Murray State University Athletics
Murray State
Bradley
Racers Look to Maintain Perfect MVC Start in Road Series at Bradley
3/26/2026 3:09:00 PM | Baseball
MURRAY, Ky. — Murray State baseball is set to travel to Peoria, Illinois, to take on the Bradley Braves in its second weekend of Missouri Valley Conference play.
The Racers enter the weekend series with a 3-0 MVC record following a sweep over Valparaiso to kick off conference play. MSU put 25 runs on the board across the weekend, extending the program's winning streak to 10 consecutive games over the Beacons.
Conner Cunningham returned to a consistent role in the lineup last weekend and made an immediate impact at the plate. In his last four games, Cunningham is slashing .467/.529/.933 with two doubles, one triple, his first home run of the season, and seven RBIs.
After a quiet midweek performance at Kentucky, Luke Mistone will look to continue his strong start to the season. Mistone brings a .358 batting average (fourth in the MVC) and 26 RBIs (third in the MVC) into the weekend series.
Murray State and Bradley have a tightly contested all-time series, though the Racers have dominated recent history. While the Braves hold a 21-19 edge all-time, MSU has won the last seven matchups and 11 of the last 13.
Murray State has rarely faced Bradley on the road, but in their three all-time road contests, the Racers have taken all three while outscoring BU 38-6.
Scouting the Braves
Bradley enters the weekend series with a 5-19 overall record, having lost 12 of its last 13 games. The Braves' pitching staff has struggled to open the season, posting a 10.28 team ERA.
First-year head coach Justin Dedman brought in a haul of new talent for the 2026 season, featuring 29 newcomers on the roster.
The Braves' lineup features five key players to watch: Mark Brousseau, AJ Garcia, Hayden Miller, William Soignier, and John Vaughn.
Both programs have undecided Sunday starting pitchers. The Racers will start Nic Schutte on Friday and Jacob Hustedde on Saturday. The Braves will counter with Lou Levy on Friday and Calen Schneider on Saturday.
Levy is set to make his fourth start of the season, posing a 10.70 ERA through six appearances on the year. The senior right-hander has allowed a .329 batting average against during the 2026 campaign.
First pitch Friday is set for 4 p.m. central at Dozer Park in Peoria, Ill. Friday's game will not be broadcast, but both Saturday and Sunday's games will be featured on ESPN+.
For more information on Murray State Baseball, visit GoRacers.com and follow @RacersBaseball on Instagram and X.
