Murray State University Athletics
Murray State
10-2
Mercyhurst
0-7
Racers Dominate Mercyhurst 20-4 to Complete Series Sweep
3/1/2026 6:13:00 PM | Baseball
NASHVILLE, Tenn. - Behind a disciplined approach at the plate that yielded 16 free bases, Murray State baseball dismantled Mercyhurst 20-4 in seven innings Sunday to complete a series sweep and extend its winning streak to eight games.
The victory moves the Racers to 10-2 on the season and marks the conclusion of the program's scheduled neutral-site weekend series.
Murray State's offense was the story of the afternoon, recording 10 hits while striking out just three times. Despite the high scoring output, the Racers finished with only one extra-base hit: a two-RBI triple from Kainen Jorge in the fourth inning.
Sloan Barrett and Jake Slade both turned in multi-hit performances. For Slade, it marked his second straight multi-hit game and his second of the season.
"It wasn't like they just went up there and it was four pitches that weren't anywhere near the zone," head coach Dan Skirka said. "We had some really competitive at-bats, and that's what I told them. I was really proud of them."
On the mound, Jacob Roettgen earned his first win as a Racer. Roettgen provided 2.2 innings of stellar relief, allowing just one hit while punching out three batters.
The Racers jumped out to an early 2-0 lead in the second inning after Colby Ott laced a two-run single to center field. Mercyhurst (0-7) briefly threatened, responding with a four-run third inning to take a 4-2 lead, but the advantage was short-lived.
Murray State reclaimed control permanently in the bottom of the third. In a rare display of plate discipline, the Racers drew 11 free passes in the frame, exploding for 10 runs on just two hits to take a 12-4 lead.
"This non-conference has been kind of screwy with weather and with our fields, so we haven't got as many at-bats and scrimmages outside," Skirka said. "So, I think the more at-bats these guys get, the more comfortable they'll be."
The Racers added eight more runs over the final three frames, invoking the run rule at the conclusion of the top of the seventh.
On Deck
Murray State looks to keep the momentum rolling as they hit the road for a midweek matchup against Middle Tennessee State. First pitch is scheduled for Tuesday, March 3, at 3 p.m.
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Team Stats
Pitching:
W: Roettgen, Jacob (1-0)
L: P. Weigand (0-1)
Batting:
2B: Z. Black 1 ; R. Ames 1
RBI: J. Walker 2 ; R. Ventura 1 ; R. Ames 1
SF: R. Ventura 1
Base Running:
RUNS: L. Koslin 1 ; J. Walker 1 ; Z. Black 1 ; R. Ames 1
SB: R. Ames 1
HBP: L. Koslin 1
Batting:
3B: Jorge, Kainen 1
RBI: Chisolm, Connor 2 ; McCoy, Jackson 1 ; Mistone, Luke 2 ; Pena, Daylan 2 ; Jorge, Kainen 3 ; Airhart, Parker 3 ; Hokenson, Kristofer 2 ; Barrett, Sloan 1 ; Slade, Jake 1 ; Ott, Colby 3
SH: Slade, Jake 1
SF: McCoy, Jackson 1 ; Mistone, Luke 1 ; Hokenson, Kristofer 1
Base Running:
RUNS: Chisolm, Connor 2 ; Mistone, Luke 1 ; Pena, Daylan 3 ; Jorge, Kainen 2 ; Airhart, Parker 2 ; Hokenson, Kristofer 2 ; Barrett, Sloan 3 ; Slade, Jake 2 ; Ott, Colby 3
SB: Chisolm, Connor 1 ; Mistone, Luke 1 ; Jorge, Kainen 1 ; Ott, Colby 1
HBP: Hokenson, Kristofer 1 ; Slade, Jake 1
