Murray State University Athletics
Friday, February 23
Troy, Ala.
9 a.m.
Murray State
vs
Ole Miss
Players Mentioned
IF
/ Softball
P
/ Softball
C/IF
/ Softball
IF
/ Softball
IF
/ Softball
IF
/ Softball
IF
/ Softball
P/IF
/ Softball
P
/ Softball
Racers Head South For Trojan Classic
2/20/2018 4:34:00 PM | Softball
Dates & Time: Feb. 23-25
Site (Venue): Troy, Ala. (Trojan Softball Complex)
Audio: Mixlr.com/MSU Racers (TTU & UAB Games)
TV/Web Stream: Facebook.com/TroyAthletics (TROY Games)
Live Stats: GoRacers.com
MUR Record (Streak): 3-5 (Lost 1)
Racers vs. The Field: 13-13
TTU Record (Streak): 2-7 (Lost 2)
TROY Record (Streak): 5-3 (Won 1)
UAB Record (Streak): 3-7 (Won 1)
MSU Next Games: Mar. 2-4 at 2018 Coach B Classic (Carbondale, Ill.)
MSU Next Home: Mar. 9-11 vs. Racer Classic
This Week
The Racers will look to build on their momentum from last weekend at the 2018 Trojan Classic in Troy Alabama. While in Troy, Murray State will take on an OVC rival in Tennessee Tech, a familiar regional foe in UAB and a first-time opponent in the host Troy Trojans.
Last Time Out
Murray State went 2-2 last weekend in Starkville with wins over Drake and South Alabama, who received votes in last week's NFCA poll, but fell to host Mississippi State and in a rematch with South Alabama. Haven Campbell went 2-0 on the weekend with six strikeouts, compared to just three walks, while limiting opponents to a .218 average. Madison Culver led Murray State on the weekend with a .385 clip, while Lexi Jones belted her second grand slam of the season and a team-high third home run of the season.
Against The Field
Murray State is 13-13 all-time against this weekend's field with a 12-9 mark against Tennessee tech and a 1-4 record versus UAB.
Scouting The Golden Eagles
The Golden Eagles finally found the win column last weekend by beating Western Kentucky twice and will enter this weekend at 2-7 overall. Bayli Cruse has been outstanding for tech this season, going 11-for-30 with a team-high 10 RBIs. Raegan Sparks currently leads the Golden Eagles with a .400 average, while as a team, Tech is batting .363. The Tech pitchers currently have a combined ERA of 9.65 and allow opponents to .322 against them. Taylor Waldrop currently sports the staff's best ERA, at 5.93, and is 1-2 on the season with a team-high 24 strikeouts.
Scouting The Trojans
Troy is off to a 5-3 start to the year, after going 2-2 at last week's Hillenbrand Innovational at Arizona. Katie Webb and Logan Calhoun are currently leading a Troy offense that is hitting .249 as a team, by batting .393 and .391, respectively. Opponents are currently hitting .227 against the Trojans, while their pitching staff currently has a 1.65 ERA. Peyton Glover has been the ace of the Trojan staff so far this season with a 2-0 record in five appearances and 1.14 ERA, 21 strikeouts and a .222 opponent's average.
Scouting The Blazers
The Blazers have gone 3-7 in the first two weeks of the Amanda Ellis era including a 2-3 performances at last weekend's Mary Nutter Classic in Cathedral City, California. As a team, UAB is currently hitting .257, while opposing teams have hit .332 against them. In the circle, the Blazer pitchers have combined for a staff ERA of 4.52 with 44 strikeouts and 32 walks. Emily Kachel has been the go-to pitcher for UAB this season and is currently 3-3 with a 2.67 ERA, 25 strikeouts, eight walks and opponents have hit .274 against her. Offensively, Destini England leads the way at .382, while Madison Millsaps and Analyse Petree follow closely at .355 and .346.
In Their Own Words With Haven Campbell
After some struggles on opening weekend, the team really seemed to step up this past weekend. What do you attribute to change to?
