Murray State University Athletics
Murray State
Jacksonville State
Racers Advance At OVC Championships With 5-3 Win Over JSU
5/11/2012 9:23:00 PM | Softball
Murray State softball advanced to championship Saturday at the OVC Championships for the first time in program history, defeating Jacksonville State 5-3 in the team's first elimination game of the tournament Friday night at Bettye Giles Field in Martin, Tenn.
The Racers (34-20) wasted little time getting on the scoreboard as Megan Glosser led the game off with a single to the JSU shortstop, advancing to second as the throw to first ended up in the dirt. She moved to third on a ground out to short, and was able to score on an errant throw following a popped up bunt as the Gamecocks attempted to catch her off of third for an inning-ending double play. The throw in the dirt rolled down the left field fence, allowing Glosser to score without a play at the plate.
Jacksonville State (26-27 matched the Racers in the bottom of the first as Shelby Holley singled up the middle to score Kaycee Crow from second.
The Racers went back-to-back with solo shots in the top of the third off of JSU starting pitcher Tiffany Harbin, the second time in two daysMSU has hit home runs in consecutive at-bats, this time with freshman Alexa Becker and Casey Castile each homering with two outs to put MSU ahead 3-1. Harbin entered the game having already made two starts prior in the day as the Gamecocks earned wins over Eastern Kentucky and Eastern Illinois to advance to face Murray State.
The Gamecocks again equaled the Racers' output in the inning, scoring two on a deep home run to center field by Abbey Stepp to tie the game at 3-3. The Racers saved a run a batter earlier, getting a pair of outs after the Gamecocks led off the inning with a pair of base hits. Mandi Kellerman snagged a line drive at third and threw to Christian Cox at second to catch the runner off the base.
Murray State took the lead for good in the top of the fifth as Glosser led off the frame with a full-count walk. A steal of second advanced her to second, and she moved to third on a fielder's choice bunt from Mo Ramsey to put runners on the corners with nobody out. After an infield pop-up for the first out, Castile laid a bunt down the first base line on a squeeze play, scoring Glosser as the Gamecocks took the out at first base.
The Racers added an insurance run in the top of the sixth, getting the lead-off batter on base as Ellyn Troup was hit by a pitch for the 21st time this season. Kellerman followed with a double into the gap in right center that rolled to the outfield wall, allowing Troup to score from first on a play at the plate on Kellerman's team-leading third RBI of the week to lead 5-3.
Jacksonville State threatened in the bottom of the seventh as Sara Borders singled to right to start off the inning. Murray State got the first out of the inning on a fielder's choice to Cox, getting Borders out at second. Castile saved a run a batter later, catching Holley's line drive to deep center in the tip of her glove over her head for the second out of the inning. A single deep in the hole at short put the tying run on base and the winning run at the plate in Kristen Graham, but Graham ended the game flying out to Glosser in left field to wrap up the 5-3 win.
Shelby Kosmecki earned her second win in two days at the OVC Championships, throwing all seven innings and striking out five, including all three in the first inning. She was charged with three earned runs on nine hits and a pair of walks in her second win over the Gamecocks this season.
Sam Snow was saddled with the loss in relief for Jacksonville State, entering in the top of the fourth and allowing a pair of runs on two hits and a walk.
The Racers move on to face Tennessee Tech in the championship game of the elimination bracket Saturday morning at 10 a.m. Murray State took two-of-three in Cookeville, Tenn., earlier this year, winning a pair of 1-0 Saturday games before dropping the final game of the series 4-0.
The Golden Eagles lost their first game of the championships as UT Martin advanced to the championship round with a 6-2 win over TTU. The winner of Murray State/Tennessee Tech advances to the championship game against UT Martin, with the loser's bracket winner needing a pair of wins against the Skyhawks to claim the OVC Championship, while UT Martin needs just one victory.
