Murray State University Athletics
Racers Earn Pair of 4-1 and 3-2 Victories Saturday Afternoon
3/24/2012 5:29:00 PM | Softball
Game 2: Box Score | Box Score (PDF)
Murray State softball picked up a pair of come-from-behind wins Saturday afternoon, knocking UT Martin from the ranks of the unbeaten in Ohio Valley Conference action with a 4-1 win and 3-2 victory at Racer Field.
The visiting Skyhawks would score their lone run in the top of the second in the series opener, taking advantage of an error with one out that put runners on first and second bases. Becca Williams would single following the error, ripping a ball back up the middle off of Murray State starting pitcher Shelby Kosmecki's glove to score Kelsey Dixon from second and take a 1-0 lead.
MSU tied the game at 1-1 in the bottom of the fourth as Ellyn Troup singled through the left side into the outfield with two on. Casey Castile slid into home, narrowly avoiding the tag for the Racers first run of the game.
The Racers broke it open in the fifth, adding three more runs to take a 4-1 advantage. Mo Ramsey singled to the UT Martin catcher with two on with a ball that died about six inches in front of home plate. The throw to first attempting to get her out was thrown down the right field fence in foul territory, allowing Christian Cox to score from second and advancing Megan Glosser and Ramsey into scoring position. Leslie Bridges took advantage two batters later, scoring both runners on a base hit to put the Racers up three.
Kosmecki earned the win for Murray State (11-6, 6-2 OVC), its second over UT Martin and first regular season victory in seven meetings. She limited UTM to six hits and a pair of walks while striking out three. Allowing just one unearned run, she dropped her earned run average on the season to 2.07 in improving to 5-3 on the season.
Chelsea Jones was tagged with the loss for UTM (18-12, 8-2), giving up four runs, one earned, on seven hits while striking out three.
Bridges led the MSU offense with a pair of hits as the top three in the batting order of Glosser, Ramsey and Castile each scored a run along with Christian Cox.
Leah Taylor and Erica Duke each recorded a pair of hits for the Skyhawks.
The Racers would end up taking game two in similar fashion, scoring three more late runs in the bottom of the sixth to come out with a one-run win.
UTM plated the first run of the game in the top of the third, scoring Leah Taylor from third on a groundout to short for the innings second out.
UT Martin would double its lead in the top of the sixth on Lauren Smith's third home run of the year to center field.
Glosser would kick start the offense in the bottom of the sixth, reaching first with two outs on a line drive off UTM pitcher Casey Vincent's glove that ricocheted to in front of the Skyhawks' dugout. Ramsey kept the inning alive, drawing a walk to advance Glosser into scoring position. Castile would drive Glosser in with a single into left field to cut the lead in half, and Ramsey was ruled safe at third trying to advance after the UT Martin third baseman dropped the ball applying the tag. Bridges would take advantage of the miscue, ripping her second two-RBI base hit of the day into center field to score both runners and give the Racers their first lead of the game.
MSU starting pitcher Chelsey Sullivan locked down the victory in the seventh, getting a pair of fly balls with a runner on first to end the game.
Sullivan moved to 4-2 on the season in picking up the victory, giving up five hits and four walks. She struck out two in the complete game performance.
Casey was tagged with the loss for UT Martin, giving up three runs on five hits and a walk in 5.2 innings.
Bridges again led the Racers with two RBI, and the top three MSU batters were each responsible for a run for the second straight game.
Smith drove in both runs for UTM, and Duke tallied a pair of hits for the second straight game.
The Racers look to close out the series sweep Sunday afternoon as the teams meet for the third game of the series at 1 p.m.
