MURRAY, Ky. – In day three of the 2026 Missouri Valley Conference Baseball Championship, the No. 1 UIC baseball team (25-27-1, 16-8 MVC) will be facing off against No.3 Murray State (33-25, 15-9 MVC) to open the semifinal round at Johnny Reagan Field at Taylor Family Park Friday at 11 a.m. (CT).
The game will be streamed on The Valley on ESPN/ESPN+ and live stats will be available at UICFlames.com. Fans attending the game will be receive free admission.
SCOUTING MURRAY STATE
- This will be the 15th match-up between the programs, with UIC holding a 9-5 overall lead in the series.
- Last time the two teams met, UIC secured a series sweep back home at Curtis Granderson Stadium April 10-12. Senior Will Flanigan and junior Alexander Wright each collected five hits in the series.
- After taking care of Illinois State (33-24, 13-11 MVC) into the early morning hours Thursday, the Racers came back to defeat No. 2 Indiana State (30-26, 15-9 MVC) 3-2 in front of the roaring crowd later that evening.
- Jacob Hustedde had an incredible outing on the mound, going 7.1 innings for the Racers, allowing just a pair of earned runs, two hits, two walks and striking out eight enroute to earning the win.
LAST GAME OUT – vs. NO. 4 SOUTHERN ILLINOIS
- The Salukis could not find an answer for the Flames Thursday afternoon, as the Flames defeated Southern Illinois 11-1 in seven innings.
- Junior Mason Lei collected his second complete game of the season, pitching seven innings, allowing five, one earned run and eight strikeouts in a 96-pitching performance.
- Four Flames collected a home run in the win: Flanigan, junior Jake Busson, Thomas Curry and Ashton Kampa.
- Curry, Busson and Flanigan all finished with multi-hit games in the win.
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