Murray State baseball secured a decisive 14-8 victory against Illinois State on Saturday, clinching the series in Normal, Illinois. Dustin Mercer had a stellar performance, going 5-for-6 with two home runs, including a grand slam, and contributing seven RBIs. This feat ties him for fifth place in a single game in program history and marks the highest RBI total since 2021.
The Racers demonstrated their offensive prowess by amassing 17 hits during the game. Riley Hawthorne and Ethan Krizen each contributed a three-hit performance, while Cade Sammons and Drew Vogel added two hits apiece. Brennan McCullough and Parker Estes both homered, further emphasizing the Racers’ impressive showing at the plate.
On the pitching front, Matt Boynton shone in relief for Murray State, throwing 4.0 innings and allowing just one earned run and three hits while striking out two. Bryce Valero started on the mound for the Racers, pitching 4.1 innings and allowing three earned runs while striking out three.
Murray State will seek to sweep the series against the Redbirds in Sunday’s finale. The first pitch of the matchup is scheduled for 1 p.m.
