Seven-Run Fourth Inning Powers Murray State Past Mercyhurst

Friday, February 27

Nashville, Tenn.

3 p.m.

Murray State

7-2

Mercyhurst

0-4

Mercyhurst

Murray St.

Photo by: David Eaton-Murray State Athletics

Seven-Run Fourth Inning Powers Murray State Past Mercyhurst

2/27/2026 7:25:00 PM | Baseball

Box Score

By: Sam Rhodes

NASHVILLE, Tenn, - Murray State baseball opened its four-game series against Mercyhurst with a dominant 12-4 victory Friday, marking the team's fifth consecutive win.

Nic Schutte (3-0) earned his third win in as many starts this season. He tossed 5.2 innings, striking out five while surrendering three runs.

"Yeah, he's just a competitor," head coach Dan Skirka said. "The stuff looks good; he looks really strong. He's in shape, nobody works harder. So, he's just ready to compete, and that's what we need him to do."

The offense, while quiet to start the game, found its footing after Mercyhurst (0-4) scored the first run. Connor Chisolm put the Racers (7-2) on the board in the third with his first triple of the season, driving in Colby Ott. Murray State never looked back, exploding for seven runs in the fourth inning to pull away for good.

Eight different Racers recorded hits, with Luke Mistone, Kainen Jorge, Kristofer Hokenson, and Sloan Barrett each notching multi-hit games. Mistone logged his fourth consecutive multi-hit game and his seventh in nine games this season.

Hokenson was a standout for the Racers, recording his second three-hit performance of the year. He was the only player for Murray State to record multiple extra-base hits.

"He was on the barrel all day," Skirka said of Hokenson. "He didn't chase, just really good swings, laid down a really good bunt ... That was a really good process."

How it Happened

The game remained scoreless through the first two innings as both starters settled in. Mercyhurst broke the ice in the top of the third with a solo home run to left field. The Racers responded immediately in the bottom of the frame when Colby Ott led off with a double to left. Chisolm followed with a triple to right-center to tie the game before scoring on a Mistone groundout to give Murray State a 2-1 lead.

Murray State blew the game open in the bottom of the fourth, sending 11 batters to the plate. Hokenson sparked the rally with an RBI double to right-center. Following a Sloan Barrett fielder's choice and a stolen base, Hokenson successfully stole home. J. Slade added an RBI single, which was compounded by an infield error that allowed Barrett to score.

The Lakers' pitching then struggled with control; Mistone was hit by a pitch with the bases loaded, and Daylan Pena drew a bases-loaded walk. Chisolm eventually scored on a wild pitch before Kainen Jorge capped the surge with an RBI groundout to push the lead to 9-1.

The Racers added two more in the fifth via an RBI walk by Chisolm and an RBI single from Mistone. Mercyhurst cut into the lead in the sixth with a two-run double, but Barrett answered in the bottom of the inning with an RBI double of his own. After the Lakers added a final run in the eighth, L. Smothers entered in the ninth and retired the side in order to seal the victory.

Box Score Notes

Racers move to 6-1 in neutral-site games on the season … Fifth game this season with 10+ hits as a team … 3 players with 10+ RBIs on the season, most in MVC … First team in the MVC with 100 hits … Racers lead MVC in total hits, RBIs, doubles and batting average.