Softball Falls To JSU in OVC Semi-Finals

Saturday, May 11

Charleston, Ill.

3 p.m.

Murray State

25-2

Jacksonville St.

29-25

Team	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	Runs R	Hits H	Errors E
Murray St.	0	0	1	0	0	0	0	1	5	0
Jacksonville St.	0	0	2	0	0	0	X	2	8	2

Photo by: Sandy King/EIU Athletics

5/11/2013 7:11:00 PM | Softball

Box Score

| Box Score (PDF) | Season Stats (PDF) | OVC Tournament Central

The Murray State softball team dropped a 2-1 heartbreaker to Jacksonville State in the semi-finals of the OVC Tournament on Saturday at Charleston, Ill.

After two scoreless innings to start the game, the Racers (25-27) were the first to strike in the top of the third. Erica Howard got things started for Murray State when she hit a doubled down the left field line and was then advanced on a ground-out by Shelbey Miller. In the next at-bat, Howard came home on a single from Mo Ramsey, her second of the day, to make it 1-0.

However, the Gamecocks (29-27) did not waste any time in getting the run back as they led off the bottom of the frame with a pair of doubles from Krystal Ruth and Jessica Guy to tie the game at one. Guy made it 2-1 in the following at bat when she crossed the plate on a sacrifice fly from Sarah Borders.

The Racers had a prime opportunity to tie the game or take the lead in the top of the fifth when they had the bases loaded with no outs. After a walk and two errors by Jacksonville State, Christian Cox attempted to tie the game on a ball hit to second base by Ramsey, but was thrown out at the plate. The Gamecocks' Tiffany Harbin went on to retire the next two batters, including one by strikeout, to work herself out of a bases loaded jam.

Murray State came up with a hit in each of the final two innings, but was unable to convert them into runs and fell, 2-1. Ramsey ended her afternoon by going 3-for-4, while Erica Howard and Ellyn Troup each came up with one hit.

Shelby Kosmecki (11-18) took the loss for the Racers, after she allowed two runs on six hits with two strikeouts and no walks over 3.1 innings. CheyAnne Gaskey tossed the final 2.2 innings for Murray State and allowed no runs on just two hits with no strikeouts.

The Racers will now face the winner Saturday's final game between Eastern Kentucky and UT Martin on Sunday at 9 a.m. If MSU is to claim its first OVC tournament title and reach the NCAA tournament, it will need to win three games on Sunday, the 9 a.m. game and two against Jacksonville State.

Live stats and live audio, courtesy of Eastern Illinois and Jacksonville State, will be available for all three games tomorrow. Links can be found at GoRacers.com.