Racers Close Home Stand With EIU

Sunday, March 30

Racer Field

2 p.m.

Murray State

Eastern Illinois

Photo by: Neal Head

3/28/2014 1:30:00 PM | Softball

Game Notes | Live Stats & Video Links

Date (Time): Mar. 29-30, 2014 (1 p.m. Sat. & Sun., DH on Sat.)
Opponent: Eastern Illinois
Site (Venue): Murray, Ky. (Racer Field)
Live Stats: GoRacers.com
Twitter In Game: @MSURacers @PGriffithMSU
MSU Record (Streak): 15-14, 4-2 OVC (L1)
Eastern Ill. Record (Streak): 21-9, 2-2 OVC (W1)
All-Time Series vs. Eastern Ill.: EIU leads 10-4 overall, 3-0 in Murray
MSU Last Games: Apr. 1 at Southern Ill
MSU Next Home: Apr. 5 vs. Tennessee Tech (DH)

The Murray State softball team will look to keep its four-game OVC win streak alive this weekend when it closes out a six-game home stand with Eastern Illinois at Racer Field.

The Racers dropped a 3-2 extra inning heartbreaker on Wednesday at home against Western Kentucky. Murray State rallied from a 2-0 deficit with RBIs from Shelbey Miller and Cayla Levins in the sixth to tie the game and force extra innings. However, in the seventh, WKU scored and a sacrifice fly in the top of the frame and retired MSU in order in the bottom for the 3-2 win.

The game put an end to Murray State's four-game win streak, but the Racers returned the favor by ending WKU's Emily Rosseau string of 25.2 scoreless innings in the circle. Miller finished the game at 1-for-4 with a double and a RBI, while Alexa Becker was 1-for-2 with a walk.

Murray State and Eastern Illinois have met 14 previous times prior to this weekend, with the Panthers holding a distinct 10-4 advantage. Last season, EIU swept the regular-season series, but MSU got its revenge in the OVC tournament where it knocked off the top-seeded Panthers at home, 3-1. This weekend will be EIU's second ever-trip to Murray, last playing here in 2011. Murray State loss all three games of that series, 5-2, 4-0 and 5-0.

This weekend will feature a battle of the top two RPI (Ratings Percentage Index) teams in the OVC, according to the first report released by the NCAA earlier this week. The Panthers are currently the highest-ranked team in the league at 90th, while the Racers sit just outside the Top 100 at 101st.

Eastern Illinois was victorious in its home opener on Thursday, taking down Valparaiso, 3-0. The win moves EIU's record to 21-9 on the year, while its OVC mark currently stands at 2-2.

April Markowski led the Panthers in the game by going 2-for-3 with a RBI and a triple. Hanna Mennenga pitched a complete game shutout on Thursday, allowing just two hits and just two walks with seven strikeouts.

Hannah Cole is currently the leading hitter for EIU at .357 on the season with 35 hits, 19 runs, eight doubles, two triples, four home runs, 25 RBIs and seven stolen bases, all of which are team-highs. In the circle, Mennenga leads the way with a 12-2 record, a 1.95 ERA, 104 strikeouts and a .212 opponent's batting average. Mennenga's 104 strikeouts currently ranks second in the OVC, behind the 147 of Eastern Kentucky's Leanna Pittsenbarger.

Live stats and free live video, courtesy of the OVC Digital Network, will be available all three games. Please note that the live stream will only be available weather permitting. Any changes to coverage or the weekend's schedule, along with all links, can be found at GoRacers.com.