MURRAY, Ky. (Interstat) — Kainen Jorge drove in all three runs with a pair of timely hits, and Jacob Hustedde carried a no-hitter into the eighth inning as Murray State defeated Indiana State 3-2 on Thursday night at Reagan Field in a Missouri Valley Conference matchup.

The Racers improved to 32-25 overall, while the Sycamores fell to 30-26. Murray State had lost two of three to Indiana State earlier this month, but flipped the script behind a dominant pitching performance and a clutch offensive sequence in the late innings.

Hustedde was masterful for most of the night. The right-hander retired the first 10 batters he faced, striking out five over the first three innings. Indiana State managed only a walk in the fourth before Emil Estrella broke up the perfect game with a single to center field. Caden Miller followed by launching a two-run homer down the left-field line, scoring Estrella and giving the Sycamores a 2-0 lead. It was the only damage Hustedde would allow. He finished with 7 1/3 innings pitched, zero hits allowed beyond that single, two earned runs and eight strikeouts.

Indiana State starter Ryan Karst was equally effective early. He retired nine of the first 10 batters he faced and allowed just one hit through four innings. But Murray State began to mount pressure in the sixth. Parker Airhart reached on a dropped fly ball by the left fielder, advanced to second on a hit-by-pitch and moved to third on a double play groundout. After Luke Mistone was hit by a pitch, Jorge lined a single to left-center, scoring Airhart and trimming the deficit to 2-1.

The game remained tight until the eighth. Murray State loaded the bases with a hit-by-pitch, a sacrifice bunt and a walk, prompting Indiana State to bring in reliever Colby Morse. Mistone reached on a fielder’s choice, but Airhart was thrown out at third. With runners at first and second, Mistone and Connor Chisolm executed a double steal. Jorge then delivered the decisive blow, ripping a double down the right-field line that scored both runners and put the Racers ahead 3-2.

Ben Rosin took over for Hustedde with one out in the eighth and retired the final five batters in order, striking out three. He earned the save. Morse took the loss after allowing one earned run on one hit in 1 2/3 innings.

Karst pitched 7 1/3 innings, giving up two hits and one earned run with four strikeouts. He left with the lead but was denied the win when the Sycamores bullpen could not hold it. Jorge finished 2 for 4 with three RBIs. Mistone had the only other hit for Murray State, a bunt single in the fourth. For Indiana State, Miller was 1 for 3 with the homer and two RBIs. Nomar Garcia and Mason Roell each singled, and Estrella also had a hit.

The game featured strong defensive efforts from both sides. Murray State turned a double play in the fourth to erase a baserunner, and Indiana State executed three double plays of its own, including two that ended scoring threats. But the Racers capitalized on an error and a pair of hit-by-pitches to manufacture their runs.

The victory was Murray State’s second straight after a 6-4 win over Illinois State on Wednesday. The Racers have now won four of their past six games. Indiana State dropped its third straight, following a series loss to Belmont over the weekend.

The projected final score from Interstat’s game simulator was Murray State 6, Indiana State 5. Interstat’s ELO system gave Indiana State a 52.90 percent probability to win entering the contest.