Schutte’s 136-Pitch Complete Game Propels Racers Past Redbirds in MVC Tournament Opener

Wednesday, May 20

Murray, Ky.

9:30 p.m.

Murray State

32-25

Illinois State

33-23

Team	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8	9	Runs R	Hits H	Errors E
Illinois St.	0	2	0	1	0	0	1	0	0	4	7	1
Murray St.	0	0	0	2	0	1	3	0	X	6	11	0

Photo by: David Eaton-Murray State Athletics

Schutte’s 136-Pitch Complete Game Propels Racers Past Redbirds in MVC Tournament Opener

5/21/2026 2:01:00 AM | Baseball

Box Score

By: Sam Rhodes

MURRAY, Ky. - The Murray State offense came alive with a three-run seventh inning to support Nic Schutte's complete-game performance, guiding the Racers (32-25, 15-9 MVC) to a 6-4 victory over Illinois State on Wednesday night. The win locked up the first round of the MVC Tournament for the Racers, shaking off an initial rain delay that pushed the game to a 10:10 p.m. start.

"It's toughness, that's all that is," head coach Dan Skirka said. "Just to deal with what they had to deal with today. You build up for this moment all year, right? And really, this city is built up for this moment, wanting to host the tournament. Then you have to sit around all day and deal with that, and then you're down early, so just toughness."

Schutte's performance saw him throw 136 pitches over nine innings, striking out six while keeping the Racers within striking distance after an early deficit. Schutte's day marked his third career complete game and 10th appearance with 100 or more pitches thrown this season.

Schutte's complete game made him the first Racer to throw a complete game in the Missouri Valley Conference Tournament since Murray State joined the conference in 2022.

"I'll go out there for as many pitches as they need me to go, especially with a week like this," senior right-hander Nic Schutte said. "We're expecting to win a lot of ball games, and we're going to need some pitching, so saving us as much as we could tonight."

In addition to Schutte's complete game on the mound, the Racers' lineup peppered the Redbirds (33-23, 13-11 MVC) with 11 hits. Connor Chisolm, Anthony Perritano, Colby Ott, Kainen Jorge and Kris Hokenson each recorded exactly two hits apiece.

Chisolm, Perritano and Ott paced the attack, driving in four of Murray State's six runs on the night. The performance also marked Chisolm's fourth consecutive multi-hit game.

Defensively, Ott started the top of the ninth with an acrobatic diving play to take away a hit from the Redbirds.

"He's an all-conference player, on both sides of the ball," Skirka said of Ott. "But that might have been the best play I've seen. That was full extension at a huge moment."

How It Happened

The Redbirds jumped out to an early lead in the top of the second, using a sacrifice bunt and a two-run single down the right-field line to build a quick 2-0 advantage.

Illinois State extended its cushion to 3-0 in the top of the fourth with a solo home run down the left-field line. The Racers responded immediately in the bottom half of the frame. After Conner Cunningham and Daylan Pena reached base, Colby Ott grounded an RBI single through the left side, and Chisolm followed with an RBI single down the third-base line to trim the deficit to 3-2.

Murray State knotted the game at 3-3 in the bottom of the sixth. Perritano singled, advanced to third on an Ott base hit, and scored on a sacrifice fly to center field from Chisolm.

The Redbirds scratched a run back in the top of the seventh on an RBI single to retake a 4-3 lead, but the Racers flipped the script with a three-run outburst in the bottom half. After loading the bases with one out, Perritano was hit by a pitch to force in the tying run. Parker Airhart then lifted a sacrifice fly to center field to give Murray State the lead, and a throwing error allowed Pena to score an unearned insurance run, making it 6-4.

Schutte completely neutralized the Redbirds' bats down the stretch, working a scoreless eighth and a clutch strikeout in the ninth to finish off his brilliant complete-game victory.