Rodgers Slams EIU For Walk-Off Win

Monday, March 31

Racer Field

12 p.m.

Murray State

16-16, 0

Eastern Illinois

23-10, 0

Eastern Ill.

Murray St.

Photo by: Neal Head

3/31/2014 5:35:00 PM | Softball

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Jocelynn Rodgers hit a two-out walk-off grand slam Monday to give the Murray State softball team a 6-4 win in the series finale with Eastern Illinois at Racer Field in Murray. The grand slam was the 12^th in program history and second this season and it makes Rodgers just the ninth Racer ever to accomplish the feat.

The Racers (16-16, 5-4 OVC) fell behind quickly in the contest after giving up a walk to Brooke Owens and a single to Reynae Hutchinson in the early part of the first inning. Following Hutchinson, Hanna Cole made it 2-0 with a single to right center field that allowed both runners to cross the plate.

Eastern Illinois (23-10, 4-3 OVC) went on to add to its lead in the fourth, which began with a leadoff single from Cole. April Markowski and Amber Toenyes followed Cole with singles of their own to load the bases for EIU with no outs. Cole scored two batters later to make it 3-0 when pinch hitter Kylie Bennett singled through the left side for her first hit of the season. After a pitching change by the Racers, Carly Willert drew a bases loaded walk from J.J. Francis to push the Panthers' lead to 4-0.

The Racers finally got on board in the sixth after the loaded they bases to start the frame with a walk by Casey Castile and singles from Leslie Bridges and Maggie Glasss. Rodgers followed the trio and scored Castile on a dropped fly ball by Markowski to cut the Panthers lead to 3-1. However, MSU was unable to plate any other runs and headed to the seventh after stranding its eighth and ninth runners of the afternoon.

Francis shut EIU down in the top of the seventh by retiring three straight batters after EIU's leadoff hitter, Jennette Isaac, reached on an error to begin the inning. Alexa Becker got things started for the Racers in the bottom of the seventh when drew her second walk of the day with one out.

Jessica Twaddle followed Becker with a single up the middle, while Castile also walked to load the bases with just one out. In the next at bat, Leslie Bridges cut the lead to 4-2 with a single to left field that advanced each runner one base. After EIU reliever Hanna Mennenga struck out her third batter of the game in just 1.1 innings of work, Rodgers came to the plate having gone 0-for-3 so far in the game and two outs on the board. After fouling off the first pitch, Rodgers took the second one for a ride over the wall in left field to give Murray State the dramatic 6-4 come-from-behind-win.

Bridges led MSU in the contest by going 3-for-4 with an RBI, while Shelbey Miller was 2-for-4 on the day. Becker also had a good outing for the Racers, as she finished the game 1-for-2 with a pair of walks. Castile also took two walks off the EIU staff in the contest, in addition to scoring two runs as well.

Cole went 2-for-3 to lead the Panthers in the game and also tallied two RBIs and a run. Mennenga suffered just her third loss of the season in 22 appearances for Eastern Illinois, after she allowed five runs on three hits with three strikeouts and two walks over 1.1 innings of work. Stephanie Maday started the game for EIU and allowed one run on seven hits, also with three strikeouts and two walks over 5.1 innings.

Francis improved to 3-2 on the year with the win after she entered the game in the fourth inning and tossed 3.2 hitless, scoreless innings. Mason Robinson began the game for the Racers and allowed four runs on seven hits with a walk and a strikeout over 3.1 innings.

Murray State will have a quick turnaround as it will return to action on Tuesday. The Racers will have less than 24 hours off before they travel to Carbondale to take on Southern Illinois. First pitch from Charlotte West Stadium is scheduled for 5 p.m.