DURHAM, N.C. — The Durham Super Regional comes down to a winner-take-all Game 3 on Monday, as the Duke Blue Devils (41-20) face the Murray State Racers (43-15) at Jack Coombs Field for the final spot in College Baseball royalty in Omaha, Nebraska. With the series tied 1-1, the 7 p.m. ET showdown, airing on ESPN or ESPN2 and streaming on ESPN+, promises high stakes. Duke aims to end a 64-year CWS drought, while Murray State chases its first-ever trip to Omaha.
Game 1 Recap (June 7): Duke edged Murray State 7-4, leveraging a disciplined approach against Racer pitchers, who issued 10 walks/hit-by-pitches, per @TheAdamBWells. Sophomore Kyle Johnson, filling in for suspended AJ Gracia, starred with a 4-for-4 day, including a homer, two doubles, and five RBIs, per newsobserver.com. Murray State struck first with a Dan Tauken sacrifice fly and Dom Decker’s RBI single, but Duke’s three-run fourth, sparked by Johnson’s two-run double, sealed the lead. The Racers’ Dustin Mercer went 2-for-5, hitting .512 in the postseason.
Game 2 Recap (June 8): Murray State exploded for a 19-9 rout, forcing Game 3. The Racers’ 17 hits, including four homers, overwhelmed Duke’s bullpen, which surrendered nine runs in the seventh. Jonathan Hogart’s first-pitch homer and Carson Garner’s two-run shot set the tone early. Mercer had four hits, and Decker and Will Vierling each drove in four runs. Duke’s AJ Gracia and Ben Miller homered, but the Blue Devils’ pitching faltered, despite five homers of their own.
How to Watch/Listen Game 3: Tune in at 7 p.m. ET on ESPN or ESPN2, Stream via ESPN+ or the ESPN app. For radio, SiriusXM’s ACC Radio (channel 371) covers the game, or listen locally on Durham’s 96.5 FM/620 AM. Check local listings for availability on college baseball.
RPI Rankings: Duke entered the postseason with an RPI of 15, reflecting a strong ACC schedule and a 3-0 Athens Regional sweep, per NCAA.com. Murray State, with an RPI of 49, defied expectations by upsetting No. 10 Ole Miss in the Oxford Regional, showcasing offensive firepower (42 runs in four games), per fayobserver.com. The Racers’ .306 team batting average ranks top-30 nationally.
What’s at Stake: Duke, hosting its first Super Regional, leans on a deep bullpen (8.39 hits per nine innings, 32nd nationally) and home-field edge. Murray State’s offense, led by Mercer (.351, 7 doubles) and Hogart (19 HRs), averages 8.8 runs per game (11th nationally), per baseballamerica.com. Coach Chris Pollard’s Blue Devils are 0-3 in prior Super Regional Game 3s, while the Racers’ Cinderella run hinges on starters Nic Schutte (8-3, 4.55 ERA) or Isaac Silva (8-2, 4.74 ERA), with Omaha calling, expect a slugfest.
In the meantime, the Braves need to fire Brian Snitker.
