Murray State University Athletics
Friday, February 24
Birmingham, Ala.
3 p.m.
Murray State
at
Samford
Players Mentioned
Red Hot Racers Head To Birmingham
2/23/2017 12:57:00 PM | Softball
Date: Feb. 24-26
Tournament: 2017 Samford/UAB Classic
Site (Venue): Birmingham, Ala. (Bulldog Softball Field & Mary Bowers Field)
Audio: Mixlr.com/MSURacers
TV/Web Stream: YouTube.com (SU Fri.)/UABSports.com (UAB Sat.)
Live Stats: GoRacers.com
MSU Record (Streak): 8-2 (Won 2)
MSU vs. The Field: 4-7
All-Time Series vs. SAM (Streak): MSU leads 3-2 (Lost 1)
All-Time Series vs. UAB (Streak): UAB leads 3-1 (Won 2)
All-Time Series vs. ISU (Streak): First Meeting (---)
All-Time Series vs. IU (Streak): IU leads 0-2 (Lost 2)
MSU Next Games: Feb. 4-5 at Coach B Classic (Carbondale, Ill.)
MSU Next Home: Mar. 10-12 vs. Racer Classic
This Week
Off to the best start in program history, the Murray State softball team will look to continue its winnings ways this weekend at the 2017 Samford/UAB Classic in Birmingham, Alabama. The joint-hosted tournament will see games played on two campuses with Friday and Sunday games being played at Samford's Bulldog Softball Field and Saturday games being played at Mary Bowers Field. Opponents for the five-game stretch include both host teams, Iowa State and Indiana.
Last Time Out
The Racers jumped out to their best start in program history by going 4-1 at the Mardi Gras Invitational. MSU posted two wins over Butler, Jackson State and McNeese with the lone loss coming to South Alabama. The MSU offense doubled up the output of opponents scoring 44 runs compared to just 22 by opposing teams. Brenna Finck led MSU on the weekend with a .526 average (10-for-19), a double and two triples, while Jessica Twaddle was .471 (8-for-17). Mason Robinson went 3-1 in the circle for Murray State on the weekend while striking out 11 batters and walking only two.
Against The Field
The Racers will face three teams that they have previously squared off against and one brand new opponent in Iowa State. While the Cyclones and Racers have never met before, the Racers are 3-2 all-time against games played against teams in the Big 12 with wins over Kansas, Oklahoma State and former member Missouri.
Murray State and Samford have met on five previous occasions with MSU holding a slight 3-2 edge. The last meeting came in 2015 when Murray State dropped a 6-5 heartbreaker in Birmingham, where the Bulldogs hold a 2-1 advantage.
Against UAB, Murray State is 1-3 all-time against the Blazers with all four games being played in Birmingham. The last meeting between the two schools was in 2014 with UAB coming away as a 5-2 winner.
Sunday will be third meeting all-time between Indiana and the Racers, with the two teams meeting twice during last year's Wilson/DeMarini Classic hosted by Auburn. The Hoosiers picked up a 5-1 in the first meeting and just edged MSU, 1-0, in game two.
Scouting Samford
Samford went 1-4 last week at the Trojan classic hosted by Troy and are now 2-8 on the year. As a team the Bulldogs are hitting .286 as a team, while its pitchers have posted a 3.87 ERA and have allowed their opponents to hit .267 against them. Offensively, Shelby Maze has led Samford with a .436 average, with Madison Crouch following at .387. In the circle, Grey Adams leads the way with a 3.40 ERA, a 1-3 record, 25 strikeouts and 23 walks.
Scouting UAB
UAB went 1-4 at last weekend's Madeira Beach Spring Invitational hosted by Eastern Michigan in Florida. The Blazers lone win came against Siena, despite the fact that three of their four losses came by two runs or less. UAB is hitting .222 as a team this season and is led by Natalie Erwin's .368 average. Meanwhile, Joanna Fallen is batting .333 with a team-high six RBIs and two home runs. Madison Hir is currently 1-2 for UAB in the circle this season with a team-low ERA of 2.62, while the pitching staff as a whole has posted a 3.83 ERA.
Scouting Iowa State
Iowa State went 5-0 at last weekend's Tiger Classic in Nashville, Tennessee. The Cyclones picked up three wins over Tennessee State and two over Alabama A&M. ISU batted .355 over the five-game span to boost its season average to .321. Kelsey McFarland is leading the way for Iowa State so far this year, batting .536 with nine RBIs, while Sami Williams follows at .407 with a team-high 10 RBIs. Savanna Sanders has been the Cyclones' go-to in the circle and has 3-2 record and a 2.55 ERA with 35 strikeouts and 17 walks. As a staff, ISU has a 1.97 ERA and limits opponents to a .216 clip.
