Murray State baseball program, visit GoRacers.com or @RacersBaseball on Instagram and X.
Players Mentioned
INF
/ Baseball
RHP
/ Baseball
C/1B
/ Baseball
C
/ Baseball
OF
/ Baseball
IF/RHP
/ Baseball
INF
/ BaseballHead Coach Ryan Miller | Racer Basketball Post Game Press Conference | 10/26/25
Monday, October 27
Javon Jackson | Racer Basketball Post Game Press Conference | 10/26/25
Monday, October 27
Head Coach Jody Wright | Racer Football | 10/20 Press Conference
Tuesday, October 21
Head Coach Ryan Miller | Racer Mens Basketball | 10/20 Press Conference
Monday, October 20
