California Holds Next Challenge For Racers

Date: March 18-20
Tournament: 2017 Matador Classic
Site (Venue): Northridge, Calif. (Matador Diamond)
Audio: Mixlr.com/MSURacers
TV/Web Stream: OVCDigitalNetwork.com
Live Stats: GoRacers.com
MSU Record (Streak): 22-2 (Won 11)
MSU vs. The Field: 2-1
All-Time Series vs. BRY (Streak): MSU leads 2-0 (Won 2)
All-Time Series vs. WEB (Streak): First Meeting (---)
All-Time Series vs. QU (Streak): First Meeting (---)
All-Time Series vs. CSUN (Streak): CSUN leads 1-0 (Lost 1)
MSU Next Games: Mar. 26 vs. Morehead St. (DH)
MSU Next Home: Mar. 26 vs. Morehead St. (DH)

This Week
The Murray State softball team will take its 11-game win streak out west for the 2017 Matador Classic in Northridge, California. While in the Golden State, Murray State will take on Bryant, Weber State, Quinnipiac and the hosts, Cal State Northridge.

Last Time Out
The Racers moved to 22-4 on the year by sweeping a doubleheader with Western Illinois Wednesday at Racer Field. Erika Downey went 2-for-3 and drove in two runs to help the Racers edge the Leathernecks in the opener, 2-1. In the second game, MSU used a four-run fourth to push past WIU, 5-1. Jessica Twaddle was 2-for-3 in the contest with a home run, two runs and a RBI.

Mason Robinson moved to 14-2 on the year in the circle in the game one win by allowing no earned runs on five hits with four strikeouts. In game two, Haven Campbell allowed just one earned run on seven hits with a eight strikeouts in the first six innings, while Amber Van Duyse gave up only one hit in the seventh. On top of allowing just one earned run in 14 innings, the Racer pitching staff also did not allow a single walk in either game.

Against The Field
Having faced just two of its four opponents prior to this weekend, Murray State enters the Matador Classic with a 2-1 record against the field.

Saturday will be the third all-time meeting between the two teams. The Racers met Bryant for the first time last season at Auburn and won both games against Bulldogs.

Murray State and CSUN will enter Monday's doubleheader with just one previous contest between the two teams. They last met in 2011 as part of Cal State Fullerton's DeMarini Invitational with the Matadors walking away with a 6-4 win.

Scouting Bryant
Bryant is currently 3-16 on the year after going 1-3 at in mid-week contests in California this week. Currently, the Bulldogs are hitting just .186 this season, while opponents are hitting .348 against them. In the circle, Bryant has a team ERA of 6.50 with a total of 47 strikeouts and 92 walks. Haylee Haas currently leads all Bulldogs with a .271 average, while Kaleigh Goulart follows at .250. Pitching wise, Gabrielle Ermis has a team low ERA of 4.96 in nine appearances, while Colby Norris has a team-high 18 strikeouts.

Scouting Weber State
Weber State is currently 12-10-1 on the year after winning all four of its games at last week's Highlander Classic in Riverside, California. The Wildcats are currently giving up a .309 average, while hitting just under at .307 themselves. The WSU pitching staff currently has combined ERA of 4.23 and has posted four shutouts this season. Offensively, Molly Horne and Takesha Saltern lead the way for Weber State at .435 and .427, respectively, while Sara Hingsberer has a team-high 18 RBIs. In the circle, Kaitlyn Bohling has a team-low ERA of 2.55 with a 7-8 record, while Tatiana Su'esu'e is 5-1 with a 5.82 ERA

Scouting Quinnipiac
Quinnipiac dropped a doubleheader to UC Riverside Wednesday and now sits at 6-9 on the year. As a team, the Bobcats are hitting .267 with a combined ERA of 5.75 and are allowing opponents to hit .319 against them. Rebecca Drake has each driven in a team-high 15 runs this season, while Miranda Magana leads the team in batting average at .400. Abby Long and Casey Herzog have split the lion share of the pitching duties for Quinnipiac this season with Long leading the way at a 3.38 ERA and Herzog following at 5.06.

Scouting Cal State Northridge
After a 2-1 performance last week at home in the CSUN/LMU Tournament, the Matadors are now 14-10 on the year. USA Softball Player of Year Candidate Taylor Glover currently powers CSUN's .283 team average with a team-high .405 individual average to go along with 15 RBIs. Katie Hooper and Jessica Alexander have also been big offensively for the Matadors this season with 15 and 16 RBIs, respectively. In the circle, Daphne Pofek and Taylor Troost are each 5-3 on the year with Pofek leading the way in ERA at 2.22 and Troost following at 2.51. As a staff, the Matadors limit opponents to a .250 average and have a combined 3.17 ERA.

Weather Forecast
The weather this weekend will be typically Californian, with temps in the mid-70s to low 80s in the day and high-50s at night. There is little to no forecasted precipitation and the winds should be relatively low at 4-6 mph.

Elite Club Welcomes 3rd Member|
With three hits Wednesday against WIU, Jessica Twaddle became the third player in Murray State history to join the 200-hit club and now stands at 201 for her career Shelbey Miller currently leads MSU all-time in hits at 229, with Mo Ramsey just two behind at 227.

Wind Generator
In game two against Western Illinois, Haven Campbell struck out eight batters. Not only was the total a season-high by a Racer pitcher for 2017, but it was a career high for Campbell as well.

No Free Walks
Currently, the Murray State pitching staff is striking out opposing batters at a near 3-to-1 clip compared to walks with 99 strikeouts and 34 walks. Mason Robinson currently leads the OVC and is 11th nationally in "Walks Allowed Per Seven Innings" at 0.70, while Haven Campbell is 4th in the league and 41st in the NCAA at 1.03.

In The Mix
Select Murray State softball away games, including multiple games 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?
The Racers will return home to the friendly confines for their first two OVC doubleheaders of the year. A change in the schedule now means Murray State will host Morehead State Sunday and Eastern Kentucky Monday. Both doubleheaders are scheduled to begin at 1 p.m. and will be broadcast on the OVC Digital Network.

Next Event

Players Mentioned

Haven Campbell

Erika Downey

Shelbey Miller

Mason Robinson

Jessica Twaddle

Amber Van Duyse

Murray State University Athletics