Softball Battles Back To Earn Split at CCU

Sunday, February 22

Conway, S.C.

10:15 a.m.

Murray State

7-5

Bucknell

7-5

Murray St.

Bucknell

Photo by: Greg Jocelyn

2/22/2015 3:34:00 PM | Softball

Box Score 1 Box Score 2

The Murray State softball team bounced back from a 4-3, 10-inning loss Bucknell, to earn a 7-4 victory over the host Chanticleers Sunday as part of day two of the 2015 Chanticleer Showdown hosted by Coastal Carolina in Conway, South Carolina.

Game 1 – Bucknell 4, Murray St. 3 (10 Inn.)
Bucknell (7-5) got things started in the second when Meghan Kovac singled in the bottom of the second. Cheyanna Young would bring Kovac home later in the frame with a single of her own to give the Bison a 1-0 lead.

After a bunt single by Amanda Fazio in the third, Bucknell pushed the lead to 3-0 on a home run by Kristen Zahn. From there it appeared to smooth sailing for the Bison as pitcher Dana Nielsen retired the first 13 batters of the game and appeared headed towards a perfect game.

However, Maggie Glass had other ideas, as she made Murray State's first hit of the game count in a big way with solo shot to left, cutting into the BU lead at 3-1. After a single by Jessica Twaddle in the seventh, Glass did it again, going yard to tie the game at three. She is now the ninth player in MSU history to have accomplished the feat joining current Racers Twaddle, Shelbey Miller, Alexa Becker and Mallory Richardson in the elite club.

Defense played a big part in getting the Racers (7-5) to extras in the game as they turned two double plays in the contest at key times, pushing their season total to 13 in 12 games. The first game with runners on second and third in the fifth, with Miller, Glass and Jocelynn Rodgers combining to gun down both runners at home plate. The second came in the eighth when MSU turned a second double play to end the inning and move the game to the ninth.

Despite the international tie-breaker rule being in effect neither team was able to push runs across in the added frames. With the score still tied at three and two outs on the board in the bottom of the 10^th, the Racers appeared to be heading towards an 11^th inning. However, Bucknell was able to pull out the win when Twaddle's foot was pulled off the bag on a routine ground ball to Becker, allowing Chaylen Andolino to score on the error from third.

Glass finished the day at 2-for-3 with two runs and two RBIs, while Twaddle was 1-for-3 with a run. CheyAnne Gaskey went the full 9.2 innings for MSU, slowing three earned runs on five hits with three strikeouts and two walks.

Game 2 – Murray State 7, Coastal Carolina 4
The Chanticleers (7-6) were first on the board in the contest when Bri Chuisano, who reached on a walk, was scored on a double from Kiana Quolas that gave her team a 1-0 lead. Coastal Carolina did not enjoy the lead for long, as Erica Howard launched the second long ball of her career in the second to give MSU (8-5) a 3-1 lead.

Shelbey Miller and Alexa Becker helped push the lead to 6-1 with a solo homerun and two-run home run in the fifth and sixth, respectively. Later in the inning, Mo Ramsey scored to cap the Murray State scoring at seven on an RBI-double from Twaddle. The Chanticleers added three runs in the bottom of the seventh, but it was not enough as Murray State was able to turn its 13^th double play of the season to end the game.

Mason Robinson moved to 5-0 with the complete game victory, allowing just three earned runs on four hits with five strikeouts. Howard ended her day at 2-for-3 with two runs, three RBIs and a walk, while Cayla Levins and Twaddle each added two hits as well.

Following the tournament, Becker and Maggie Glass were named to the All-Tournament team. Glass hit .364 with two runs, a double, two home runs, four walks and four RBIs, while Becker hit .357 with four runs, a double, three home runs, two walks and eight RBIs.

Next weekend, the Racers will travel to Knoxville for the Tennessee Classic. While in the Smokies, MSU will take on Bradley, Furman and the host Lady Vols.