Softball Travels To Chattanooga For Coach B Classic

Game Notes | Live Stats

Dates: Mar. 1-2, 2014
Tournament Name (Host): Coach B Classic (Southern Illinois)
Site: Chattanooga, Tenn. (Jim Frost Stadium)
Live Stats: GoRacers.com
Twitter In Game: @MSURacers @PGriffithMSU
MSU Record (Streak): 7-5 (L1)
MSU vs. The Field: 0-1
All-Time Series vs. Miami (OH): First Meeting
All-Time Series vs. Kansas: First Meeting
All-Time Series vs. Southern Illinois: SIU leads 1-0
MSU Next Tournament: Mar. 7-8, Aces Invitational hosted by Evansville (Evansville, Ind.)
MSU Next Home: Mar. 15-16 vs. UT Martin

Despite inclement weather forecasted for the weekend, the Murray State softball team will still take part in Southern Illinois' Coach B Classic, though not as originally planned. The pending winter weather forced a venue change from Carbondale to Jim Frost Stadium in Chattanooga, Tenn. The Racers will still play four games, only they will now play Kansas twice as result of Western Illinois withdrawal from the tournament.

The Racers went 2-3 at Memphis's Blues City Classic last weekend in Southaven, Miss. Murray State posted wins over Evansville and Loyola Chicago, but fell to Appalachian State, Ball State and Lipscomb. The loss to Ball State was especially heart-breaking, as it came on a walk-off home run by the Cardinals in the eighth inning. Following the tournament, Cayla Levins and Alexa Becker were named second-team All-Tournament.

Levins finished her week with a .429 average by going 6-for-14 with a double, a triple, a walk, three runs and three RBIs. Meanwhile, Becker also had a successful trip to the Memphis metropolitan area, as she went 6-for-18 with two home runs, including her first career grand slam, five RBIs and a walk. In the circle, Mason Robinson led the way with a 2-1 record a 2.15 ERA, six strikeouts and a .250 opponent's batting average.

Of the three opponents for the weekend, Murray State has faced off against just one previously. This will weekend be mark the first meeting for MSU with both Miami (OH) and Kansas. Sunday will be only the second meeting between Murray State and Southern Illinois. The Salukis came away victorious in the only previous contest, winning 4-2 in Carbondale in 2012.

Miami went 1-3 at last weekend's Holiday Inn Hilltopper Spring Fling in Bowling Green and will enter Saturday at 3-5 on the year. Miami's lone win of the weekend came in its first game to Canisius, but fell in its final three to Belmont, Western Kentucky and Bradley.

Kristy Arbour is currently the leading hitter for the RedHawks, as she is currently batting .370 with 10 hits, six runs and a stolen base. In the circle, Paige Myers leads the way at 3-1 on the year with a 1.15 ERA. Additionally, Myers has posted 23 strikeouts, allowed just four earned runs and six walks and has limited her opposition to a .213 clip at the plate.

Kansas will enter the weekend at 8-5 after going 4-1 at last weekend's Jackson State Tournament. The Jayhawks got wins over SIU Edwardsville, Southeastern Louisiana and Jackson State, but fell to another OVC school, Eastern Illinois, in their lone defeat.

Catcher Harli Ridling currently leads KU in the hitting department with a .390 average, 16 hits, seven hit by pitches, two home runs and 11 RBIs, all team highs. Taylor Hatfield follows Ridling with a .351 average, a double, a home run, eight RBIs and six walks.

The two pitchers the Jayhawks have turned to the most so far this season are Kelsey Kessler and Alicia Pille who will enter the weekend at 4-3 and 3-2, respectively. Kessler currently boasts a 2.00 ERA in nine appearances with 71 strikeouts and a .181 opposing batting average. Meanwhile, Pille has limited her opponents to a .159 average, struck out 31 batters and recorded a 1.42 ERA over six appearances.

Southern Illinois split a pair of games at last weekend's rain-shortened JU Wingate by Wyndham Tournament in Jacksonville. Southern Illinois took down Bethune-Cookman 12-2 in five in the first game, but fell to the host Dolphins, 9-2, in game two.

Taylor Harris currently leads the Salukis at the plate with a .417 average through six games with a double, a home run and a RBI. Katie Bertelsen is the top starter for SIU so far this season at 2-2. She has allowed 18 earned run over 28.2 innings with a 4.40 ERA< 14 strikeouts and a .333 opponent's batting average.

Live stats will be available for all four games of the tournament, with a link posted at the top of this page and at GoRacers.com

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