Softball Beats Belmont Twice

Sunday, March 23

Racer Field

1 p.m.

Murray State

14-13, 0

Belmont

7-16, 0

Belmont

Murray St.

Photo by: Sam Sheffer

3/23/2014 8:04:00 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 put together one of its most complete performances of the year on Sunday in a doubleheader sweep of Belmont. The Racers scored a combined 12 runs on the afternoon while only allowing two, posting a 7-2 win in game one and a 5-0 win in game two. After losing its six previous games, MSU has now won four in a row.

Game 1 – Murray State 7 (14-13, 3-2), Belmont 2 (7-16, 1-4 OVC)

The Racers were first on the board in the opener when Maggie Glass scored on an error by Belmont's Kirbie Ferrell during Mo Ramsey's at bat in the third inning. Glass reached earlier in the frame on a single through the right side and moved to second on single to left by Shelbey Miller.

Murray State did the majority of its damage in the fourth, scoring four runs on four hits and one Bruin error in the frame. Alexa Becker led off the inning with a single and was soon joined on the base paths by Mallory Young and Casey Castile who reached on a walk and a single, respectively.

The trio was brought home in the next at bat when Jocelynn Rodgers doubled to left center, allowing enough time for all three Racers to cross the plate. Two batters later, Rodgers scored on Miller's second hit of the game, a single up the middle.

MSU went on to add a run in each of the next two innings with an RBI-double from Young and a RBI-single from Becker. Despite trailing 7-0 in the seventh, Belmont did not give up and cut the lead to 7-2 on a long ball from Jordan Daly, her first of the year. That would be as close as Belmont would get however, as relief pitcher J.J. Francis retired three of the next four batters to close out the win for Murray State.

Miller led MSU in the game by going 2-for-3 with an RBI, while Becker was 2-for-4 with a run and a RBI. CheyAnne Gaskey went six innings for the Racers in the circle, giving up no runs on just two hits with only one walk and a season-high eight strikeouts.

Game 2 – Murray State 5 (15-13, 4-2), Belmont 0 (7-17, 1-5 OVC)

In the finale, MSU busted the game wide open in the second inning, scoring four runs on four hits. Casey Castile drove in the first run of the game with a double to left center that scored pinch runner Mallory Richardson. Following Castile, Morgan Harrell singled before both runners advanced one base on a sacrifice from Maggie Glass.

In the next at bat, Shelbey Miller scored Castile with a single straight up the middle and advanced to second base on the throw. A wild pitch by Mia Vierra allowed Harrell to score during Mo Ramsey's at bat to give MSU a 3-0 lead. Ramsey then made it 4-0 when she also sent one up the middle, allowing Miller to score in the process.

Murray State capped its scoring in the fourth, which began with three straight single from Glass Miller and Ramsey. Jessica Twaddle did the honors for the Racers in the frame, driving home Glass on a ground out to first base.

It was another great performance by the Murray State pitching staff in the game, as Mason Robinson and J.J. Francis combined for the shutout. Robison allowed just two hits over six innings of work with two walks and four strikeouts, while Francis tossed the final frame and gave up one hit with a walk and a strikeout.
Miller once again had a big game for MSU going 3-for-4 with a run and a RBI, while Ramsey turned in an identical line minus the run. Castile also came up huge for MSU by going 2-for-3 in the finale with a RBI, a run and a stolen base.

The Racers will continue their six-game home stand on Wednesday when they welcome regional rival Western Kentucky for a single game at Racer Field. First pitch is scheduled for 4 p.m.