Scouting Indiana
Indiana is off to a 2-7 start to the season after losing all four games at the Texas Invitational last weekend in Austin. The Hoosiers dropped games to Louisiana Tech, South Carolina and the host Longhorns wand were outscored 36-13 over the four-game span. Rachel O'Malley and Taylor Uden have led IU so far this season by batting .320 and .308, respectively. As a team, the Hoosiers are batting .237 as a team, while their opponents are hitting .264. In the circle, Tara Trainer has served as the ace and currently has a 1-4 record with a 5.06 ERA with 36 strikeouts and 26 walks.
Weather Forecast
The temperatures on Friday will be in the 70's in Birmingham, before dropping into the low 60's for the rest of the weekend. Precipitation chances will be highest on Friday at about 25-percent and before falling to under 10-percent for the rest of the week.
Clamping Down
The Racers have become experts at holding a lead so far this season. Through 10 games, the Racers have yet to lose a game in which they have been in the lead at the end of any inning.
High-Powered Offense
Through the first 10-games of the season, the Racers are currently averaging 7.80 runs per game, ranking them 12th in the nation behind leaders Seton Hall at 14.0 runs per game. Despite the high national ranking, MSU is still second amongst OVC teams, as UT Martin is scoring 9.38 runs per game.
Getting The W
With six wins already this season, Mason Robinson now has 51 for her career, just six shy of CheyAnne Gaskey's program record 57 wins. Her six wins on the year also places her second nationally in that category.
In The Mix
Select Murray State softball away games, including three of five this weekend, will once again be broadcast this season on the internet via Mixlr. Fans can listen, free of charge, on any computer at mixlr.com/msuracers or by downloading the Mixlr app, available on Apple and Android devices, and searching msuracers. The games will be broadcast by MSU softball media relations contact, Parker Griffith.
OK, What's Next?
Next weekend, Murray State will make the short trip to Carbondale for the Coach B Classic. While at Charlotte West Stadium, MSU will take on Northern Illinois, Western Illinois, Illinois-Chicago and the Salukis.
Tournament: 2017 Samford/UAB Classic
Site (Venue): Birmingham, Ala. (Bulldog Softball Field & Mary Bowers Field)
Audio: Mixlr.com/MSURacers
TV/Web Stream: YouTube.com (SU Fri.)/UABSports.com (UAB Sat.)
Live Stats: GoRacers.com
MSU Record (Streak): 8-2 (Won 2)
MSU vs. The Field: 4-7
All-Time Series vs. SAM (Streak): MSU leads 3-2 (Lost 1)
All-Time Series vs. UAB (Streak): UAB leads 3-1 (Won 2)
All-Time Series vs. ISU (Streak): First Meeting (---)
All-Time Series vs. IU (Streak): IU leads 0-2 (Lost 2)
MSU Next Games: Feb. 4-5 at Coach B Classic (Carbondale, Ill.)
MSU Next Home: Mar. 10-12 vs. Racer Classic
This Week
Off to the best start in program history, the Murray State softball team will look to continue its winnings ways this weekend at the 2017 Samford/UAB Classic in Birmingham, Alabama. The joint-hosted tournament will see games played on two campuses with Friday and Sunday games being played at Samford's Bulldog Softball Field and Saturday games being played at Mary Bowers Field. Opponents for the five-game stretch include both host teams, Iowa State and Indiana.
Last Time Out
The Racers jumped out to their best start in program history by going 4-1 at the Mardi Gras Invitational. MSU posted two wins over Butler, Jackson State and McNeese with the lone loss coming to South Alabama. The MSU offense doubled up the output of opponents scoring 44 runs compared to just 22 by opposing teams. Brenna Finck led MSU on the weekend with a .526 average (10-for-19), a double and two triples, while Jessica Twaddle was .471 (8-for-17). Mason Robinson went 3-1 in the circle for Murray State on the weekend while striking out 11 batters and walking only two.
Against The Field
The Racers will face three teams that they have previously squared off against and one brand new opponent in Iowa State. While the Cyclones and Racers have never met before, the Racers are 3-2 all-time against games played against teams in the Big 12 with wins over Kansas, Oklahoma State and former member Missouri.
