After a lot of rain delays pushed the start time back, the Missouri Valley Conference baseball tournament finally got underway. The first pitch of Murray State’s quest for a second straight MVC tournament title didn’t begin until 10:10 p.m.
Murray State played the No. 6 seeded Illinois State Redbirds in the second and final game of the day.
Illinois State got the scoring started thanks to shortstop Camden Karczewski driving in two runs on a single in the top of the second inning.
The Redbirds added to their lead thanks to a solo home run in the top of the fourth from center fielder Luke Stulga. Murray State answered back in the bottom half of the inning thanks to RBI singles from graduate infielder Colby Ott and graduate utility Connor Chisholm to make the score 3-2.
After a scoreless fifth inning, the Racers’ senior starting pitcher Nic Schutte recorded two of his six strikeouts for the game in the top half of the sixth. In the home half of the sixth inning, Chisholm picked up his first RBI of the day on a sacrifice fly to center field. Redshirt freshman infielder Anthony Perritano tagged up to score and tie the game at three runs a piece.
With two outs in the top of the seventh, Illinois State took the lead right back on a RBI single from Graham Mastros. Sophomore infielder Connor Cunningham misplayed the groundball and the ball bounced into the outfield, allowing Brayden Bakes to score from second base.
Down 4-3 in the bottom of the seventh, Murray State looked to capitalize on the moment they had built over the past few innings. Senior outfielder Kainen Jorge singled into left field and stole second base to get the Racers into scoring position. Cunningham and graduate infielder Daylan Pena walked in back-to-back at-bats.
Peritano came up to bat and with a 2-2 count, he was hit by a pitch which brought Jorge in to score. Graduate catcher Parker Airhart flew out to center and moved Perritano and Pena into scoring position and scored Cunningham. Ott reached base on a throwing error from third base and Pena scored on the play. A three-run bottom of the seventh gave the Racers the lead and inevitably the win.
Schutte finished a complete game, allowing four runs on seven hits. He threw 136 pitches in the game and saved all of the Racers’ bullpen arms for the upcoming tournament games.
Chisholm went 2-for-4 with two RBIs. Airhart, Peritano and Ott all recorded RBIs, all of which came in the seventh inning. Pena went 0-for-2, but drew two walks and scored twice.
With the win, Murray State advances to the winner’s bracket of the Missouri Valley Conference baseball tournament. They will face the No. 2 seed Indiana State Sycamores at 5:30 p.m. on Thursday, May 21.
