*This article was originally published on Saskatchewan Dugout Stories on June 28. You can read it here.

June 30, 2024

By Joe McFarland

Saskatchewan Dugout Stories

Everyone remembers their first.

A first love, a first kiss or, in the case of Ethan Murdoch, a first NCAA Division I hit with the Marshall Thundering Herd.

Leading off the bottom of the second inning in a game against Morehead State on April 16, the Swift Current native rocketed the first pitch he saw from Ethan Davis for a no-doubt home run to open up the scoring.

It came as a massive relief for Murdoch, who was making his third start for the team and had gone hitless in his first 13 plate appearances.

“I went up there leading off the inning, really just trying to be aggressive and get on any fastball in the zone and he just happened to basically throw it middle-middle and I just reacted,” he told Saskatchewan Dugout Stories.

“Off the bat, I knew I got it. But I was still in shock running the bases and it didn’t really hit me until I got to the dugout with all my teammates.”

They were there waiting to maul the hard-hitting outfielder, making the moment that much more memorable for him.

The Herd went onto lose the game 7-2 in a season that Murdoch says will be remembered for learning, opportunities and adjustments.

LEARNING ON THE FLY

Everywhere Murdoch has gone in baseball, he’s had success.

The Swift Current Comprehensive High School product was a noticeable presence every time he represented his province in national tournaments.

He moved on to the college ranks with McCook Community College, where he hit .365 in 106 games with 34 home runs and 126 runs batted in, winning numerous awards during his time with the Indians.

Murdoch returned home for the summer of 2023, where he continued to impress by hitting .333 with four homers and 30 RBIs in 42 games and was named a Western Canadian Baseball League All-Star with the Swift Current 57s.

However, his transition from community college to NCAA Division 1 went rockier than he had hoped.

While the school work didn’t change, the size of the school and the quality of pitching took him longer to get used to.

“The pitching we face, especially in our conference games, is quite a bit more polished,” Murdoch admitted. “I don’t find myself overwhelmed often by the stuff that we see, but it’s just the ability to pitch effectively is much more common.”

He ended his first season with the Herd hitting .164 with three home runs and nine RBIs in 25 games.

Murdoch says he was disappointed that he wasn’t able to provide more consistent offence for the team, which struggled to an 18-37 record on the season.

“Most guys can command two or more pitches in every count and don’t make nearly as many mistakes,” he said. “Even on good pitches to hit, there are hardly any flat fastballs or loopy breaking balls, so it forces you to work a little harder to make good contact consistently.”

As a result, Murdoch is hoping to make some adjustments during the offseason to get himself ready for his senior year with the Herd.

SLIDING INTO HOME

While it was a struggle with wins and losses, the Herd were able to celebrate a major milestone in the program’s history with the opening of the new Jack Cook Field in 2024.

After years of being the host at fields in Charleston, which is an hour away from Marshall, the dream of having an on-campus baseball field came to reality on March 1.

In a word, Murdoch says the new facility is “incredible,” adding that the entire experience was something he won’t soon forget.

“It has everything we need in a locker room, meeting room, training room, indoor cages and, then of course, the beautiful surface and surroundings,” he said.

“It was so cool to have the opening day ceremony with hundreds of alumni finally seeing the finished product.”

Murdoch says he was amazed by the fan support for the team in their new digs, providing students, faculty and staff with an opportunity to see games without distance being a factor.

“Not only do we have great fan support, but it feels like we’re playing for more than just ourselves when we’re on our field,” he continued. “We’re also getting to play for all the people who didn’t get the chance to have this great home stadium.”

With all of the facilities so close, Murdoch says it also allowed him to spend more time training and that he can’t wait to show up at the park every day.

BUILDING BACK UP

After a great summer with the hometown 57s in 2023, Murdoch decided to stay closer to his collegiate home by playing with the Harrisonburg Turks of the Valley League.

He says he’s happy with where his swing is at and his ability to drive the ball, but it’s the little things he wants to work on so he can have a productive senior season with the Herd.

“I want to tinker with my two-strike approach to cut down on strikeouts, with both mechanical and mental adjustments,” Murdoch said.

“I want to be better at hitting off-speed in some counts that I am likely to get it in, and not be afraid to look for an off-speed pitch when the situation calls for it.”

The 6-foot-2, 215-pound slugger admits he’s been over-selective with fastballs away early in counts, which he believes he can still hit with power to the opposite field.

Murdoch did what he does best in the ninth inning of a June 18 matchup against the Staunton Braves, taking a 2-2 offering from Tai Lizdas over the fence in left field for his first homer with the Turks.

It was also a part of his first two-hit day for the team, as he looks to find his game again heading into the fall.

THE END IS NEAR

Murdoch is candid about the challenges he faced in his first year of NCAA Division I baseball, hoping to not only learn from it himself, but to show other young athletes that they can also struggle.

He says it was a good experience to learn how to move on from the past and not get caught up in the future, realizing that he had to handle failure better with good body language and confidence when things aren’t going his way.

The season also provided another uncomfortable reminder for the soon-to-be senior: the end of the collegiate career is near.

“I saw some of our seniors play their last games ever this spring and it was apparent that I need to cherish every moment,” Murdoch said.

“The seasons go by faster each year and I’m heading into my last year at school in the fall.”

It’s why he’s focusing so much on the little details of his game, as he believes that will allow him to soak in the moments of his senior campaign.

Murdoch also credits his family and coaches at every level for teaching him about doing it for the love of the game, which is a message he hopes to impart on young players starting out on their own baseball journeys.

“Find a love for the details of the game and learn to love working on your game on your own,” he said, looking back at the time he spent along in his garage during the COVID-19 pandemic, as an example.

“I think it’s invaluable to spend time regularly by yourself training and doing skill work, as it will build up your abilities and confidence while allowing to learn about yourself and what works for you.”

After a season of firsts for Ethan Murdoch, it appears he’s learned what works for him as he looks to become an impact player at Marshall University in 2024-2025.