It is hard to believe, but the 2025 college baseball season is less than a month away for several of our squads here in the Sooner State.

Over the next several weeks leading up to the season we will be looking a some of our teams on the college level. Recently we sent out a questionnaire to the head coaches of each squad from the NCAA D2, NAIA, NCCAA, and NJCAA levels asking about their returning players and incoming players as well as their thoughts about their strengths and “opportunities” heading into the 2025 season.

Let’s take a look at a team with high expectations for the 2025 season at the NJCAA (Junior College) level: Murray State Aggies.

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2024 Recap

Murray State did not have a season that lived up to their standards in 2024. They had an overall record of 30-23, but they were 13-17 in Region play and did not qualify for the Region 2 Tournament. The Aggies won only 4 Region 2 series with 2 of those coming against last place Redlands.

The Aggies were solid at the plate in 2024, but on the mound is where they struggled. They were 83rd and 84th nationally in team ERA and WHIP respectively and their opponents batted .305 against them putting them 107th nationally.

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Team Basics

• Official name: Murray State College Aggies
• Level: NJCAA Div II
• Location: Tishomingo, OK
• Conference: Region 2
• Head Coach: Sam Bjorling (8th year at MSC)

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2024 Team Statistics

Batting
– Games: 53, .299/.421/.480, 55 HR, 370 RBI, 114 2B, 9 3B, 294 BB, 404 R

Pitching
– Games: 53, 30-23, 6.10 ERA, 1.73 WHIP, .305 BAA

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Returners

Position Players (Comments from HC, Sam Bjorling)

• Austin Haley (INF/RHP), 2024: G 40, .307/.386/.527, 7 HR, 38 RBI, 12 2B, 13 BB – 2 way player that projects to hit 3rd in the lineup & a top arm on the staff. Will be one of the top JUCO players in Oklahoma
• Brennan Morgan (3B/P), 2024: G 53, .331/.431/.543, 8 HR, 44 RBI, 11 2B, 3B, 17 BB – 2 way player; provides sturdy veteran presence; will pitch out of back end of bullpen; RBI producer and solid defense at 3B
• Brady Richardson (INF), 2024: G 21, .189/.412/.351, HR, 8 RBI, 2B, 3B, 12 BB – Forced into action in ’24 before he was ready; had great summer and came back stronger; will compete for playing time in INF
• Trevin Pettigrew (DH), 2024: G 28, .239/.379/.380, 2 HR, 15 RBI, 4 2B, 14 BB – Battled injuries, LHH with upside and potential to hit for both average and power

Pitchers

• Cash Kuiper (RHP), 2024: G 14/GS 13, 6-5, 6.02 ERA, 61.1 IP, 76 H, 31 BB, 66 SO – Top of the line arm; will lead rotation; draft prospect
• Jakob Holzer (LHP), 2024: G 15/GS 2, 2-0, 7.26 ERA, 31 IP, 32 H, 18 BB, 28 SO – Versatile; can start or out of pen; will log a lot of innings in ’25
• Kydon Lovell (LHP), 2024: G 10, 1-1, 6.75 ERA, 13.1 IP, 8 H, 16 BB, 11 SO – Highest upside on staff; consistency is key; will start and relieve; “X-factor”
• Conner Smeltzer (RHP), 2024: G 10/GS 3, 1-0, 3.24 ERA, 16.2 IP, 16 H, 13 BB, 12 SO – High upside; will pitch a lot of innings; growing confidence
• Brance Garrett (medical redshirt in 2024)

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Incoming Players

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Outlook

After a disappointing 2024, Coach Bjorling and the staff retooled the roster. Austin Haley and Brennan Morgan are the top 2 returning players in the everyday lineup and after that it will be mostly new faces with some of them top level transfers and some of them elite players high school players from the region.

Last year the Aggies struggled on the mound which was an anomaly from previous seasons. Look for them to get back on track in 2025 as they have some top prospects around.

Overall, Coach Bjorling expects the depth and athleticism to be improved from 2024 and he is not shy to say every year Murray State looks to compete for a national championship.

If all of this talent that is hungry to compete can come together, we can’t think of a reason why they can’t do just that.

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