Racers Crank Out Hits in DH Sweep at Evansville

Tuesday, April 21

Evansville, Ind.

3 p.m.

Murray State

28-16

Evansville

10-37

Murray St.

Evansville

Photo by: Patti Twaddle

4/21/2015 5:58:00 PM | Softball

Box Score 1 Box Score 2

The Murray State softball team pumped out 19 runs on 24 hits to sweep a non-conference doubleheader, 9-5 and 10-2 in six innings, at Evansville Tuesday evening at Cooper Stadium.

In the opener, Jessica Twaddle got the Racers off to a hot start in the first with her sixth home run of the season with a runner on to give Murray State (29-16) an early 2-0 lead. In the bottom of the inning, Evansville (10-37) cut into the lead with a RBI single from Mariah Ferguson after loading the bases on a lead-off hit and two walks.

The Purple Aces took a 4-2 lead in the second when Danielle Freeman blasted a three-run home run over the wall in right center. Murray State, however, would tie the game with a two-RBI single from Shelbey Miller, after both Alexa Becker and Mo Ramsey reached earlier in the frame on a single as well.

Becker returned to the plate in the fourth to hit Murray State's second home run of the game with two runners aboard to give her team a 7-4 lead. Evansville inched closer in the fifth after Ferguson led off the stanza with a triple and scored in the following at-bat on a RBI-ground out from Susan Norris to make the score 7-5.

Murray State increased its lead to 9-5 in the top of the sixth on another RBI-single, this time by Maggie Glass to Jocelynn Rodgers and Miller, who also reached on singles. The Purple Aces had their chances in both the sixth and seventh, but could not score, as MSU held on for the 9-5 win.

Becker, Miller and Ramsey led Murray State in game one as each tallied three hits. Becker ended the day with three RBIs and two runs, while Ramsey scored three times and Miller scored once and drove in two. Haven Campbell picked up the five-inning relief win to improve to 2-2 on the year, after allowing just one run on five hits with two strikeouts.

In game two, Evansville was first on the board in the opening stanza with an RBI-single from Hayli Scott after MSU put runners on with a single and an error. The Racers finally got going in the third with a two-RBI single from Jessica Twaddle and a sacrifice fly from Maggie Glass to make it 3-1.

In the fourth, the Purple Aces cut the lead to just one, at 3-2, when Morgan Lambert doubled to score Ashlee Kawall, who began the inning with a lead-off single. In the fifth, the bats came alive for Murray State as they scored five runs on five hits including a two-RBI double from Miller and a three-run home run from Kaylyn Zierke, her first as a Racer.

In the sixth, Mo Ramsey picked up her sixth hit of the doubleheader when she singled with two outs. After Jessica Twaddle was hit by a pitch, Miller brought them both home with her second consecutive two-RB double, increasing MSU's lead to 10-2. With UE unable to answer in the bottom of the inning, Murray State picked up the win via the eight-run rule.

Ramsey led Murray State by going 3-for-4 with two runs, marking her third consecutive game with three hits. Twaddle and Miller also had a good game, with each going 2-for-3. Mason Robinson moved to 11-5 on the season with two runs on five hits with strikeouts over five innings of work.

The Racers now return home for the weekend where they will host Austin Peay in a three-game set. On Saturday, Murray State will "Celebrate Life" as players will wear colored warm-up shirts that correspond with a cause that is close to their heart for the doubleheader. On Sunday, Alexa Becker, Katie Bunch, CheyAnne Gaskey, Molly Hargrove, Mo Ramsey, Mallory Richardson will be honored as part of the annual Senior Day tradition. Games on both days are scheduled to begin at 1 p.m.