Just 16 hours after the Murray State baseball team’s “X” account posted the final score graphic, the team was welcomed back to Murray by fans, family and media.

A 45-minute delay from the originally scheduled arrival time of 12:45 p.m. didn’t turn anyone away as fans more ecstatic to see the team after prolonging their historic season.

Melony Shemberger, a professor of journalism and mass communication, says it’s a wonderful feeling to be able to celebrate this team and gave head coach Dan Skirka a lot of praise.

“I love it when coaches come in, know what the assignment is and get it done,” Shemberger said. “Coach Skirka has done and amazing job of building a solid program season after season and now we are seeing the fruits of all the labor.”

Also in attendance for the homecoming was Jan and John Fuqua. Jan is the daughter of former Murray State baseball coach Johnny Reagan, who the Racers’ field is named after. The Fuqua’s were excited and emotional when comparing the similarities between the Reagan-led Racers team and the current roster led by Skirka.

“It’s a return to prominence,” John Fuqua said. “They did it in a way that was very consistent with how this program was built 50 years ago. When I heard Coach Skirka refer to the team as ‘men’, that’s the way Johnny Reagan referred to his team.”

“It’s unbelievable and exciting,” Jan Fuqua said. “I’m sure my father is looking down (and) smiling on the whole thing.”

While Jan didn’t know what her father would say if he could’ve been here, John had an idea.

“He would very humbly say, ‘We have a job to do. Let’s go play, men.'”

Also among the attendees was new men’s basketball coach Ryan Miller, who believes his team can learn from the baseball team’s winning ways and carry that success into his first season.

“Winning begets winning,” Miller said. “They have shown what championship culture is (and) how to play in pressure situations. The guys we need to have on our team need to inherently have those same attributes to be successful.”

The team got off the bus and a roar of cheers erupted as senior infielder Carson Garner held up the Super Regional championship trophy. Kids and fans alike lined up to get autographs, take photos with members of team and let them know how proud they were of this team.

The Racers begin their College World Series run at 1 p.m. on Saturday, June 14, when they play the UCLA Bruins.