Racers Sweep The Day In Bowling Green

Saturday, February 20

Bowling Green, Ky.

9:30 a.m.

Murray State

3-2

Missouri State

4-3

Missouri St.

Murray St.

Photo by: Patti Twaddle

2/20/2016 3:27:00 PM | Softball

Box Score 1 Box Score 2

The Murray State softball team went 2-0 Saturday at the 2016 Holiday Inn Hiltopper Classic at the WKU Softball Complex in Bowling Green, Kentucky. The Racers won the day's opener 1-0 in nine innings after a sacrifice fly from Madison Culver scored Maggie Glass for the walk-off win. In the nightcap, MSU took down Austin Peay, 10-5, in non-conference action.

The first game was primarily a pitcher's duel between Murray State's Mason Robinson (3-1) and Missouri State's Jessie Van Es. Robinson pitched nine scoreless innings for Murray State and gave up just three hits while striking out three and walking three. For Van Es, it 8.0 scoreless innings with four hits, three walks and three strikeouts.

Each team had their opportunities in the game, but each team ended the game with seven runners stranded. The Racers (4-2) had their best chance in the second when Cayla Levins sent Shelbey Miller to third with a single. However, Van Es was able to strike out the next better and get her team out of a jam.

Missouri State was not the only team with solid defense in the contest, as the Racers worked themselves out of jams as well, one with the help of a nation-leading sixth double play of the season for Murray State. In the eighth, the Bears began the inning with back-to-back infield singles from Olivia Roark and Madison Jones. Despite both runners advancing a base on a sacrifice, the Racers escaped the inning unscathed by retiring the next two batters.

With the international tie-breaker rule in effect, Missouri State once again had a runner at third with just one out. However, they were still unable to convert as the Racer defense once again clamped down to end the frame. In the bottom of the ninth, after Miller advanced the placed runner Glass to lead off the frame, Culver brought the runner home with a game-winning sacrifice fly.

In game two, the Racers used seven runs in the first two innings to jump out to an 8-0 lead in the contest. While Austin Peay attempted a comeback, the lead proved insurmountable as MSU held on for the 10-5 win.

Jocelynn Rodgers led Murray State by going 3-for-4 with a run and a RBI, while Jessica Twaddle followed at 1-for-3 with a double, two walks, three runs and a career-high three stolen bases. Erika Downey entered the game as a pinch hitter and was a perfect 2-for-2 with a double and a run. Mallory Young drove in a game-high two runs against the Lady Govs, as she went 1-for-2 with a double and a walk.

Haven Campbell picked up a win in her first appearance of the season, allowing no runs on three hits with a strikeout over 4.0 innings. Amber Van Duyse had a solid relief outing, allowing just one unearned run on no hits with two strikeouts.

Earlier Saturday, Sunday's games in the Holiday Inn Hilltopper Classic were canceled. With no games Sunday, the Racers now return to action next Saturday and Sunday in Natchitoches, Louisiana for a three-game set with Northwestern State.