WKU Tops Racers In Extras

Wednesday, March 26

Racer Field

4 p.m.

Murray State

15-14

Western Kentucky

20-10-1

Western Ky.

Murray St.

Photo by: Neal Head

3/26/2014 7:46:00 PM | Softball

Box Score

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

The Murray State softball team rallied from a 2-0 deficit to force Western Kentucky to extra innings on Wednesday at Racer Field, only to fall in the eighth, 3-2.

Western Kentucky (20-10-1) wasted little time scoring in the contest, plating Bethany Olgesby with a double by Jacqueline McGill in the second. The run came with added insult for the Racers as Oglesby reached on a two-out error.

The Lady Toppers added another run in the third, capitalizing on a lead-off walk from Preslie Cruce. After advancing to second on a sacrifice bunt by Olivia Watkins, Cruce came home two batters later on a double down the left field line by Kelsie Mattox.

Western Kentucky pitcher Emily Rosseau kept the Murray State bats quiet in the first three innings, retiring the Racers in order without allowing any base runners. However, in the fourth, MSU (15-14) broke up the perfect game bid with hits from Mo Ramsey and Alexa Becker, but still could not score.

In the sixth, Maggie Glass led off the inning with a single and was brought home in the very next at bat with a double from Shelbey Miller to cut the lead in half. The run broke up a string of 25.2 consecutive innings that Rosseau had kept her opponents scoreless.

From there, Miller advanced to third on a sacrifice from Ramsey, then scored on a ground out by Cayla Levins to tie the game at two. Becker drew a walk in the next at bat, but was unable to score, keeping the game knotted at two.

Since neither team was able to score in the seventh, the Racers went to extras for just the third time this season. In the eighth, Olivia Watkins and Sahwna Sadler both singled and stole a base to give the Lady Toppers runners at second and third with only one out.

Mattox followed Sadler at the plate and notched her second RBI of the afternoon with a sacrifice fly that scored Watkins and gave WKU a 3-2 lead. In the bottom of the frame, Murray State was retired in order by Rosseau, as Western Kentucky held on for the win.

Miller finished the game at 1-for-4 with a run, a double and a RBI, while Becker was 1-for-2 with a walk. Mattox led all hitters in the game for WKU at 2-for-3 with two RBIs, while Sadler followed closely at 2-for-4.

Rosseau moved to 11-7 on the year with the win, as she allowed two runs on five hits with eight strikeouts and just one walk over eight full innings. CheyAnne Gaskey began the game for Murray State and allowed just one earned run on four hits with six strikeouts over five innings en route to a no-decision. Mason Robinson (6-5) took the loss for the Racers by allowing one run on three hits over three innings, despite striking out four of the 11 batters she faced.

Murray State will return to Racer Field this weekend where it will look to keep its four-game OVC win-streak alive against Eastern Illinois. The Racers will host the Panthers for a doubleheader Saturday and a single game Sunday with first pitch both days scheduled for 1 p.m.