Softball Sweeps JSU; Pushes OVC Streak to Five

Sunday, March 24

Jacksonville, Ala.

1 p.m.

Murray State

10-14, 4-1

Jacksonville St.

17-13, 4-2

Team	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	Runs R	Hits H	Errors E
Murray St.	2	0	0	0	2	3	0	7	14	2
Jacksonville St.	2	0	0	0	0	4	0	6	10	1

Team	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	Runs R	Hits H	Errors E
Murray St.	2	3	0	1	0	0	0	6	4	1
Jacksonville St.	0	0	3	1	1	0	0	5	11	4

Photo by: Murray State Sports Information

3/24/2013 8:18:00 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 won its fourth straight game overall and fifth straight OVC contest on Sunday when it swept Jacksonville State, 7-6 and 6-5, at University Field in Jacksonville, Ala.

In game one, the Racers (10-15, 5-1) used a season-high 14 hits to top the Gamecocks. The game also marked the fifth time this season that Murray State notched two or more home runs in the same game.

The scoring got started for the Racers in the first when Alexa Becker hit her sixth home run of the year to give her team the early 2-0 lead. However, JSU answered in the second with two runs of their own on a passed ball and an RBI single to left field from Sara Borders.

In the top of the fifth, the Racers added two more runs on pair of RBI bunts from Becker and Casey Castile. MSU pushed the lead out to 5-0 in the sixth when designated player Morgan Harrell hit the second home run of her Murray State career and the team's second of the game. The Racers capped their scoring at seven later in the inning when Becker scored two runners on an RBI-single up the middle.

Despite the large lead, Jacksonville State (17-14, 4-3) was not done. Ella Denes made it 7-3 early in the inning when she picked up an RBI single to score Kelci Johnston. Krystal Ruth added one more run for JSU in the next at bat when she doubled to left center. The Gamecocks would go on to cut the lead to just one when they scored on a fly out from Jessica Guy and a throwing error by the Racers.

In the seventh, despite hits from Mallory Richardson and Christian Cox, Murray State was unable to add any cushion to their lead and turned to CheyAnne Gaskey to bring home the win. With the game on the line, Gaskey retired the side in order, including striking out two of the three batters, for the 7-6 win.

Becker went a perfect 4-for-4 in the game and tied a career-high for RBIs with five. Mo Ramsey was also perfect in the contest as she went 3-for-3 with two runs. Ruth led Jax State by going 2-for-4 with an RBI.

Shelby Kosmecki improved to 5-9 on the year with the win by allowing four earned runs on 10 hits with one strikeout over six complete. Meanwhile, Gaskey earned her first save of the season by striking out two of the three batters in the seventh and allowing no hits or walks.

In game two, the Racers once again got off to a hot start with some instant offense. Ramsey led off the inning with a single, but was replaced on the base paths in the next at bat on a fielder's choice from Becker. However, Castile brought Becker home in the next at bat to make it 2-0 in the first.

In the second, MSU added three more runs, all on errors by the Gamecocks. Brianne Sanders scored first on a botched caught stealing attempt by Jacksonville State to make it 3-0. In the next at bat, Cox pushed the lead out to four on a wild pitch from Casey Akenberger. The Racers added their final run of the inning two batters later when Miller scored on a single from Ramsey and an error by JSU.

The bottom of the third saw JSU lead off the inning with four straight hits to make it 5-1. The Gamecocks would go on to add two more runs in the frame on a sacrifice fly from Borders and the fifth single of the inning from Kalee Tabor.

In the fourth, the Racers made it 6-3 when Cox made her way around the bags on two JSU errors and a wild pitch. However, the Gamecocks answered in the bottom of the inning when they once again led off a frame with two straight singles. JSU pushed one of those runners across to make it 6-4 later in the inning when Ruth hit an RBI groundout to first.

Jax State went on to cut the lead to just one when Borders homered to right field to lead-off the fifth inning. The Gamecocks put two more runners aboard in the frame on a walk by Gaskey and an error, but MSU was able to escape the inning without any further damage.

Gamecock reliever Savanna Hennigs sat the Racers down in order in each of the final two innings, leaving it to the defense to bring home the win. In the sixth, Denes led off with a single but was unable to score, as MSU retired three of the next four batters, including striking out Tabor to end the frame. In the seventh, Johnston led off the inning with a double, but Gaskey and the defense sat down the next three batters to hang on for the 6-5 win.

The Racers allowed a seven-inning season high of 11 hits in the contest, while only tallying four themselves. However, the defense proved to be difference, as Murray State committed just one error, compared to four by the Gamecocks.

Ramsey led the Racers in the game by going 2-for-4, while Castile went 1-for-3 with a run and two RBIs. Borders led JSU by going 1-for-2 with one run and two RBIs.

Gaskey improved to 6-5 on the year in the complete game effort, allowing five runs on 11 hits with five strikeouts and two walks. Taking the loss for Jax State was Casey Akenberger, who fell to 2-6 after giving up four runs on five hits with no strikeouts and four walks.

The wins mark the first time in program history that the Racers have swept the regular-season series with JSU. That sweep comes just two days after notching the first-ever sweep over Tennessee Tech. The wins also propelled the Racers to second place in the OVC East, just a half-game behind leader Eastern Illinois.

On Wednesday, the Racers will travel to Evansville for a non-conference doubleheader with the Purple Aces. Murray State will be looking for revenge in the games, as Evansville took two from the Racers earlier this season. First pitch at Cooper Stadium is slated for 2 p.m.