Murray State University Athletics
Murray State
Eastern Kentucky
Players Mentioned
Racers Open OVC Play On The Road
3/22/2018 4:11:00 PM | Softball
Dates & Time: Mar. 23 & 26 (1 p.m. DH & 12 p.m. DH)
Site (Venue): Richmond, Ky. & Morehead, Ky. (Hood Field & University Field)
Video: None
Audio: None
Live Stats: GoRacers.com
MUR Record (Streak): 9-18 (Lost 4)
EKU Record (Streak): 17-10 (Won 1)
MOR Record (Streak): 16-6 (Won 1)
MSU Next Games: Mar. 30 vs. Jacksonville St. (DH)
MSU Next Home: Mar. 30 vs. Jacksonville St. (DH)
This Week
The Murray State softball team will open OVC play on the road this weekend in the eastern portion of the Commonwealth. The Racers take on Eastern Kentucky in a doubleheader Friday at 1 p.m. CT, followed by a doubleheader Monday at Morehead State at 12Â p.m. CT.
Last Time Out
The Racers went 1-5 in their spring break road trip, with the only win coming in the form of a 9-0 shutout of Kansas. MSU, however was very close in its last three losses, with the first two coming by walk-off home run and the last one at Saint Louis coming by just one run. Sierra Gilmore led MSU on the week with a .368 average, one home run, a double and six RBIs, while Lillie Goetz hit .333 with three doubles, two triples and four RBIs.
The Eastern Kentucky Series
Murray State currently leads the all-time series 12-9, after winning the only game last season in Murray. In Richmond, the Racers trail the all-time series 6-4 and have lost each of the last four contests.
Scouting The Colonels
After going 1-3 at Houston last weekend, Eastern Kentucky is now 17-10 on the year. The Colonels are batting .286 on the year with 5.6 runs per game, while their opponents are hitting .263 and scoring 3.8 runs per game. Paige Murphy leads the way at the plate with a .443 average and 20 RBIs for EKU, while Mollie Paulick leads in the circle at 6-4 on the year with a 2.64 ERA, 58 strikeouts and 22 walks.
The Morehead State Series
The Racers are 11-6 all-time against Morehead and 4-3 at University Field. The two teams split their doubleheader last season, giving Morehead State the last win in the series in both Murray and Morehead.
Scouting The Eagles
Morehead State went 1-2 last week in their own tournament and is 16-10 so far this season. Paige Scruggs and Taylor Wheeler lead the Eagles offensively with averages of .365 and .357, respectively, while the team is hitting .260 as whole. In the circle, Morehead State has a staff ERA of 2.03 with a 2.6:1 strikeout-to-walk average and a .212 opponent's average. Chelsea McManaway currently has the lowest ERA on the team at 1.70 and is 11-2 on the year.
Weather Forecast
Temps Friday in Richmond will be cold with a high of 50, in addition to a 25-percent chance of precipitation. On Sunday in Morehead, the high will only 48 with the same 25-percent chance of rain.
The Second Season
Murray State opens its ninth OVC season Friday and is 3-5 in league openers. Last season, the Racers put an end to a four-game skid in OVC openers when it beat Morehead State and is now 1-4 in those games under head coach Kara Amundson.
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OK, What's Next?
MSU returns to Racer Field next week to host Jacksonville State on Friday for the beginning of an eight-game home stand.
