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By Mallory Mattingly
After seven season as the Murray State baseball head coach, Dan Skirika praised God for finally making it to his first ever Men’s College World Series.
“God is great. God is great,” Skirika said in a video shared by Sports Spectrum.
For the first time in program history, the Racers achieved the unimaginable and will make their way to Omaha, Nebraska. On Monday, Murray defeated Duke 5-4 to “become the fourth No. 4 seed to ever reach the CWS, joining Oral Roberts, Stony Brook, and Fresno State,” per USA Today.
“You know, I watched some of those games last night. Coach Forbes, Coach McDonnell, just you know, in victory and loss, praising and pointing everyone to the Word, and that’s what we try to do,” Skirika added. “We try to lead these guys through that, through this great game. We try to be the example and lead them. And they’re such a great group. We’re so blessed.”
After his team also scored a place to go to Omaha, Louisville head coach Dan McDonnell shared that he’s led his team with Jesus’ help, opening up about a daily devotional he started at the beginning of the year.
He recited a poem he memorized from the devotional: “Two hearts beat within my chest, the one is foul, the one is blessed. The one I love, the one I hate. The one I feed will dominate.”
“I just had to make a decision: What was I feeding my heart?” McDonnell declared. “And for me, I had to get into the Word…159 days. And in one sense, you say, ‘Well, just because you read the Bible doesn’t mean you go to Omaha.’ But for me, it does. For me, it’s what’s in my heart. It’s how I can love on others, and how I can treat others, and how I can coach others.”
Here are Dan McDonnell’s comments regarding his faith, how he has been tested, and how he has prevailed by reading scripture.
Shoutout to @UofLSheriff50 for asking a great question and to Coach for an incredible response. (@JonnyRoot_ I think you will like this one). #Louisville… https://t.co/0IKzHUiqdx pic.twitter.com/dcznwbktLk
— Dusty Baker (@DustyBakerTV) June 8, 2025
Related: Wake Forest Catcher Bennett Lee Relies on God Amid Men’s College World Series
Skirika also spoke with ESPN after the upset against Duke and said, “These guys play the game right. They play the game together, and I couldn’t be more proud of the example they’re setting…And now they get to go do it in Omaha.”
The Murray State baseball team’s social media account shared several photos from the big night, but one stood out above the rest: a photo of players Dominic Decker and Carson Garner with the NCAA division trophy as Garner’s shirt read “Jesus Won.”
Garner, along with his team, keep Christ at first base in their lives. The athlete shared a post on Instagram that included Philippians 4:4: “Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again: Rejoice!”
Murray State continues to rejoice in the Lord after they have made it to the MCWS. Led by head coach Skirika, the Murray State boys are staying faithful to the Lord, whether they win or lose.
Read Next: Oklahoma Softball Star Alyssa Brito Declares ‘My Identity is in Christ’ Amid WCWS
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