Murray State University Athletics
Murray State
Ole Miss
Racers Set for Return to Oxford for Midweek Matchup
4/20/2026 4:47:00 PM | Baseball
MURRAY, Ky. – Murray State baseball is set for its return to Swayze Field for the first time since winning the Oxford Regional in June 2025. The last time the two programs met, the Racers downed the Rebels 12-11 to advance to the Super Regionals against Duke. Murray State faced Ole Miss three times in that regional, winning two of the three matchups.
The Racers enter Tuesday's matchup following a home weekend sweep of the Illinois State Redbirds, moving into a tie for first in the MVC standings with a 10-5 conference record, alongside UIC. Kainen Jorge provided the heroics Sunday with a single up the middle to give the Racers their first walk-off victory of 2026. The win capped the largest comeback of the season as the Racers erased a five-run deficit.
Tuesday's contest marks the second matchup against an SEC opponent for the Racers this season, following a midweek trip to Kentucky on March 24. Murray State looks to improve its midweek record, which stands at 4-5, and a 7-12 road record. Ole Miss enters the contest with an 8-2 mark in midweek games.
The Racers and Rebels have met 30 times, with Ole Miss leading the all-time series 23-6-1. While Ole Miss holds the overall lead, Murray State has won three of the last five meetings, including the two victories in the 2025 Oxford Regional. The Rebels enter the week with a 29-12 record, ranked No. 6 in the RPI and No. 17 nationally by D1Baseball.
The Rebels' lineup features former Racer Dom Decker, who has posted a .259 batting average with six home runs this year. Decker is one of four Rebels to start all 41 games in the 2026 season.
The Racers will give redshirt junior Preston Chaudoin the ball to start, making his first start of the year, second of his career. Ole Miss will start junior right-hander Owen Kelly.
First pitch is scheduled for 6:30 p.m. at Swayze Field and will be broadcast on SECN+.
