Racers Win Twice In Home Opener

Friday, March 9

Racer Field

2 p.m.

Murray State

7-12

Rhode Island

1-10

Rhode Island

Murray St.

Photo by: Dave Winder-Murray State Athletics

3/9/2018 10:18:00 PM | Softball

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Just The Facts
The Murray State softball team opened play in its own 2018 Racer Classic with a pair of wins Friday in their first appearance at Racer Field in Murray this season. The Racers won the opener against Rhode Island, 2-0, and followed that by clawing out a 7-6, nine-inning win over Oakland.

Game 1 – Murray State 2, Rhode Island 0

How It Happened
Murray State used a pair of early inning runs and solid pitching performances from Olivia Suski and Amber Van Duyse to down Rhode Island, 2-0, in its 2018 home opener. Maddy Feeney drove in MSU's first run of the day in the second on a single, after Madison Culver doubled earlier in the inning. In the third, Sierra Gilmore drove in Jensen Striegel with a double after Striegel led off the frame with a single. Suski and Van Duyse did not allow a single hit in the last four innings of the game, allowing MSU to clamp down for the 2-0 win

In The Circle
Suski allowed just three hits over six innings with no runs and a career best seven strikeouts en route to her second win of the year. Meanwhile, Van Duyse earned her second save of the season by retiring the Rams in order in the seventh.

Game 2 – Murray State 7, Oakland 6 (9 Inn.)

How It Happened
For the first time the season, Murray State came back to when a game it was trailing after five complete innings. Down 5-2 after five, Murray State reeled off three runs in the sixth to tie the game at five and force extra innings.

Sierra Gilmore and Brenna Finck led off the inning with a double and a triple, respectively, to bring MSU within two. One batter later, Madison Culver closed the gap further when she scored Finck on a sacrifice fly to right field. After a pinch-hit double later in the inning Logan Braundmeier tied the game at five when she scored on a n error by the Golden Grizzlies.

Both Murray State and Oakland scored in the eighth, only to have MSU hold the Golden Grizzlies scoreless in the ninth to give the Racers a shot at the win. With a runner on second and two outs, Erika Downey won the game for Murray State when she singled to right field to score the game-winning run.

In The Circle
Amber Van Duyse moved to 1-1 on the season after allowing no earned runs on only three hits over the final 3.1 innings of the game. Have Campbell got the start for Murray State and gave up four earned runs on eight hits with four strikeouts and a walk over the first 5.2 innings of the game.

Offensive Highlights
Both Gilmore and Finck were 2-for-3 in the game with a RBI, while Gilmore scored twice and Finck scored once. Lexi Jones picked up her team-high fifth home run of the year in the game, while Madison Culver, despite going 0-for-2, drove in two runs on a RBI-ground out and a sacrifice fly.

Alone At The Top
With her triple in the sixth, Finck took over sole possession of first in Murray State' all-time triples category with nine. The junior also owns the single-season mark for triples that she set last season with six.

OK, What's Next?
Murray State continues play in the Racer Classic tomorrow when it takes on Illinois-Chicago at 2 p.m.