Murray State University Athletics
Murray State
SIU-Edwardsville
Racers Come Back To Pick Up Split At SIU Edwardsville
3/22/2011 9:05:59 PM | Softball
BOX SCORE GAME 1
BOX SCORE GAME 2
Murray State softball played one of its most complete games of the season Tuesday afternoon, pulling out a 3-0 win in the second game of a doubleheader after falling 6-4 in the opener at SIU Edwardsville in Edwardsville, Ill.
The bottom of the MSU batting order got the scoring started in the fifth inning of a scoreless game one. Pinch hitter Leslie Bridges led off the frame with a double to right center in her first at bat of the game. Stephanie Edwards followed with a single to center to move Bridges to third. A ground out placed Edwards at second, and the Racers got on the scoreboard as Taylor Wilson singled on a pop up behind first base to score Bridges. Murray State was unable to get more than a single run in the inning, leaving Edwards and Wilson stranded.
SIUE tied the game in the bottom of the fifth with one out on a double off the center field wall from Kasey Schlafke. The relay throw from center beat Taylor Tooley at home she was able to touch home plate before catcher Ellyn Troup could corral the throw and apply the tag. The Cougars added two more runs in the inning to take the lead, using an error at second and bases-loaded walk to take a 3-1 lead before Stephanie Edwards started the Racers second double play of the game to get out of the inning.
Lauren Buch closed the gap to a single run, leading off the top of the sixth with her sixth home run of the season on a blast to left center field.
SIUE broke the game open in the bottom of the sixth with three runs, two coming on a Tooley homer to left center field as the Cougars left the inning with a 6-2 lead.
The Racers didn't go away in the seventh, making things difficult for Edwardsville by putting the first two runners of the inning on base. MSU pushed two run across the plate with two outs, the first scoring on a throwing error at shortstop on a throw in the dirt to first that would have been the final out of the game, and Buch's second RBI of the game on a grounder off the SIUE second baseman's glove that rolled into the outfield. Stephanie Mattocks drove a ball into right field that had a chance, but fell short for the final out of the game.
Shelby Kosmecki took the loss in the circle for Murray State (5-16, 1-7 OVC), tossing 5.0+ innings and allowing five runs, four earned, on five hits and four walks. She cruised through the first four innings, allowing just three base runners before falling in trouble late in the game.
She was helped by a number of great defensive plays behind her. Troup created a couple of outs from behind the plate, first catching Schlafke returning to first after a pitch got away from Troup for the third out of the second. She was also responsible for the final out of the third, throwing out Lindsey Barron trying to steal second base.
Erika Taylor got the win for the SIU Edwardsville (10-17, 2-3 OVC), tossing a complete game and allowing four runs, two earned, on six hits and a walk with eight strikeouts. She had the Racers confused early on, striking out the side in the first inning and five of the first six MSU batters.
Lauren Buch and Stephanie Edwards led the Murray State offense with two hits each.
The Racers struck first in the second game, taking the lead in the top of the third as Megan Glosser roped a double down the line in left on a curving shot that landed behind the third baseman and traveled into foul territory. She came in to score with two outs on a fly ball that a charging Paige Sheeder was unable to handle to give MSU a 1-0 lead.
Glosser led off the fifth inning with her second double of the game, driving a ball over the head of the SIUE left fielder. After advancing to third on a ground out to short, Jenna Bradley drove her in with her fifth home run of the season to put Murray State up 3-0 after the top of the fifth.
Chelsey Sullivan threw her second shutout of the season, tossing seven innings and allowing just two hits and two walks. After a pair of hits to open the second inning, she retired the next 15 consecutive batters and didn't allow an SIUE base runner until she walked the lead-off batter in the bottom of the seventh.
Ali Downing was saddled with the loss for Edwardsville. She gave up three runs, two of them earned, on four hits and two walks.
Glosser led the Racers with two hits and two runs from the top of the batting order. Bradley reached base all three times she went to the plate, walking twice to go with her homer.
