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Murray Today
By the People, for the People
Racers Down Belmont 9-3 in Front of Record Home Crowd
Murray State Baseball defeats Belmont with strong performances from Hokenson, Mistone, Schutte, and Rosin.
Apr. 3, 2026 at 3:36am
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A cubist interpretation of the energy and action of a high-stakes college baseball game.Murray TodayMurray State Baseball defeated Belmont 9-3 in front of a record-setting home crowd of 1,028 at Johnny Reagan Field. The Racers were powered by a home run from Kristofer Hokenson and dominant pitching from Nic Schutte and Ben Rosin. Luke Mistone also had a big day at the plate, collecting three hits and four RBIs.
Why it matters
This win extends Murray State's strong start to the 2026 season and showcases the growing fanbase and excitement around the baseball program. The record-setting home crowd demonstrates the community's support and the team's ability to draw big audiences.
The details
Hokenson hit a three-run home run in the second inning and added a single in the first, extending his reached-base streak to 23 games. Mistone had three hits, including two doubles, and four RBIs. Schutte earned the win with six innings of two-run ball, striking out seven without a walk. Rosin closed out the game with three hitless innings, striking out five without a walk.
- The game was played on April 3, 2026.
- It was the first home game of the 2026 season at Johnny Reagan Field.
The players
Kristofer Hokenson
A Murray State baseball player who hit a three-run home run and added a single in the game.
Nic Schutte
The Murray State pitcher who earned the win, throwing six innings of two-run ball with seven strikeouts and no walks.
Ben Rosin
The Murray State pitcher who closed out the game with three hitless innings, striking out five without a walk to earn the save.
Luke Mistone
A Murray State baseball player who collected three hits, including two doubles, and drove in four runs.
Dan Skirka
The head coach of the Murray State baseball team.
What they’re saying
“We had people here two hours before the game roaming around, excited to see the Racers. It's awesome. I'm kind of speechless about that. You see the crowd and hear them when Hokenson hit that big home run, it was awesome.”
— Dan Skirka, Head Coach
“I thought our pitchers did a fantastic job. Schutte comes out, hits the first guy, but after that was really, really good. After the second inning, through the ninth, we got the leadoff guy out, no more freebies, we didn't walk anybody. I am really proud of the two of them.”
— Dan Skirka, Head Coach
What’s next
The Racers will look to secure the series on Friday in game one of a doubleheader against Belmont. First pitch is slated for 1 p.m. and will be streamed on ESPN+.
The takeaway
This win showcases the growing excitement and support around the Murray State baseball program, with a record-setting home crowd and strong performances from key players. The team's ability to draw big audiences and dominate on the mound demonstrates their potential for a successful 2026 season.
