Murray State
Evansville
Softball Earns First Win Over Evansville in Home Opener
3/4/2010 3:45:00 AM | Softball
The Murray State softball team earned its first victory, with a 6-2 win over Evansville in the second half of a double-header at Racer Field at Murray-Calloway County Park. The Racers (1-6) fell in the opening game 6-2.
MSU was led at the plate by sophomore Megan Glosser, who tallied four hits. The Racers also saw key performances from juniors Stephanie Mattocks and Jenna Bradley. Both players tallied a home run for MSU. Freshman Shelby Kosmecki and junior Kristen Broadway each earned six innings in the circle. Kosmecki recorded three strike outs in the opening loss. Broadway recorded six strike outs, while only allowing three hits and three walks and earned the win.
Game 2 vs. Evansville
In the night cap of the double-header, the Racers went up 2-0 in the first inning and never allowed the Purple Aces (2-4) to tie the game or go ahead. Glosser walked to start off the inning and then stole second. Two batters later Bradley hit a homer over the center field fence to give the Racers the 2-0 advantage.
Evansville scored a run in the top of the second to cut the lead to one, but MSU followed with a two-run second inning to add to its lead. Freshman Stephanie Edwards reached by drawing the walk and then sat on first for the next two outs. Glosser singled and advanced Edwards into scoring position. Freshman Megan Belio then stepped to the plate and hit a double that scored both Glosser and Edwards before she was called out trying to reach third.
The Racers continued to add to their advantage throughout the game, with a run in each the fourth and fifth innings. Evansville added one more run in the sixth, but could not get any closer and MSU earned its first collegiate victory.
Game 1 vs. Evansville
Like the second game of the day, a team took an early lead and never allowed its opponents to tie or take a lead of their own. However, this time it was the Purple Aces that got on the scoreboard first with a two-run second inning.
The Racers added a run in the bottom of the second when Mattocks hit her first career home run to center field.
Evansville added to their lead with one run in the fourth and sixth innings and capped off the game with a two-run seventh. MSU earned one final run in the sixth inning, but fell 6-2.
The Racers will have one more match-up with the Purple Aces this weekend as part of the Lady Bison Classic hosted by Lipscomb in Nashville, Tenn. MSU first faces the host Lady Bison, Friday, March 5 at 4 p.m. The Racers then face Evansville at 12:15 p.m. Saturday, March 6 and then battle with Lipscomb again at 4:45 the same day. MSU finished the tournament with a 10 a.m. game time with Eastern Kentucky, Sunday, March 7.
Notes: Chairman of the Murray State University Board of Regents threw out the ceremonial first pitch before the first Racer home game at Racer Field at Murray-Calloway County Park.
Quotes
Head Coach Jay Pyron
"We were going to get our first win sometime, but it was great to get it at home in front of our fans."
"We are proud of the way the team battled. The team handled the ups and downs of the game a lot better. We were also a little more composed than we have been in the past and that was the big reason we came away with the win."
"I expect for our team to head to Nashville and keep playing the way that we can. I have been talking to the team about how we need to play our game. We were solid in every area today and we are just excited to get back out there and try and get another win."
