Murray State University Athletics
Murray State
18-18, 0
Jacksonville State
26-10, 0
Bridges’ Walk Off Propels Racers to Sweep of JSU
4/6/2014 7:18:00 PM | Softball
Game 1 Box Score (PDF) | Game 2 Box Score (PDF) | Season Stats (PDF) | Photo Gallery
When Kalee Taber hit her second home run of the game in the top half of the seventh inning, it looked like the Racers sweep of OVC leading Jacksonville State was over. Now trailing for the first time all afternoon, 5-4, the Racers had to put up at least one run in order to force extra innings.
MSU did one better, tying the game on a single from Mo Ramsey, and winning it two batters later with a single from Leslie Bridges for their second walk-off win of the week.
The sweep puts the Racers at 19-18 on the season and 8-5 in the OVC.
Game One – Murray State 5, Jacksonville State 0
The Gamecocks entered the game having thrown 35.1 scoreless innings. They had pitched a shutout in their previous five games, and the trend continued through the early part of game one. The Racers could only garner a single hit, a Ramsey first inning single off of starter Tiffany Harbin.
MSU starter, Mason Robinson, matched Harbin pitch for pitch though, and the Racers were finally able to break through, giving Robinson a lead in the fifth inning and ending the Gamecocks scoreless streak at 39.1 innings.
The first three batters of the inning reached against Harbin, starting with a walk from Taylor Odom. Cayla Levins drove her home with a double into the gap in right center and a walk to Jocelynn Rodgers put runners on first and second with nobody out. MSU then manufactured a pair of runs when Erica Howard bunted the two runners into scoring position and Shelby Miller drove home Levins with a sacrifice fly. The Racers scored their third run of the inning on an infield single from Ramsey.
JSU threated a half-inning later, loading the bases with two outs. But Robinson worked around trouble, coaxing a groundout from Melanie Steer to end the inning.
MSU would tack on two more runs in the bottom of the sixth, taking advantage of JSU miscues to plate a pair of unearned runs. With the bases loaded and one out, Mallory Young beat a throw from second to score the first run, and Howard drove in Casey Castile with an RBI sac fly.
Robinson shut the door in the door in the seventh to preserve the shutout, and ups her record to 7-6. It was her fourth complete game and second shutout of the season as she allowed five hits and two walks to go along with three strikeouts.
MSU was only able to produce four hits off of Harbin but it was enough to score five runs. Ramsey was the only Racer with a pair of hits and Levins led the way with two RBI.
Game 2 – Murray State 6, Jacksonville State 5
After being shutout in game one, Jacksonville State immediately threatened in game two, loading the bases with one out, without the benefit of a hit. Racer starter CheyAnne Gaskey was able to wiggle her way around a pair of walks and an error, getting Cadi Oliver to ground into a fielder's choice to short, nailing Ella Denes at the plate. With two out and a full count, Tabor lofted one down the left field line when Alexa Becker came out of nowhere to make a diving grab in foul ground to end the inning.
The Racers wasted no time getting back on the board, putting up a three-spot in the opening frame. Like the Gamecocks in the top half of the inning, the Racers loaded the bases with one out and a fielder's choice cut down Ramsey at the plate. Now with two outs, it was Odom who came up big, lacing a double over the center fielders head, scoring all three runs to put the Racers on top early.
The lead only lasted until the third inning, as JSU scored their first runs of the afternoon on a three-run home run to center field off the bat of Tabor. The homer was Tabor's ninth and knotted the game at three-apiece.
The score remained tied at three until the sixth when MSU again played small-ball to regain the lead. Becker walked to lead off the inning and Bridges followed with a sacrifice bunt to move her to second. Castile then poked one to the opposite field, scoring Becker on a base hit to right center, giving MSU a 4-3 lead. The Racers ran their way out of the inning however, when Castile was thrown out at home trying to score on a ball that got by the catcher, to end the frame.
JSU climbed right back on top after Gaskey walked Oliver after an eight-pitch at bat to open the inning. Tabor then smacked a ball well over the left field wall to give the Gamecocks their first lead all afternoon, 5-4. JSU got two more runners on base after the homerun, but Gaskey squashed the threat, getting Denes on a strikeout to end the inning.
After getting ahead in the count 3-0 leading off the bottom of the seventh, Morgan Harrell found a hole through the left side of the infield for a leadoff single. Howard then struck out and Harrell advanced to second on a groundout, but the Racers were down to their final out. On a 1-0 pitch, Ramsey delivered the big hit, going to the opposite way for a base-hit to left to drive in Harrell and tie the game. After Becker walked on four pitches, putting runners at first and second, Bridges' innocent pop up fell between the second baseman and right fielder in shallow right center, allowing Ramsey to score the game-winning run.
Gaskey worked out of trouble most of the afternoon, earning her eighth win of the season. She allowed five runs, seven hits and eight walks to go along with seven strikeouts and threw 153 pitches in the game.
MSU collected eight hits, two apiece from Ramsey and Odom. Odom drove home three runs while Becker scored a pair.
Tabor was the offensive star for the Gamecocks going 2-for-4 with two home runs to drive in all five JSU runs.
Starter Logan Green went 5.1 innings allowing four runs on five hits with three walks and two strikeouts.
MSU will remain at home for a mid-week, nonconference doubleheader against Evansville, April 9. First pitch is scheduled for 3 p.m.
Team Stats
Pitching:
W: Robinson, Mason (7-6)
L: Tiffany Harbin (10-6)
Batting:
2B: Levins, Cayla 1
RBI: Miller, Shelbey 1 ; Ramsey, Mo 1 ; Levins, Cayla 2 ; Howard, Erica 1
SH: Castile, Casey 1 ; Howard, Erica 1
SF: Miller, Shelbey 1 ; Howard, Erica 1
Base Running:
RUNS: Young, Mallory 1 ; Castile, Casey 1 ; Odom, Taylor 1 ; Levins, Cayla 1 ; Harrell, Morgan 1
