Softball Sweeps Tennessee Tech

Friday, March 22

Cookeville, Tenn.

1 p.m.

Murray State

8-14, 2-1

Tennessee Tech

11-12, 0-1

Team	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	Runs R	Hits H	Errors E
Murray St.	0	2	0	1	0	0	0	3	5	0
Tennessee Tech	0	0	0	2	0	0	0	2	4	2

Team	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	Runs R	Hits H	Errors E
Murray St.	0	0	0	0	1	1	0	2	7	0
Tennessee Tech	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	5	1

Photo by: Murray State Sports Information

3/22/2013 3:11:00 PM | Softball

Box Score 1 Box Score 2

| Game 1 Box Score (PDF) | Game 2 Box Score (PDF) | Season Stats (PDF)

The Murray State softball team extended its OVC win streak to three on Friday when it swept Tennessee Tech in a doubleheader in Cookeville, 3-2 and 2-1.

In game one, the Racers (9-14, 3-1) took an early 2-0 lead in the second when Sarah Anderson hit her third home run of the year. MSU added an insurance run in the top of the fourth when Alexa Becker, who reached on a single, stole home to make it 3-0.

Becker's run came in handy in the bottom of the inning, when Tennessee Tech (11-13, 0-2) scored two runs of its own. Chanelle Spalding cut the Racer's lead to one when she singled up the middle and drove in the runners at second and third.

Trailing by one in the bottom of the seventh, the Golden Eagles led off the inning with another single up the middle from Spalding. With two outs, Spalding's pinch runner Kayla Floyd, eventually moved to third, giving Tennessee Tech a chance to tie the game with one swing of the bat. However, Racer pitcher CheyAnne Gaskey rose to the challenge and struck out her eighth batter of the day to give her team the 3-2 win.

Anderson went 1-for-3 on the day with a run and two RBIs, while Becker also went 1-for-3 with two runs. Casey Castile led the Racers in the hit column in game one by going 2-for-4 with a double. Castile's double was her ninth of the season, tying her career high from last season.

Gaskey moved to 5-5 on the year with the win after allowing just two runs on four hits with only one walk at eight strikeouts. Taylor Ketchum (7-5) took the loss for the Golden Eagles and finished the game with two earned runs on five hits, two walks and two strikeouts.

Game two remained tied through four complete innings until the Racers finally broke the log jam in the fifth. Shelbey Miller made it 1-0 with a single up the middle to score Morgan Harrell, who also reached on a single.

In the top of the sixth, Becker made it 2-0 when she took one for a ride over the wall in left center. The home run was Becker's fifth of the season and the 12th of her career, making her fifth all-time in school history.

The Racers outhit the Golden Eagles, 7-5, in the contest, but another key factor in the game was defense. Tennessee Tech committed one error, while Murray State committed none for the second straight game.

Miller finished the game at 2-for-4 with an RBI, while Becker and Anderson each went 2-for-3. Morgan Harrell ended her afternoon at 1-for-3 to round out the seven MSU hits in the contest.

Shelby Kosmecki picked up her fourth win of the season in the game by allowing no runs on five hits with no walks and two strikeouts. Meanwhile, Erica Tuck fell to 0-4 for the Golden Eagles with the loss after allowing one earned run on seven hits with one walk and one strikeout.

On Sunday, the Racers will travel to Jacksonville State for the final two games of their six-game spring break trip. First pitch from University Field is scheduled for 1 p.m.