Murray State
SIU Edwardsville
Racers Split In Two Extra-Inning Games at SIU Edwardsville
4/21/2010 2:00:00 AM | Softball
The Murray State softball team played two extra-inning games at SIU Edwardsville and came away with a split. The Racers (16-25) dropped a 2-1 decision in nine innings in the opening game and then earned a 3-2 eight-inning win in the night cap.
"It was good for the development of our program to get to play extra-inning games," said head coach Jay Pyron. "You get to learn a lot about yourself as a team. We competed hard the entire day and made a lot of key plays."
Freshman Megan Belio led MSU at the plate, with two hits. Junior Jenna Bradley recorded her 11th home run of the season and tallied a team-high three RBIs in the split.
All four of the pitchers for the Racers saw action in the circle, with junior Kristen Broadway earning the victory in the second game. Freshman Starr Gilley recorded her first career save in the game as well, with Broadway contributing five strike outs and Gilley added two more. Sophomore Chelsey Sullivan took the loss in the opening game, with three strike outs to her credit. Freshman Shelby Kosmecki started the first game, garnering two strike outs.
Game 1 - SIU Edwardsville 2, Murray State 1 (9)
The Racers got on the scoreboard early in the opening game of the double header when junior Jenna Bradley hit her 11th home run of the season over the left field fence in the top of the first inning. The homer was the second in as many games for the Trilla, Ill., native and gave MSU a 1-0 lead.
The score remained that way until the bottom of the third when the Cougars (23-20) tied the game at one when a walk with the bases loaded scored a run.
The team's kept the defensive pressure up throughout the remainder of regulation. SIUE had bases loaded and no outs in the bottom of the sixth when Sullivan entered the circle and struck out the first batter she faced. A ball hit at third on the next play let the Racers get the force out at home plate to save a run and then freshman Ellyn Troup fielded the last ball for an unassisted out to end the inning without a run crossing the plate.
It then took until the bottom of the ninth before either team was able to earn the victory, as the Cougars took advantage of an error that allowed the winning run to score.
Game 2 - Murray State 3, SIU Edwardsville 2 (8)
The Racers again took an early lead in the top of the first inning when Bradley walked and Troup were hit by pitches to put two runners on. An error by the Cougar pitcher then allowed freshman Kaitlyn England to reach and Bradley to score.
SIUE came right back to tie the game in the bottom of the first on two hits, a walk and an error.
MSU was the next team to get a run across the plate in the top of the fourth inning. England was the benefactor of an error by the center fielder that allowed her to advance to third. Two batters later, junior Lauren Buch hit a ball at the short stop that was thrown to first, but England took the chance and scored to give the Racers a 2-1 advantage.
It looked like MSU would keep the score that way, until the Cougars got their bats going in the bottom of the sixth inning. SIUE started the inning with a double and after one more hit and two fielder's choices the Cougars got a run across the plate.
For the second game in a row the game was forced into extra innings as both teams went three-up, three-down in the seventh inning.
Belio started the offense off for the Racers with a single just over the head of the third baseman after the first out of the inning was recorded. Belio stole second and was advanced to third on a sacrifice bunt by sophomore Megan Glosser. Bradley and Troup were both walked to load the bases and England drew a third-straight walk to score the winning run.
MSU then recorded three-straight outs in the bottom of the eighth to secure the victory.
The Racers return to Murray, Ky., for the final non-conference games of the 2010 season. MSU will host Mid Continent, Thursday, April 22 for a double header starting at 3 p.m. at Racer Field at Murray-Calloway County Park.
Quotes
Head Coach Jay Pyron
"We would have liked to win both, but to come away with one and not give up when we had opportunities to do so makes me proud."
"I thought all four pitchers did well for us today. We had some walks that we didn't need to have, but as a whole it was the best this year that collectively we have pitched as a team."
"We have been asking the pitchers to make some adjustments as the season has gone on and they are moving in the right direction."
