Richardson Walks Off As Softball Sweeps APSU

Saturday, April 25

Racer Field

1 p.m.

Murray State

30-16, 0

Austin Peay

9-32, 0

Austin Peay

Murray St.

Photo by: Patti Twaddle

4/25/2015 7:49:00 PM | Softball

Box Score 1 Box Score 2

Mallory Richardson's walk-off home run in the bottom of the eighth, lifted the Murray State softball team past Austin Peay, 5-3, in game two of Saturday's doubleheader at Racer Field in Murray. Earlier in the day, the Racers took game one from the Lady Govs by the score of 3-1.

In game one, after Shelbey Miller led off the second with a double, Jocelynn Rodgers brought her home in the next at bat with a double of her own to put Murray State (31-16, 16-7 OVC) on the board. Taylor Odom would score Rodgers with a single later in the inning and was followed by Maggie Glass scoring on a long fly to give the Racers a 3-0 lead.

In the third, Austin Peay (9-33, 5-18 OVC) scored its only run of the game on a double from Morgan Hoeg that pushed Chandler Groves across the plate and cut the lead to 3-1. Both teams would have their chances throughout the game, but Murray State was able to hang on for the 3-1 win.

Glass led MSU by going 2-for-2 with a run in the game, while CheyAnne Gaskey (16-8) got the win in the circle by allowing one run on six hits with seven strikeouts.

In the second game, Shelbey Miller put the Racers on the board in the first when she singled up the middle to score Alexa Becker, who reached on a walk. The score held until the top of the sixth when Chandler Groves stole home to tie the game for Austin Peay. The Lady Govs took the lead in the later in the inning when Mel Pavel singled to right to score Ashley Eisenbraun, who reached on an error.

In the bottom of the sixth, Cayla Levins put one through the right side to score Glass and tie the game for Murray State at two.. The Lady Govs then took back the lead in the seventh after Rikki Arkansas led off the inning with a double, stole third and then scored on a RBI ground out by Courtney Brower. The lead did not last for long, as Becker proceeded to take the first pitch of the bottom of the seventh yard to tie the game at three and send the game to extra innings.

MSU gave up a single in the eighth, but did not allow the run to cross, giving itself a chance at the win. Glass began the frame with a double and then was moved to third on a sacrifice from Levins. Two batters, later Mallory Richardson, who entered the game as a sub in right field in the seventh, gave the Racers the walk-off win with the third home run of her career and her first hit of the season.

Glass was 2-for-3 in the game with a walk, while Miller as 2-for-4 with a RBI. Mason Robinson (12-5) went the distance for Murray State and allowed just two earned runs on eight hits with four strikeouts and no walks over eight complete innings.

The sweep gives Murray State 31 wins on the season, marking the third time in the six-season history of the program that the Racers have reached the 30-win plateau. After winning 32 games last season, it also marks the first time in program history that MSU has posted back-to-back 30-win seasons, with the other 30-win season coming in 2012.

The Racers will close out the series with the Lady Govs on Sunday at 1 p.m. at Racer Field. Prior to the game, the six seniors on this year's squad will be honored as part of Senior Day.