Murray State and Samford have met on five previous occasions with MSU holding a slight 3-2 edge. The last meeting came in 2015 when Murray State dropped a 6-5 heartbreaker in Birmingham, where the Bulldogs hold a 2-1 advantage.
Against UAB, Murray State is 1-3 all-time against the Blazers with all four games being played in Birmingham. The last meeting between the two schools was in 2014 with UAB coming away as a 5-2 winner.
Sunday will be third meeting all-time between Indiana and the Racers, with the two teams meeting twice during last year's Wilson/DeMarini Classic hosted by Auburn. The Hoosiers picked up a 5-1 in the first meeting and just edged MSU, 1-0, in game two.
Scouting Samford
Samford went 1-4 last week at the Trojan classic hosted by Troy and are now 2-8 on the year. As a team the Bulldogs are hitting .286 as a team, while its pitchers have posted a 3.87 ERA and have allowed their opponents to hit .267 against them. Offensively, Shelby Maze has led Samford with a .436 average, with Madison Crouch following at .387. In the circle, Grey Adams leads the way with a 3.40 ERA, a 1-3 record, 25 strikeouts and 23 walks.
Scouting UAB
UAB went 1-4 at last weekend's Madeira Beach Spring Invitational hosted by Eastern Michigan in Florida. The Blazers lone win came against Siena, despite the fact that three of their four losses came by two runs or less. UAB is hitting .222 as a team this season and is led by Natalie Erwin's .368 average. Meanwhile, Joanna Fallen is batting .333 with a team-high six RBIs and two home runs. Madison Hir is currently 1-2 for UAB in the circle this season with a team-low ERA of 2.62, while the pitching staff as a whole has posted a 3.83 ERA.
Scouting Iowa State
Iowa State went 5-0 at last weekend's Tiger Classic in Nashville, Tennessee. The Cyclones picked up three wins over Tennessee State and two over Alabama A&M. ISU batted .355 over the five-game span to boost its season average to .321. Kelsey McFarland is leading the way for Iowa State so far this year, batting .536 with nine RBIs, while Sami Williams follows at .407 with a team-high 10 RBIs. Savanna Sanders has been the Cyclones' go-to in the circle and has 3-2 record and a 2.55 ERA with 35 strikeouts and 17 walks. As a staff, ISU has a 1.97 ERA and limits opponents to a .216 clip.
Scouting Indiana
Indiana is off to a 2-7 start to the season after losing all four games at the Texas Invitational last weekend in Austin. The Hoosiers dropped games to Louisiana Tech, South Carolina and the host Longhorns wand were outscored 36-13 over the four-game span. Rachel O'Malley and Taylor Uden have led IU so far this season by batting .320 and .308, respectively. As a team, the Hoosiers are batting .237 as a team, while their opponents are hitting .264. In the circle, Tara Trainer has served as the ace and currently has a 1-4 record with a 5.06 ERA with 36 strikeouts and 26 walks.
Weather Forecast
The temperatures on Friday will be in the 70's in Birmingham, before dropping into the low 60's for the rest of the weekend. Precipitation chances will be highest on Friday at about 25-percent and before falling to under 10-percent for the rest of the week.
Clamping Down
The Racers have become experts at holding a lead so far this season. Through 10 games, the Racers have yet to lose a game in which they have been in the lead at the end of any inning.
High-Powered Offense
Through the first 10-games of the season, the Racers are currently averaging 7.80 runs per game, ranking them 12th in the nation behind leaders Seton Hall at 14.0 runs per game. Despite the high national ranking, MSU is still second amongst OVC teams, as UT Martin is scoring 9.38 runs per game.
Getting The W
With six wins already this season, Mason Robinson now has 51 for her career, just six shy of CheyAnne Gaskey's program record 57 wins. Her six wins on the year also places her second nationally in that category.
In The Mix
Select Murray State softball away games, including three of five this weekend, will once again be broadcast this season on the internet via Mixlr. Fans can listen, free of charge, on any computer at mixlr.com/msuracers or by downloading the Mixlr app, available on Apple and Android devices, and searching msuracers. The games will be broadcast by MSU softball media relations contact, Parker Griffith.
OK, What's Next?
Next weekend, Murray State will make the short trip to Carbondale for the Coach B Classic. While at Charlotte West Stadium, MSU will take on Northern Illinois, Western Illinois, Illinois-Chicago and the Salukis.
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