Racers Upend Kansas To Earn Friday Split

Friday, March 16

Lawrence, Kan.

9 a.m.

Murray State

8-14

Northern Colorado

15-14

Northern Colo.

Murray St.

3/16/2018 8:55:00 PM | Softball

Box Score 1 Box Score 2 NOCO BOX SCORE (PDF)KU BOX SCORE (PDF)SEASON STATS (PDF)

Just The Facts
The Murray State softball team began play Friday in the 2018 Rock Chalk Challenge at Arrocha Ballpark in Lawrence, Kansas with a 5-2 loss to Northern Colorado. However, the Racers bounced back in game two with 9-0, six-inning shutout of host Kansas.

Game 1 – Northern Colo. 5, Murray St. 2

How It Happened
Murray State struck first in the third inning and scored two runs on a pair of RBI-singles from Jensen Striegel and Brenna Finck. The Bears were able to scrape just one hit in the first three innings, but in the fourth they exploded for four runs on three hits including a two-run home run from Lauren Paige. Northern Colorado added another run in the fifth taking to cap their scoring at eight and did not allow MSU to score again for the win. The difference in the game came in the eight walks issued by the Racers, despite outhitting the Bears, 8-5.

In The Circle
Murray State threw four pitchers in the game with Amber Van Duyse taking the loss by allowing four runs on two hits with two strikeouts and two walk. Olivia Suski, Grace Vaughn and Haven Campbell each allowed no runs on one hit in their time in the circle to go along with two walks each.

Offensive Highlights
Sierra Gilmore was 2-for-3 in the game, while Striegel was 2-for-4. Maddy Feeney also had a good day at the plate where she was officially 0-for-1, but with two walks.

Game 2 – Murray St. 9, Kansas 0 (6 Inn.)

How It Happened
The Racers used big days at the plate from Lillie Goetz and Sierra Gilmore to power past KU, 9-0, in six innings. Murray State scored two in the first, five in the fourth and capped their scoring with a two-run shot from Gilmore, her third of the year, in the sixth.

Goetz was perfect at the plate in the game, going 3-for-3 with a run, two doubles, two RBIs and a walk. Meanwhile, Gilmore was only 1-for-3 on the day, but managed to drive in five runs; one on a groundout in the first, two on an error in the fourth and the two-run homerun in the sixth. Jensen Striegel also had multiple hits for Murray State as she was 2-for-4 with two runs scored. The Racers also picked up four more hits from four different Racers in the game to outhit the Jayhawks, 10-3.

In The Circle
Haven Campbell threw a three-hit shutout in the game and struck out six while walking none over six full innings of work. The loss for Kansas was just their sixth of the year and marked the first time they had been shutout this season.

OK, What's Next?
Murray State will continue play in the Rock Chalk Challenge Saturday with a 9 a.m. game against Western Illinois, followed immediately by a matchup with UMKC at 11:30 a.m.