Murray State
Belmont
Softball Split Series With Belmont
3/15/2010 1:00:00 AM | Softball
The Murray State softball team split a double header with Belmont in a reworked version of the weekend schedule. The Racer (3-10) were originally scheduled to host a tournament with Belmont and Alcorn State, but due to wet and muddy field conditions in Murray, Ky., MSU and the Bruins (2-14) scheduled a double header in Nashville, Tenn., at Aquinas Field. The Racers fell in the opener 9-6, before rebounding and earning a 10-2 victory in the second game.
"I was really pleased with how we bounced back from our first game today," said head coach Jay Pyron. "We had some bright spots in the first game, but we made a couple of mistakes that cost us. To see your team correct those mistakes and play well is what you look for as a coach."
Freshman Kaitlyn England led the team with four hits, while junior Jenna Bradley led the team with three RBIs after hitting her fourth home run of the season and her first game-winning homer in the top of the first of game two.
All four of the members of the MSU pitching staff saw action against the Bruins, with junior Kristen Broadway earning the most time in the circle. Broadway earned the win in game two and moved her record to 2-2 on the season. She recorded eight strike outs and three walks in 6.2 innings of action. Freshman Starr Gilley and sophomore Chelsey Sullivan each added two strike outs, while freshman Shelby Kosmecki pitched the last inning of game two.
"All four of our pitchers have the talent and are capable of going in and shutting down the other team," Pyron said. "We are trying to give them all opportunities to work on what they need to in order to improve."
Game 2 - Murray State 10, Belmont 2
Like the first game of the day the Racers' lead-off batter drew a walk in the top of the first. Freshman Megan Belio followed with a walk of her own to put two runners on base. Junior Jenna Bradley then hit a three-run home run, giving MSU a 3-0 lead. The Bruins cut the lead to two in the bottom of the first, with one run.
The Racers added a run in the top of the second when junior Taylor Wilson and sophomore Megan Glosser both walked. Belio then singled up the middle to score Wilson to make the score 4-1. Belmont got the run back in the bottom of the inning to make the score 4-2 at the end of two innings.
MSU continued to add runs in the third inning after freshman Kaitlyn England walked to lead off the inning. Freshman Stephanie Edwards then hit her in with a single up the middle. Freshman Christian Cox then reached on an error by the short stop and advanced to third and then scored on two-straight pass balls to give the Racers a 6-2 lead.
MSU added three more runs in the top of the fifth, in an inning where all nine batters were up at the plate. Troup started the inning off with a single and then England and junior Stephanie Mattocks both walked to load the bases. England then got an RBI after getting hit by a pitch. Cox then came up and hit a single to right center to score two more runs and make the scoreboard read 9-2 in favor of the Racers.
MSU added one more run in the top of seventh. Cox started off the inning with a double to left center and then was advanced by Wilson and to third on a pass ball. Freshman Starr Gilley then hit a ball to the third baseman and was thrown out at first, but Wilson was able to come in and score for the final 10-2.
Game 1 - Belmont 9, Murray State 6
The Racers wasted no time getting on the scoreboard, as they tallied two runs in the top of the first. Junior Taylor Wilson drew a walk as the lead-off batter and then stole second. Wilson advanced to third when sophomore Megan Glosser hit into a fielder's choice and both reached their next base safely. Junior Jenna Bradley then drew another walk to load the bases for clean-up hitter Ellyn Troup. Troup hit a single to left field that allowed both Wilson and Glosser to give MSU a 2-0 advantage.
The Bruins tied the game at two in the bottom of the second and went ahead in the fourth with a two-run home run by Ashley Byers.
MSU tied the game at four in the top of the fifth inning, when Wilson led off with a single and advanced to second with the next batter. Wilson then advanced to third when Bradley was called out on a foul fly to first base. Troup then got on after getting hit by a pitch, setting up freshman Alaina Zloty with two runners on base. Zloty then hit a single up the middle and scored both Wilson and Troup.
Belmont broke the tie in the bottom of the sixth with a five-run inning to take a 9-4 lead into the final inning of play.
The Racers then added two runs in the top of the seventh, but it was not enough to earn the victory. Bradley singled to left field and then stole second and advanced to third on a wild pitch while junior Stephanie Mattocks was at the plate. Mattocks eventually drew the walk to bring freshman Kaitlyn England to the plate. England then drove in Bradley, with a single to the left side. Freshman Stephanie Edwards then singled to the left side to load the bases. Freshman Madi Ratliff then earned an RBI and the final run for MSU when she was hit by a pitch, for the final 9-6 loss.
The Racers will return home and prepare for a game at Racer Field at Murray-Calloway County Park against SIU Edwardsville, Wednesday, March 17. The first pitch is set to fly at 2 p.m.
Quotes
Head Coach Jay
"We got contributions from all four pitchers today. It was nice to see them all come together as a staff and get a win."
"I thought we were really well balanced offensively today. We had productions from everyone in the order, top to bottom. We also got contributions from players that haven't had many at bats lately."
"I thought Christian Cox had a really strong day at the plate. She swung the bat with confidence and came through for us in some big moments."
" Jenna Bradley got us off on the right foot with the ball she hit early in the second game. She seems to set the tone for us so it was nice to see her come through for us."
"It is encouraging for the staff to see the entire line up come through. It brings me comfort to know that no matter who is at the plate in any game we can have confidence for them to get the job done."