I think everyone got out their first game jitters and just came to play. It was good to play against someone else, so we could see what we needed to work on, whether it be offense or defense. Hitters were able to work on things they struggled with and the pitching staff got the chance to see new hitters and realized what we needed to perfect or work more on. As a team, we were more comfortable coming to play and people were not as nervous.
You went 2-0 this week against some very good competition. What does that do for your confidence going forward?
It boosts my confidence for sure! However, without a good defense and hitters to score runs we wouldn't have been able to win those games. As a pitcher it makes me feel good knowing my teammates have my back and to help me get the win. Beating South Alabama was a big win for me because it proves that we are good enough to compete with the best.
This year, there are some freshman that have been asked to step in right off the bat and contribute. How are those players making the adjustment from high school to college ball so far?
They have done a great job coming in and adjusting from high school to Racer softball. Sierra Gilmore had some big shoes to fill replacing Maggie Glass, but I think she is doing great and is becoming more comfortable as we play more games. Olivia Suski has also done well coming in and pitching for us in these first two weeks. The adjustment from high school hitters to collegiate hitters is pretty hard, but I think she is figuring it out and will be a big asset to our pitching staff going forward.
You guys like to have fun and keep it light on the road. What is your favorite activity or game to play with your teammates on a trip?
A Racer softball tradition that is called "The Headphone Game." On our first road trip, any one new to Racer softball puts on headphones and we pick a song for them. They then have to sing that song as loud as they can on the bus. It is a fun way to get everyone laughing with each other and get all the newcomers to break out of their shell a little more. We also love to play Heads Up on the bus. It's a game where you put the phone to your head and the other people have to act out what the phone says. It is super fun and keeps us entertained on long trips.
Extra Salami
With her second grand slam of the year, Lexi Jones became just the fourth Murray State player in program history to hit two grand slams in the same season Friday against Drake. She joins Jenna Bradley and Lauren Buch, who did so in 2011, and Leslie Bridges, who accomplished the feat in 2012.
Saving Grace
Junior Grace Vaughn recorded a save against Drake Friday, making her just the 10th pitcher in program history.
Out Of The Goetz
Junior Lillie Goetz got her Murray State career off to a hot start as she began the season with a six-game reached base streak.
In The Mix
Select Murray State softball away games, including all three games that are not against Troy, 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 make the short trip to Carbondale next weekend for the annual Coach B Classic where they will take on Illinois, Northern Illinois and the host Salukis.
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Site (Venue): Troy, Ala. (Trojan Softball Complex)
Audio: Mixlr.com/MSU Racers (TTU & UAB Games)
TV/Web Stream: Facebook.com/TroyAthletics (TROY Games)
Live Stats: GoRacers.com
MUR Record (Streak): 3-5 (Lost 1)
Racers vs. The Field: 13-13
TTU Record (Streak): 2-7 (Lost 2)
TROY Record (Streak): 5-3 (Won 1)
UAB Record (Streak): 3-7 (Won 1)
MSU Next Games: Mar. 2-4 at 2018 Coach B Classic (Carbondale, Ill.)
MSU Next Home: Mar. 9-11 vs. Racer Classic
This Week
The Racers will look to build on their momentum from last weekend at the 2018 Trojan Classic in Troy Alabama. While in Troy, Murray State will take on an OVC rival in Tennessee Tech, a familiar regional foe in UAB and a first-time opponent in the host Troy Trojans.
Last Time Out
Murray State went 2-2 last weekend in Starkville with wins over Drake and South Alabama, who received votes in last week's NFCA poll, but fell to host Mississippi State and in a rematch with South Alabama. Haven Campbell went 2-0 on the weekend with six strikeouts, compared to just three walks, while limiting opponents to a .218 average. Madison Culver led Murray State on the weekend with a .385 clip, while Lexi Jones belted her second grand slam of the season and a team-high third home run of the season.
Against The Field
Murray State is 13-13 all-time against this weekend's field with a 12-9 mark against Tennessee tech and a 1-4 record versus UAB.
