Murray State
Eastern Illinois
Racers Drop Pair in Home Opener
3/19/2011 7:48:34 PM | Softball
Murray State was unable to carry over momentum from earlier in the week, dropping both games against Eastern Illinois as the Racers opened the 2011 home schedule with a pair of 5-2 and 4-0 losses Saturday afternoon at Racer Field.
Eastern Illinois scored the first runs of the game in the top of the third on Hannah Willert's first home run of the day, a three run blast to left center field with one out in the inning to put the Panthers ahead 3-0.
They added to their advantage with another run in the fourth inning as Willert walked with the bases loaded. The Racers were able to get a pair of outs to escape the inning without further damage, the second of the frame on a wild pitch that catcher Ellyn Troup corralled to tag out Maria Sorrentino at home on an attempt to score from third.
Murray State (4-14, 0-5 OVC) cut the lead in half in the bottom of the six as Jenna Bradley cranked her fourth home run of the season with two outs, scoring Madysen Wilton after she got the Racers first hit of the game to lead off the inning.
MSU gave up another run in the top of the seventh and were unable to mount a comeback in its half of the inning, going down in order.
Chelsey Sullivan took the loss for the Racers, tossing 3.1 innings and allowing four runs on three hits and four walks. Kristen Broadway pitched the remaining 3.2 innings, giving up an unearned run on four hits.
Amber May recorded the win for Eastern Illinois, striking out 13 and giving up two runs on two hits and a walk.
Game two of the afternoon played out as more of a pitcher's duel. The Racers had the first chance of the game to cross home plate in the bottom of the second as Lauren Buch singled and Troup walked to lead off the inning. They each moved over a base on a ground out to the right side of the infield, but were left stranded as EIU got the Racers to ground out twice more to leave the game scoreless.
MSU put two on in scoring position again in its half of the fifth as Wilton led off the inning with a double to left center off the wall. She advanced to third on a bunt by Megan Glosser. After Bradley was intentionally walked, she reached second on a stolen base without a throw from the Panthers, but both runners were left stranded as Eastern Illinois got out of the inning to leave the game scoreless.
The Panthers scored the first run of the game in the top of the sixth as cleanup hitter Kiley Holtz doubled to right center with two outs to score a runner from first to take a 1-0 lead.
Eastern Illinois (15-5, 2-0 OVC) put the game away in the next inning, scoring three with a pair coming on Willert's second home run of the day to lead by the eventual final score of 4-0.
Shelby Kosmecki went the distance in the circle for the Racers, giving up seven hits and three walks while allowing four runs and striking out six.
Stephanie Maday earned the shutout win for the Panthers, holding MSU to five hits and two walks while striking out eight in seven innings.
The teams return to action at 1 p.m. Sunday afternoon to close out the three-game series at Racer Field.
