Softball Hosts In-State Rival WKU Wednesday

Wednesday, March 26

Racer Field

4 p.m.

Murray State

Western Kentucky

Photo by: Neal Head

3/25/2014 4:55:00 PM | Softball

Game Notes | Live Stats & Video Links

Date (Time): Mar. 26, 2014 (4 p.m.)
Opponent: Western Ky.
Site (Venue): Murray, Ky. (Racer Field)
Live Stats: GoRacers.com
Twitter In Game: @MSURacers @PGriffithMSU
MSU Record (Streak): 15-13 (W4)
Western Ky. Record (Streak): 19-10-1 (W3)
All-Time Series vs. Tennessee St.: WKU leads 4-1
MSU Last Games: at Tennessee St. – 3/22 (W 3-0, W 8-1); vs. Belmont - 3/23 (W 7-2, W 5-0)
MSU Next Game: Mar. 29-30 vs. Eastern Ill.
MSU Next Home: Mar. 29-30 vs. Eastern Ill.

The Murray State softball team will look to keep its four-game win streak alive Wednesday when it hosts in-state rival Western Kentucky at Racer Field.

The Racers had a perfect OVC weekend last week by sweeping a doubleheader at Tennessee State on Saturday, then following that up with a sweep of Belmont at home on Sunday. The Racers out their opponents .330 to .143 on the weekend and scored 23 runs, compared to just three by TSU and Belmont combined. The pitching for MSU was also great as it posted a staff ERA of 0.75, while their opponents combined for a 4.67 ERA.

Shelbey Miller led the Racers in the four-game stretch with a .643 average by going 9-for-14 with five runs, a double, a triple, five RBIs and two walks. In the circle, CheyAnne Gaskey threw 13 scoreless innings in which she gave just seven hits and struck out 10, all while limiting opponents to a .152 average.

Murray State and Western Kentucky have met in each year since Racer softball began, with the Lady Toppers holding a 4-1 advantage. Last season the two teams met for the first time at a neutral site, with WKU coming away a 9-1 winner at Mississippi State in the season opener for both teams.

The teams are an even 1-1 in Murray, as they split a doubleheader at Central Park in 2011. The 7-0 win in the opener of the doubleheader stands as the only MSU win in the series and the only shutout in the series by either team.

Western Kentucky enters Wednesday fresh off of a three-game sweep of Troy at home last weekend in its 2014 Sun Belt Conference openers. The Lady Toppers (19-10-1) took both games of a doubleheader on Saturday, 3-0 and 8-1, before securing the sweep on Sunday with a 5-0 win. Emily Rosseau won Sun Belt Pitcher of the Week honor for her performance in the series, as she posted her first-career no-hitter, a 0.84 ERA and 23 strikeouts.

Rosseau is also the current ace of the Lady Topper staff at 10-7 on the year with a 2.24 era and a .229 opponent's batting average. In addition, she is currently ranked 56th nationally in strikeouts with 100 and has not allowed a run in 20.1 consecutive innings. Offensively, Olivia Watkins leads the way for WKU with a .455 average and 26 stolen bases, which currently rank as the 28th and seventh highest totals nationally.

Live stats and free live video, courtesy of the OVC Digital Network, will be available for the contest. All links are available at the top of this page and at GoRacers.com.