MURRAY, Ky. –
Mason Roell connected on the go-ahead two-run home run in the top of the ninth inning and
Justin Hoff worked 2.1 innings in strong relief on Saturday evening as the Sycamores claimed their seventh consecutive Missouri Valley Conference series win with the 10-8 victory over Murray State at Johnny Reagan Field.
Tied up at 8-8 after Murray State's (27-24, 12-8) Kris Hokenson drove in Connor Chisolm with an RBI ground out in the eighth, Indiana State (28-22, 14-6) with the 8-9-1 batters in the lineup due up.
Jeremy Martinez sparked the ninth-inning rally with a lead-off single against Murray State reliever Reese Oakley (2-3) and
Nomar Garcia moved pinch-runner
Caleb Niehaus into scoring position with a sacrifice bunt down the right field line.
Mason Roell worked a 1-1 count off reliever Dylan Zentko, before depositing the ball into one of the suites beyond the wall in right field for the go-ahead two-run home run to put the Sycamores ahead 10-8.
Justin Hoff (1-1) came back to the mound in the bottom of the frame and retired Parker Airhart on strikes, before
Carter Beck made two outstanding plays in center field tracking down fly balls from both Colby Ott and Connor Chisolm for the final two outs to secure the Indiana State win.
The Sycamores jumped out early with a two-run first inning thanks to
Caden Miller (two-run double) and
Nick Sutherlin (RBI single). The Racers rallied back to take the lead with a three-run second inning setting up a back-and-forth game as both teams battled in the contest.
Indiana State appeared to have the game in hand following a three-run seventh inning highlighted by
Nomar Garcia's two-run single, while
Carter Beck drew a bases-loaded walk to put the Sycamores ahead 8-5. Murray State rallied back again to tie the game up on Hokenson's RBI grounder setting the stage for the ninth inning.
Carter Beck had a game for the ages for the Sycamores as the junior outfielder went 3-for-4 with a home run, three RBIs, three runs scored, two walks, and a stolen base. Beck tied the game up in the fifth inning with a 447-foot shot that was 109 MPH off the bat and cleared the batter's eye in center.
Caden Miller added a three-hit game with a pair of doubles, while
Mason Roell added a multi-hit game at the plate including his 10th home run of the season.
Justin Hoff recorded his first win of the season off the mound after going 2.1 innings allowing two hits and a run while striking out four.
Ty Brooks worked the first 1.2 innings in the start, while
Carson Seeman and
Jack Armstrong bridged the gap to Hoff working 5.0 innings allowing three runs to keep the game within reach.
How They Scored
- Indiana State took the early 2-0 lead in the top of the first inning as Caden Miller doubled in Carter Beck and Nick Sutherlin singled home Miller to put the Sycamores ahead early.
- Murray State took one back in the bottom of the first as Connor Chisolm scored on Kainen Jorge's fielder's choice to cut it to a 2-1 game.
- The Racers went up 4-2 in the bottom of the second as Daylan Pena (RBI double), Colby Ott (RBI sac fly), and Luke Mistone (RBI single) all drove in runs in the frame.
- Indiana State took one back in the third as Nick Sutherlin's grounder to short scored Carter Beck to make it a 4-3 contest.
- Carter Beck launched the ball 447 feet and 109 off the bat for a solo home run over the batter's eye in the top of the fifth inning to tie the game back up at 4-4.
- Connor Cunningham gave the lead back to Murray State in the bottom of the fifth with a solo home run to center field to make it a 5-4 game.
- The Sycamores tied it back up in the sixth as Carter Beck beat out a fielder's choice allowing Nomar Garcia to score to make it 5-5.
- The Sycamores added three in the top of the seventh as Nomar Garcia singled home Weston Fulk and Nick Sutherlin, before Carter Beck drew a bases-loaded walk to make it an 8-5 game.
- Connor Cunningham connected on an RBI double to left center scoring Kainen Jorge and Daylan Pena singled home Cunningham to cut the Sycamore lead to 8-7.
- Kris Hokenson drove in the game-tying run with a ground out in the bottom of the eighth scoring Connor Chisolm to tie it up at 8-8.
- Mason Roell connected on the go-ahead home run with a two-run shot over the right field wall in the top of the ninth scoring Caleb Niehaus to provide the final 10-8 scoring margin.
News and Notes
- Carter Beck extended his on-base streak to 34 consecutive games following his 3-for-4 day with a home run, three runs scored, three RBIs, two walks, and a stolen base.
- Carter Beck recorded his team-leading 12th home run on Saturday evening with his solo shot in the fifth inning. It marked his first home run since April 19 at Wright State.
- Mason Roell became the second Sycamore to post a double-digit home run mark in the 2026 season following his two-run shot in the ninth. Roell has 10 home runs after connecting on his first since a grand slam last weekend on May 1 at Southern Illinois.
- Mason Roell's ninth-inning home run marked his second game-winning home run in as many weekends after hitting the go-ahead grand slam last weekend in the 8-5 Friday night win over the Salukis.
- Carter Beck recorded his team-leading 25th multi-hit game on Saturday evening and second of the weekend.
- Caden Miller added his second three-hit game of the 2026 season.
- All nine Sycamores in the starting lineup on Saturday evening reached base.
- Justin Hoff recorded his first win in the Sycamore Blue & White on Saturday night as the right-hander went 2.1 innings in his second consecutive outing.
- Justin Hoff recorded the four-out save on Friday night and then worked 2.1 innings with four strikeouts to secure the series win.
- Indiana State has won its first seven Missouri Valley Conference series for the third time in the last four seasons as the Sycamores claimed the first two games at Murray State.
Up Next
Indiana State and Murray State close out the series on Sunday afternoon at Johnny Reagan Field with first pitch set for 2 p.m. ET. The game will be carried live on ESPN+ and 105.5 The Legend.
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