Scouting The Golden Eagles
The Golden Eagles finally found the win column last weekend by beating Western Kentucky twice and will enter this weekend at 2-7 overall. Bayli Cruse has been outstanding for tech this season, going 11-for-30 with a team-high 10 RBIs. Raegan Sparks currently leads the Golden Eagles with a .400 average, while as a team, Tech is batting .363. The Tech pitchers currently have a combined ERA of 9.65 and allow opponents to .322 against them. Taylor Waldrop currently sports the staff's best ERA, at 5.93, and is 1-2 on the season with a team-high 24 strikeouts.
Scouting The Trojans
Troy is off to a 5-3 start to the year, after going 2-2 at last week's Hillenbrand Innovational at Arizona. Katie Webb and Logan Calhoun are currently leading a Troy offense that is hitting .249 as a team, by batting .393 and .391, respectively. Opponents are currently hitting .227 against the Trojans, while their pitching staff currently has a 1.65 ERA. Peyton Glover has been the ace of the Trojan staff so far this season with a 2-0 record in five appearances and 1.14 ERA, 21 strikeouts and a .222 opponent's average.
Scouting The Blazers
The Blazers have gone 3-7 in the first two weeks of the Amanda Ellis era including a 2-3 performances at last weekend's Mary Nutter Classic in Cathedral City, California. As a team, UAB is currently hitting .257, while opposing teams have hit .332 against them. In the circle, the Blazer pitchers have combined for a staff ERA of 4.52 with 44 strikeouts and 32 walks. Emily Kachel has been the go-to pitcher for UAB this season and is currently 3-3 with a 2.67 ERA, 25 strikeouts, eight walks and opponents have hit .274 against her. Offensively, Destini England leads the way at .382, while Madison Millsaps and Analyse Petree follow closely at .355 and .346.
In Their Own Words With Haven Campbell
After some struggles on opening weekend, the team really seemed to step up this past weekend. What do you attribute to change to?
I think everyone got out their first game jitters and just came to play. It was good to play against someone else, so we could see what we needed to work on, whether it be offense or defense. Hitters were able to work on things they struggled with and the pitching staff got the chance to see new hitters and realized what we needed to perfect or work more on. As a team, we were more comfortable coming to play and people were not as nervous.
You went 2-0 this week against some very good competition. What does that do for your confidence going forward?
It boosts my confidence for sure! However, without a good defense and hitters to score runs we wouldn't have been able to win those games. As a pitcher it makes me feel good knowing my teammates have my back and to help me get the win. Beating South Alabama was a big win for me because it proves that we are good enough to compete with the best.
This year, there are some freshman that have been asked to step in right off the bat and contribute. How are those players making the adjustment from high school to college ball so far?
They have done a great job coming in and adjusting from high school to Racer softball. Sierra Gilmore had some big shoes to fill replacing Maggie Glass, but I think she is doing great and is becoming more comfortable as we play more games. Olivia Suski has also done well coming in and pitching for us in these first two weeks. The adjustment from high school hitters to collegiate hitters is pretty hard, but I think she is figuring it out and will be a big asset to our pitching staff going forward.
You guys like to have fun and keep it light on the road. What is your favorite activity or game to play with your teammates on a trip?
A Racer softball tradition that is called "The Headphone Game." On our first road trip, any one new to Racer softball puts on headphones and we pick a song for them. They then have to sing that song as loud as they can on the bus. It is a fun way to get everyone laughing with each other and get all the newcomers to break out of their shell a little more. We also love to play Heads Up on the bus. It's a game where you put the phone to your head and the other people have to act out what the phone says. It is super fun and keeps us entertained on long trips.
Extra Salami
With her second grand slam of the year, Lexi Jones became just the fourth Murray State player in program history to hit two grand slams in the same season Friday against Drake. She joins Jenna Bradley and Lauren Buch, who did so in 2011, and Leslie Bridges, who accomplished the feat in 2012.
Saving Grace
Junior Grace Vaughn recorded a save against Drake Friday, making her just the 10th pitcher in program history.
Out Of The Goetz
Junior Lillie Goetz got her Murray State career off to a hot start as she began the season with a six-game reached base streak.
In The Mix
Select Murray State softball away games, including all three games that are not against Troy, 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 make the short trip to Carbondale next weekend for the annual Coach B Classic where they will take on Illinois, Northern Illinois and the host Salukis.
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