Softball Opens Spring Break Swing at Arkansas

Saturday, March 24

Murray, Ky.

1:30 p.m.

Murray State

UT Martin

Photo by: Murray State Sports Information

3/21/2012 6:50:00 PM | Softball

March 22
Murray State (9-6) at Arkansas (18-9)
Bogle Park
Fayetteville, Ark

March 24-25
UT Martin (16-10, 6-0) at Murray State (9-6, 4-2)
Racer Field
Murray, Ky.

Game Notes

SPRING BREAK SOFTBALL
Murray State softball kicks off play over spring break weekend with a Thursday afternoon doubleheader at Arkansas. The Racers then return home for three OVC games this weekend against UT Martin. The home set will be the last time the Racers play at home until a pair of mid-week games against SIUE at Racer Field a week and a half later, as MSU will embark on a stretch of 8 of 10 games to be played on the road.

SCOUTING ARKANSAS
Arkansas enters this week's action having dropped five of six, including two of three SEC games at home against Tennessee. The Razorbacks are just 2-6 in conference play but are 18-9 on the season, with an 11-5 record at home. This is their second time playing an OVC team, having defeated Tennessee State 7-0 earlier this season.

Devon Wallace leads Arkansas with a .370 batting average in 27 games this season, leading the Razorbacks with 21 runs and 20 RBI. Clarisa Navarro is right behind, batting .344 with 15 runs scored and 16 RBI.

Chelsea Cohen leads the pitching staff with a 2.47 earned run average, holding an 11-6 record in 15 games started and 21 appearances. She has pitched in 110.2 of the team's 181 innings this season.

SCOUTING UT MARTIN
UT Martin has proved to be one of the top teams in the OVC after two conference weekends, sitting atop the OVC standings with an unblemished 6-0 conference record. The Skyhawks swept three games against SIU Edwardsville at home to open conference play, and defeated Tennessee Tech on the road in all three games to take over first place in the league.

Leah Taylor ranks as the top hitter in the OVC this season, batting .438 through 26 games to lead UTM. She also leads the team with 28 runs scored and is second with 21 RBI. Kayla Wade is the other Skyhawk to bat above .300, sporting a .359 average in 82 at bats this season.

Chelsea Jones has asserted herself as the ace of the pitching staff, holding an 11-3 record on the season. She leads the conference with 90 strikeouts in 101.1 innings pitched this season.