Racers Split Final Day of Aces Invite

Monday, March 10

Evansville, Ind.

2:30 p.m.

Murray State

10-8

IPFW

15-6

IPFW

Murray St.

3/10/2014 3:15:00 PM | Softball

Box Score 1 Box Score 2

| SDSU Box Score (PDF) | IPFW Box Score (PDF) | Season Stats (PDF)

The Murray State softball team split a pair of game on the final day of the Aces Invitational in Evansville, Ind. In the opener, the Racers rallied from a 6-1 deficit to top South Dakota State, 7-6, but fell to IPFW in game two, 4-0.

Game 1 – Murray St. 7 (11-7), South Dakota St. 6 (5-11)

After three scoreless innings to start game one, South Dakota State broke the tie in the fourth on an RBI single by Alyssa D'Agostino. The Jackrabbits tacked on two more in the fifth on a fielder's choice by Elyse Eitel and another RBI single from D'Agostino. Murray State was able to cut the lead in the bottom of the frame with a solo home run from Maggie Glass, her second of the weekend.

South Dakota State did further damage in top of the sixth on two singles and a sacrifice fly to make the score 6-1, headed to the bottom of the sixth. In the bottom of the stanza, with their backs against the wall, MSU responded in a big way.

The inning began with singles from Mo Ramsey and Cayla Levins and walk by Alexa Becker to load the bases with no outs. Leslie Bridges scored the first run of the frame with an infield single that drove in Ramsey. After a ground out and strikeout by the next two MSU batters, Jessica Twaddle entered the game as a pinch hitter and drew a bases loaded walk to make it 6-3.

In the next at bat, SDSU pitcher Jennifer Sutton hit Mallory Young with the bases still loaded to pull the Racers closer at 6-4. Shelbey Miller followed Young with a single to deep center that allowed Twaddle and pinch runner Mallory Richardson to score and tie the game at six all. With two outs and runners on first and second, Ramsey notched her second hit on the inning, a double, that drove in Young to give Murray State with 7-6 lead.

In the top of the seventh, CheyAnne Gaskey entered the game for Murray State to try and shut down South Dakota State and give her team the win. Gaskey retired the first two SDSU batters of the inning via a ground out and a strike out, before giving up a single to Kelly Kelppin with two outs. However, the junior was able to buckle down and strike out the final SDSU batter for the win.

Miller, Ramsey and Levins all finished the game with two hits, while Becker, Bridges and Glass each had one. Becker's triple in the fourth inning had historical significance for the MSU program as it was the eighth for the Racers this season, tying the single-season record. It was also the fourth triple of Becker's career making her the team's all-time leader in three-baggers.

Gaskey picked up the save in the game after allowing no runs on just one hit with two strikeouts in the final inning. J.J. Francis picked up the win in the game to move to 2-1 on the year, while Mason Robinson earned a no-decision in her seventh start of the season.

Game 2 – IPFW 4 (15-6), Murray St. 0 (11-8)

In game two, the Racers could not find their offense from the first game and were shutout for just the second time this season. The Racers recorded five hits in the contest, while the Mastodons tallied eight.

IPFW got off to a quick start in the game when Ashley Bosquet hit a blast to right field to make it 2-0. The Mastodons tacked on another run in the fourth on a sacrifice fly from Beka Ferguson. IPFW capped their scoring in the fifth when Dani Pugh singled to score Ashleigh Bousquet.

Twaddle led Murray State in the game going a perfect 2-for-2; while Bridges, Castile and Jocelynn Rodgers each tallied one hit each for the Racers in the contest. Gaskey (5-5) took the loss in the circle for Murray State giving up five runs on nine hits and two walks with four strikeouts over 5.2 innings of work.

This weekend, Murray State will open OVC play with the first regular-season games on the brand new Racer Field against UT Martin. On Saturday, the two rivals will play a doubleheader beginning at 3 p.m., followed by a 2 p.m. single-game on Sunday.