Murray State University Athletics
Murray State
Jacksonville State
Racers Split Home Opener 2-1 and 5-8 Against Jacksonville State
3/17/2012 8:27:00 PM | Softball
Game 2 - Box Score | Box Score (PDF)
Murray State softball opened the 2012 home season with a 2-1 come-from-behind victory Saturday afternoon before dropping the second game of the day 8-5 against Jacksonville State at Racer Field.
Jacksonville State would take advantage of an MSU defensive miscue in the top of the second to score the first run of the opening game. With runners on first and second, a dropped fly ball allowed Jessica Guy to score from second. A second error in the inning would later load the bases, but Murray State starting pitcher Shelby Kosmecki would leave all three stranded on a ground ball force out a third.
The Racers climbed right back in the bottom half of the inning, scoring their only two runs and the game's final runs to take a one-run lead. Stephanie Edwards deposited a Tiffany Harbin pitch over the wall in straightaway center field on her first home run of the season to put Murray State (9-5, 4-1 OVC) ahead 2-1.
Kosmecki had to fight through some difficult situations to keep the lead as JSU left 12 total runners on base in the game. The Gamecocks stranded two runners at the end of an inning three times in the final four innings.
Left fielder Megan Glosser kept the game-tying run from scoring in the top of the sixth, gunning down Savannah Sloan at home plate on a perfect throw that allowed catcher Ellyn Troup to tag her as she attempted to slide in to home for the third out of the sixth.
Kosmecki pitched with the tying and potential winning run on 2nd and 3rd in the seventh, but was able to neutralize the threat and lock up the win on a swinging strikeout for the game's final out.
She ended the complete game with seven strikeouts in improving to 4-2 on the season. She gave up six hits along with a season-high seven walks.
Harbin took the loss for Jacksonville State (9-15, 4-1 OVC), also striking out seven while giving up a pair of earned runs on six hits and two walks.
JSU once again scored the first run of the day in game two as Kaycee Crow homered down the left field line over the foul pole to take a 1-0 lead.
The Racers once again matched the Gamecocks as Leslie Bridges doubled to the wall in left center, scoring Casey Castile. Castile was beaten by the ball at the plate, but the JSU catcher Crow was unable to corral the ball in time to apply the tag.
MSU took the lead in the bottom of the third, again off the bat of Bridges. She singled to shortstop, and advanced to second on a throwing error on the attempt at first that would allow Mo Ramsey to score from second and put the Racers up 2-1.
Three singles in four at-bats would tie the game for JSU in the fourth, with Sara Borders singling up the middle to score one.
The Gamecocks would blow the game open in the sixth, scoring six runs on seven hits. The inning was highlighted by Borders second run-scoring hit of the game, a bases-loaded double into left that scored two, and Kristin Graham's deep two-run home run to center field.
The Racers cut into the lead in the bottom half of the inning, scoring one on Megan Glosser's infield single that allowed Mallory Richardson to score on a throwing error. They added two more on Mo Ramsey's single back up the middle of the infield that plated Christian Cox and Glosser to make the score 8-5.
Sam Snow picked up the win for JSU, her third of the season, in a pair of innings in relief. She was charged with a pair of unearned runs on four hits while walking and striking out none.
Harbin came in to pitch a one-two-three seventh to notch her first save of the season.
CheyAnne Gaskey took the loss for the Racers out of the bullpen, her first of the season. She allowed six hits on seven hits and a walk while striking out three.
The top of the MSU batting order collected nine of the team's 10 hits. Casey Castile tallied hits in all three of her official at-bats, while Glosser, Ramsey and Bridges each finished the game 2-for-4.
Borders led JSU with three RBI out of the leadoff spot in the lineup on a pair of hits. Eight different Gamecocks each scored one run in the game.
The teams will face off in the series' rubber match Sunday afternoon, closing out the three-game set. First pitch is scheduled for 1 p.m.
