Murray State makes history, beats Duke to advance to College World Series

NCAA Baseball: Durham Super Regional-Duke vs Murray State — Jun 9, 2025; Durham, NC, USA; Murray St. outfielder Jonathan Hogart (15) celebrates a home run during the seventh inning of the Durham Super Regional against Duke at Jack Coombs Field. Mandatory Credit: Jaylynn Nash-Imagn Images

Murray State is headed to its first College World Series in school history, knocking out Duke on the Blue Devils’ home field in a win-or-go-home Super Regional matchup in Durham.

The Racers hadn’t won an NCAA Tournament game since 1979 with just four postseason appearances ever, the last coming in 2003. Then, they upset Ole Miss and Georgia Tech in the Oxford Regional to advance to the Supers before winning two straight on Sunday and Monday to make history. It was a 19-9 victory to force the elimination game, followed by a 5-4 finish to advance.

They’re the fourth regional 4-seed to advance to the MCWS since 1999 and also the first Missouri Valley Conference team to head to Omaha since 2003.

“God is great. God is great, you know?” Murray State coach Dan Skirka said after the win. “Watching some of those games last night, in victory and loss, praising and pointing everyone to the word. That’s what we try to do, leading these guys in this great game and be the example, lead them. This is such a great group. We’re so blessed.”

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“Man, words cannot describe this moment,” Racers star Jonathan Hogart, who hit two solo home runs in the win, said. “Glory to God, first of all. Without him, none of us would be here. Hats off to Coach Skirka. He’s put in way too much time and way too much effort for us to not give it all that we have for him. Hats off to him and lots of love for my teammates. We grind for each other, we grind for this program and we grind for this city.”

Hogart changed the game with his pair of homers, as did Luke Mistone with his own deep shot while Carson Garner and Will Vierling also scored. Graham Kelham is your winning pitcher in 2.2 innings pitched with four strikeouts, one hit and one earned run.

Murray State is an overwhelming underdog in the College World Series — but what else is new? They were in the same spot in the first two weekends, too.

The first run of odds: