Racers Fall Twice at EKU

Friday, April 18

Richmond, Ky.

12 p.m.

Murray State

24-19, 11-6

Eastern Kentucky

23-15, 11-5

Murray St.

Eastern Ky.

4/18/2014 6:43:00 PM | Softball

Box Score 1 Box Score 2

| G1 Box Score (PDF) | G2 Box Score (PDF) | Season Stats (PDF) |

The Murray State softball team saw its seven-game win-streak come to a close on Friday as it lost both games of a doubleheader to Eastern Kentucky, 7-0 and 4-2, at Gertrude Hood Field in Richmond.

Game 1 – Eastern Ky. 7 (23-15, 11-5), Murray St. 0 (24-19, 11-6)

The Colonels were first on the board in the contest in the bottom of the second when Lauren Mitchell, who reached on a walk and advanced to third on a double by Amber Murray, scored on a passed ball to break the scoreless tie. Two batters later, Murray made it 2-0 when she scored on a single through the left side by Krislyn Campos. The Colonels completed the three-run inning in the next at-bat when Christina Ciolek hit a chopper that bounced over Jessica Twaddle's head and scored Kayla Joyce, who reached on a fielder's choice.

The game got away from the Racers in the sixth inning when EKU scored four runs on four hits. Ciolek batted in the first run on a ground out, while Shannon McQueen and Katie Tackett each had a single to bring in one and two runs, respectively. Eastern Kentucky finished the day with 10 hits as a team, seven more than Murray State.

LeAnna Pittsenbarger was near flawless for the Colonels in the game, allowing no runs on just three hits and a walk. The big story, however, was strikeouts, as Pittsenbarger struck out a MSU opponent's season-high of 13 in the game, for her ninth shutout of the season. Mason Robinson fell to 9-7 on the year with the loss for MSU, as she gave up seven runs on seven hits with three walks and a strikeout.

Alexa Becker, Jocelynn Rodgers, and Mo Ramsey tallied the three hits for MSU in the game; while Ciolek led EKU at 2-for-3. Lauren Mitchell also had a big day for the Colonels as she went 1-for-1 with a run, but reached base in each of her three other plate appearances with a walk and two hit by pitches.

Game 2 – Eastern Ky. 4 (24-15, 12-5), Murray St. 2 (24-20, 11-7)

In game two, both teams were scoreless until Jocelynn Rodgers singled up the middle in the top of the fourth to break the tie by plating Jessica Twaddle, who led off the inning with a single of her own. Erica Howard pushed Casey Castile across in the next at bat when she singled through the left side to make at 2-0.

The Colonels answered MSU in the bottom of the frame with a single by Katie Tackett that allowed Christina Ciolek, who reached on a single, to score and cut MSU's deficit in half at 2-1. In the next inning, EKU tied the game with a single from Nicole Heitz that got through the left side and scored Lauren Mitchell.

In the sixth, EKU completed its rally with a double from Mitchell that scored Sarrah Fobbs and pinch runner Haley Schenasi to put the Colonels on top for good. Sarah Fobbs and Tackett helped set up the winning play by reaching earlier in the frame on a walk and a fielder's choice, respectively.

In addition to Rodgers, Twaddle and Howard, Taylor Odom and Alexa Becker also got hits the contest to give MSU five for the game. Mitchell led the Colonels in the finale by going 2-for-3 with two RBIs, two doubles and a run.

CheyAnne Gaskey (9-11) took the loss for MSU after allowing three runs on six hits with two walks and four strikeouts over 5.1 innings of work. For EKU, it was Leanna Pittsenbarger who picked up her second win of the day by allowing no runs on one hit over the final 3.1 innings of the game.

The Racers will continue OVC action tomorrow at Morehead State for a doubleheader that is set to begin at 12 p.m. EDT.