McLendon - known for his strong work ethic and shoulder-length hair - has embraced the past month as the program has emerged as one of the best stories in college baseball.
"(Head) coach (Dan) Skirka has kept preaching the process, the process, the process - doing it the right way and keeping your eyes forward," said McLendon, a native of Thomasville, Georgia. "Everything has to line up, the system, the coaching, the players, for this to happen.
"It has been a dream come true."
McLendon, Murray State defy the odds to advance to CWS
Murray State - located in Murray, Kentucky, just north of the Tennessee border - is a member of the Missouri Valley Conference.
The Racers' historic ride started late last month in Normal, Illinois, where the top seed went 4-0 to win the tournament for the first times since joining the league three years ago. They earned the program's fourth berth - and first since 2003 - into the NCAA Tournament, where they were a No. 4 seed in the Oxford (Mississippi) Regional.
McLendon, who last pitched in the MVC Tourney opener in relief in the Racers' 15-14 win over Belmont in 11 innings, said the team was confident despite the backdrop. Murray State opened against No. 10 national seed and host Ole Miss before a frenzied crowd of nearly 12,000 at Swayze Field. As a comparison, Murray State's baseball field has a capacity of 800.
The Racers didn't blink.
"They thought we'd be a deer in the headlights. Coach told us to be the predator, not the prey - we proved we belonged," McClendon said.
Murray State has relied on a high-powered offense and clutch pitching to extend their season.
The Racers went 3-0 in the Oxford Regional, beating Ole Miss twice, sandwiched by a win over Georgia Tech. After dropping the first game at Duke in the Super Regional, Murray State beat the Blue Devils 19-9 and 5-4 to punch the program's first ticket to the CWS.
"Even when we lost that first game to Duke, we said, 'We got this' because we knew what we were capable of," McLendon said.
Pitcher Harper McLendon lands at TCS from Brookwood Academy
McLendon's baseball journey hasn't been conventional either.
He didn't play at Brookwood School until his junior season. The 5-foot-11, 180-pounder walked on as a pitcher-outfielder in 2021 at Tallahassee State College, 30 miles from Thomasville.
McLendon impressed then-coach Mike McLeod with his arm strength, foot speed and tenacity, and later earned a scholarship. The right-hander made a team-high 21 appearances in relief and went 2-3 as a sophomore in 2022-23 under first-year coach Bryan Henry. McLendon's fastball topped out at 97 mph.
"Harper worked his tail off and was as driven of player as I've coached," Henry said. "He pitched in a lot of big games and in tough moments for us because he was prepared and could handle it. Figgy (assistant coach Correy Figueroa) and I are so happy for Harper and his teammates."
McLendon signed with Murray State out of TSC but was redshirted in 2024 due to arm surgery. He missed five weeks this season when he tripped stepping off the team bus - "Yes, believe it, I tripped getting off the bus," McLendon said and laughed. He landed on his right shoulder.
While McLendon's time on the mound has been limited, he stressed he's prepared if needed in the eight-team, double-elimination CWS. McLendon has made 10 appearances with 11 innings pitched and an earned-run average of 7.36.
The Racers are tied for second in the country with 148 doubles, but they are the only team in the CWS without a pitcher with at least 20 innings pitched and an ERA below 4.00.
"To think a few weeks ago were in Normal, Illinois for the conference tournament, and fast forward to now and we are going to Omaha," McLendon said.
"You can't make this up."
