The Murray State baseball team struggled to reignite the offensive power that propelled them to their recent victory against Bellarmine, going 0-3 in Chicago against UIC over the weekend before losing 12-1 to Southeastern Missouri State.
Game One, 3-1 UIC
Senior outfielder Kris Hokenson scored the Racers’ lone run in the opening game, hitting a double deep into right field to advance senior infielder Luke Mistone home in the first inning. However, the Flames quickly scored two runs of their own. First, senior pitcher Nic Schutte committed an error which allowed a UIC runner to advance home. Soon after, Schutte balked, leading a second runner to advance home. The Flames scored again in the fifth, with a ground out to third base allowing a third run that gave them the 3-1 lead they ended the game with.
Schutte pitched seven innings for the Racers in game one, resulting in four hits and an earned run while striking out seven batters and walking two. Junior pitcher Jack Wajda came in for relief in the eighth, where he allowed one hit and walked a batter.
Game Two, 8-2 UIC
UIC’s offense struck early in game two, hitting home runs in the first and second to take a 2-0 lead. The Flames continued their offensive outpour in the fourth A third runner advanced home on a walk, and they hit a three-RBI home run to raise their lead to 7-0. Mistone answered in the sixth, grounding out to advance a runner home. UIC continued to respond, however, and brought their lead to 8-1 to end the seventh. A one-RBI home run from senior outfielder Kainen Jorge was not enough to turn the tides for the Racers, and the Flames won 8-2.
Junior pitcher Jacob Hustedde saw a majority of time on the mound for the Racers. He allowed seven runs on seven hits while walking two and striking out one in 3.2 innings of work. Junior pitcher Ethan Lyke allowed four hits and a run, and struck out two in two innings. Junior pitcher Carter Boyd went hitless while striking out a batter in 1.1 innings. Lastly, junior pitcher Preston Chaudoin allowed one hit and struck out a batter in an inning.
Game Three, 10-5 UIC
Jorge played hero for Murray State early in the final game of the series. He hit a home run in the top of the second and immediately followed it with a two-RBI home run in the third, giving the Racers the early 3-0 lead. Graduate infielder Colby Ott reached on a fielder’s choice in the top of the fourth, which allowed freshman infielder Anthony Perritano to advance home to add to Murray’s lead. However, UIC found an extended offensive rhythm, scoring 10 unanswered runs in the next five innings to steal the lead back. Mistone scored his second run of the series in the ninth and hit a home run to left center, but the Flames’ mid-game offensive stretch proved too much to overcome. The home team held on for the 10-5 victory.
Junior pitcher Drew Deremer saw the most time on the mound in the closing game, allowing two runs on two hits while walking three and striking out two in 3.2 innings. Graduate pitcher Ben Rosin allowed three runs on three hits,walked two and struck out two in 2.2 innings. Senior pitcher Dylan Zentko allowed five runs on four hits,walked two and struck out one in two innings.
Vs. SEMO, 12-1 SEMO
SEMO’s offense got off to a hot start, scoring six runs in the first four innings. Murray State answered back in the bottom of the fourth, with Ott hitting a one-RBI home run to get the Racers on the board. However, the Redhawks continued their offensive streak, scoring another six runs to defeat Murray State 12-1.
Wajda started the game for the Racers, allowing three earned runs while striking out two and walking two in 0.2 innings. Graduate pitcher Kane Elmy took the mound for the first time this season, but allowed three earned runs on three hits before being pulled. Junior pitcher Joshua Fleming saw the most time on the mound for Murray State in the game, allowing three earned runs on two hits while striking out three in 2.2 innings.
Following the series, Murray State now has 20 games left on the season. Their next contest takes them back home, where they are set to face Southeast Missouri at Johnny Reagan Field on April 14 at 4 p.m. The game will be broadcast on ESPN+.
