Murray State University Athletics
Murray State
Samford
Racers Sweep Doubleheader Against Samford
4/25/2012 4:53:00 PM | Softball
Game 2: Box Score | Box Score (PDF)
Photo Gallery
Murray State softball kept its winning ways intact, defeating Samford 1-0 and 9-1 Wednesday afternoon at Racer Field.
The doubleheader sweep gives the Racers a six-game winning streak, the longest unbeaten mark in the program's three-year history.
Casey Castile broke through for MSU (26-16) in the bottom of the fourth in game one, hitting her second home run in two days and eighth of the season to left center field with one out to put the Racers on top 1-0.
The Racers would have to work out of trouble in the top of the sixth, as Samford loaded the bases with one out on a pair of base hits and a walk. Murray State starting pitcher CheyAnne Gaskey would stay calm under pressure, getting out of the inning on back-to-back swinging strikeouts to remain ahead 1-0.
The Racers left a pair of insurance runs stranded on second and third in the bottom of the sixth after Alexa Becker was hit by a pitch and Castile walked.
The Bulldogs were able to move the tying run into scoring position in the top of the seventh as Caroline Seay led the inning off with a single into center, and moved to second on a sacrifice bunt. Gaskey would battle through yet again, getting a fly out to left field and a swinging strikeout to wrap up the 1-0 victory.
Gaskey picked up her second win in two days as she improved to 6-2 on the season. She gave up seven hits and a walk in her third shutout of the season, lowering her earned run average to 2.03 on the year while striking out seven.
Robyn Harmon took the loss for Samford, falling to 3-8 this season. She held the Racers to four hits and a pair of walks and struck out two.
Becker helped the Racers off to a faster start on offense in game two, hitting a deep home run to score Megan Glosser and Mo Ramsey in the bottom of the first. The three-run bomb to left was her fifth of the season.
Ellyn Troup drove in a fourth run later in the inning, drawing a full-count bases loaded walk with two outs to bring in Castile. Glosser would beat out an infield single to the second baseman in her second time at bat in the inning, scoring Mandi Kellerman and increasing the Racers advantage to 5-0.
Samford scored its first run of the day in the top of the fourth on a Casey Clark single into center field, scoring Misha Aldridge from third to trail 5-1. The Bulldogs had an opportunity to score more in the inning, but Becker ended the inning by fielding a ball in the hole and throwing out Madeline Baker at first.
Kellerman would get the run back for MSU in the bottom half of the inning, singling into shallow right field to score Becker from second on a play at the plate and lead 6-1.
Another run would score as Mallory Richardson hit a ground ball that the Samford second baseman failed to field cleanly, allowing pinch runner Alaina Zloty to score without an attempt at the plate for the Racers seventh run of the game.
Becker would end the game with her team-leading second triple of the season to right field, scoring Glosser and Sarah Anderson to send the Racers home with a 9-1 victory.
Chelsey Sullivan improved to 10-5 on the season in the circle for MSU, limiting Samford to four hits and three walks in five innings. She struck out four on the day and gave up one run in the outing.
Shelby Scott took the loss for Samford, giving up five first inning runs on five hits and a pair of walks.
Becker led the MSU offense with five RBI on two hits with a pair of runs. Glosser also scored twice, leading the Racers with three hits in the game.
Murray State returns to action this weekend for the final time at Racer Field, hosting Southeast Missouri. Games Saturday and Sunday start at 1 p.m.
