A legitimate Cinderella story, a conference-less powerhouse and the nation's hottest team threaten to end the SEC's reign atop the sport

OMAHA, Neb. — The foundation for Murray State baseball coach Dan Skirka included a pit stop in Southwest Arkansas. In 2009, Skirka was just a couple of years removed from a standout playing career as a shortstop at Grand Valley State when he spent a year as a graduate assistant at Ouachita Baptist in Arkadelphia.

The Murray State Racers outlasted Duke to make the first College World Series in program history with a win June 9.

Murray State and No. 15 UCLA saw their first action of the 2025 Men's College World Series on Saturday, where the former’s ongoing Cinderella story hit a bit of a snag in Game 3 after the Bruins’ 6-4 win.

Murray State took a chance on a 33-year-old junior college assistant. Seven years later, Skirka has the Racers on the sport's biggest stage.