Murray State University Athletics
Murray State
Eastern Kentucky
Racers Earns Series Win Over EKU with Split on Day 2
4/25/2010 8:00:00 PM | Softball
The Murray State softball team took the series win over Eastern Kentucky after earning a split in a double header on day two of the Ohio Valley Conference series. The Racers (20-26, 9-10 OVC) earned a 14-4 win in the second game of the day after falling 2-0 in the opener to the Colonels (13-33, 7-13 OVC).
The 14 runs that MSU put up in the second game were the most in a single game this season, and the eight were the most scored in a single inning. The previous best in a game was 12 against Tennessee Tech (April 2). The Racers previous best inning was six runs against both Tennessee Tech (April 2) and Jacksonville State (March 27).
MSU had three players hit .500 on the day, including junior Lauren Buch, who had a team-best three hits, four runs and three RBIs. The Chester, Ill., native started the eight-run eighth inning with her fourth home run of the season in the victory. Freshmen Megan Belio and Ellyn Troup each hit .500 of the day as well, with Belio contributing three hits and Troup adding one.
All four pitchers saw action on the day, with freshman Starr Gilley earning the loss in the first game and junior Kristen Broadway moving to 9-5 on the season with a win in game two. Sophomore Chelsey Sullivan recorded her first career save after coming in relief in the third inning of game two.
Game 2 - Murray Sate 14, Eastern Kentucky 4
The Colonels started the game by putting runs up on the scoreboard in the first inning, as they put two runs across the plate off of three hits.
The Racers then got their bats going in the top of the second and tied the game at two. Troup lead off the inning by getting hit by a pitch and was advanced to second on a ground out by junior Stephanie Mattocks. Buch reached on an error by the first baseman that allowed Troup to advance to third. That put her in scoring position when freshman Stephanie Edwards hit a single up the middle. Taylor Wilson batted in the second run of the inning with a single to right field.
MSU took the lead in the top of the third when they scored three runs. Belio started the inning off by walking and then stole second. Sophomore Megan Glosser advanced to third on a long fly ball to the center field fence that was caught. Troup then hit a single in the gap between short stop and third that allowed Glosser to score. A double down the left field line by Buch scored Troup. The final run scored when a dropped throw to first base allowed Buch to score from second and give the Racers a 5-2 advantage.
The Colonels closed the deficit to one run in the bottom of the third off a two run home run over the right field fence that made the score 5-4.
Belio crossed the plate to give MSU more of a cushion in the top of the fourth after singling at the second baseman. She reached second on the play after an errant throw and was advanced to third on a sacrifice bunt by Glosser. She then scored when junior Jenna Bradley grounded out to third base and it gave the Racers a 6-4 lead.
MSU's lead increased to 14-4 in the top of the fifth. Buch lead off with a homer over the fence in left center. Wilson doubled to left center and was then brought in after a hit batter, a single by Glosser and a walk to Bradley. Belio, who was hit by a pitch, scored on a second walk with bases loaded and a single up the middle by Mattocks scored two more. Buch added two more when she singled to center field and a single by Edwards added the eighth run of the inning.
Sullivan entered the game for MSU in the circle in the bottom of the third inning and helped give the Racers a boost and earned her first career save. The Shelbyville, Ill., native retired five of the last six batters to protect the win.
Game 1 - Eastern Kentucky 2, Murray State 0
The Colonels earned the win in the bottom of the first after scoring one run off two hits. Junior Kristen Broadway then came into the circle and retired the first six batters she faced, including three strike outs.
The defense for both teams then held strong, allowing just five base runners total in the next three innings. EKU added one more run to its lead in the bottom of the fifth to take a 2-0 advantage. The final three half innings saw both teams go three-up three down to end the game in favor of the Colonels.
Broadway ended the game with six strike outs and allowed just two hits.
The Racers will return home to Racer Field at Murray-Calloway County Park for the final home OVC series of the season. MSU will host Morehead State in a three-game series, May 1-2. The teams will play a double header, Saturday, May 1 and a single game Sunday, May 2, all starting at 1 p.m.
Quotes
Junior Jenna Bradley
"We know that as a team we can win. We got shut down by their pitcher in the first game, but we fed off each other in the second game. Once one person starts to have a good game we all respond."
"Today we went on a run with two outs, but we didn't really pay attention to that. We all just went to the plate and focused on our at bat."
"I think we are just really starting to get comfortable with our roles on the team and things are starting to fall into place."
Junior Lauren Buch
"We came together as a team after the first game and refocused. We decided that we needed to wake up and play the game the way we are capable of doing."
"I just try to stay calm at the plate and I have been working on things to improved my game as the season has been going on.
