MURRAY — As is always the case after every game, Murray State Head Baseball Coach Dan Skirka gathered his team for a brief talk Thursday night after a huge win over Missouri Valley Conference opponent Missouri State at Johnny Reagan Field.

The surprising 16-5 run-rule knockout win in seven innings had just pulled the Racers even with the Bears in The Valley race for the regular season championship. Per usual, Skirka was calm as he talked to his team, taking time to praise them for showing toughness, both enduring what became a four-hour weather delay, then showing patience at the plate that included four walks and having seven hitters hit by pitches.

Then, he broke from his usually-calm demeanor.

“I’m proud of you!” he screamed, his words sparking an immediate roar from his happy players, now 17-8 in league play and one win from ensuring at least a tie for the program’s first-ever Valley title in baseball. Then, it was his players’ turn.

One of them approached him and uttered, “This is for your 200th win,” and handed him the ball that was in play when first baseman Luke Mistone gloved a throw from shortstop Conner Cunningham for the final out. And another roar ensued from a group of players that had not needed any coaxing to show their appreciation for their coach, who became the fourth in the Murray State program’s history to reach 200 wins.

“I love him to death,” said center fielder Jonathan Hogart, whose comment seems to speak for the entire team. “He’s the best … nothing short of amazing. He’s a great player-driven coach that gives his all every day.

‘We have a great group of guys who love to be here and love each other and who also love to play for Skirk.”

Hogart, the Racers’ leadoff hitter, lit the dynamite for the Racers’ incredible opening-game performance to this series. After pitcher Nic Schutte emerged from a two-on, two-out jam in the top of the first inning, Hogart sent one of the first pitches he saw over the right-center-field wall for a 1-0 lead.

It was the start of a three-inning rampage that ended with the Racers leading by a 16-1 score as Hogart finished 2-for-4 with two RBIs and three runs scored. In seven innings, the Racers outhit one of the most dangerous offenses in all of college baseball, 12-7.

It was the kind of performance worthy of a milestone win for a coach.

“That was huge,” Skirka said. “I’m just really proud of the guys for handling the weather adversity, all of the delays today, the warm-up then no warm-up. They just came out on fire.

“One through nine, everybody I think reached base and everybody either drove in a run or scored a run and we had so many walks and hit-by-pitches. We took our hit-by-pitches (one of which for Dom Decker — hit twice Thursday — resulted in an RBI). I was proud of them for that. That’s what a tough team does.”

During a Tuesday interview ahead of Thursday’s game, outfielder Dustin Mercer, in what became a bit of irony, talked about how Skirka has taught the players to not worry about things they cannot control.

“I think that speaks to Coach Skirka. We’re all pretty narrow-vision of our process and what we do and don’t really worry about external factors. We worry about and what we can control, especially in a game of failure,” said Mercer, who was only 0-for-2 Thursday but had two walks and and scored four runs. “If you’re thinking too much about other things, you’re not going to do well.”

While Hogart started Mo State’s troubles Thursday, third baseman Carson Garner sent them to even higher levels with a monster night. The No. 3 man in the batting lineup, Garner followed Hogart’s opening salvo by driving in Mercer with a long double to left-center field in the first to build the momentum.

Then, he added fuel with a towering two-run home run over the left-field wall that put the Racers up, 6-0, in the second. For the game, Garner was 3-for-4 with a homer, two doubles and six RBIs.

Obviously, he was happy to have played such a huge role in such a big game for the Murray State program. However, he also was as pleased to be part of giving Skirka Win No. 200.

“Spending four years with him … he’s the best coach I’ve ever had,” Garner said, making a prediction in the process. “It’s no shock to me that he’s got 200. He’s going to have at least 200 more … 100 percent.” 

The man for whom the Racers’ home is named still has a large lead for all-time coaching wins at Murray State. Racer Hall of Famer Johnny Reagan tallied 776 from 1958-1993 with Rob McDonald next at 247 from 2004-14 and Mike Thieke third at 231 from 1994-03. 

“Lot of great players,” Skirka said, sending credit to the many young men he has coached in the navy and gold of Murray State. “That’s the key. It was a a lot of guys that started it. with number one seven years ago to now.”

The final two games of this monumental series are being rolled into a doubleheader Saturday, starting at noon at Johnny Reagan. Admission is free.