Racers Clipped Twice By EIU

The Murray State softball team dropped a pair of games to Eastern Illinois Saturday at Racer Field in Murray, Kentucky by identical 5-4 scores with the first game coming in eight innings.

Madison Culver put Murray State on the board first in game one with a double that scored Brenna Finck. Kayla Bear began the third inning with a double and was scored two batters later by Kayla Mitchell to tie the game at one. In the fifth, the Panthers took the lead when Mia Davis scored Maria DeVito, who began the inning with a pinch hit double.

In the sixth, Lillie Goetz tripled and was brought home on a sacrifice fly from Culver to tie the game at two, before Sierra Gilmore gave the Racers a 4-2 lead with a home run later in the inning.

In the top of the seventh, Davis doubled to drive in two runs and tie the game at four, eventually sending it to extra innings. In the eighth, the Panthers loaded the bases with one out, and were able to retire Bear on a fly out to center field and keep all runners at bay. During the next bat, MSU was not so lucky, as the ball tipped off Grace Vaughn's glove and got into the gap with the Racers unable to make a play and EIU taking a 5-4 lead. The Racers were unable to score in the bottom of the eighth and fell 5-4.

Culver and Gilmore each had one hit and two RBIs to lead Murray State at the plate in the opener, while Haven Campbell took the complete game loss by allowing four earned runs on nine hits with four strikeouts and four walks. Vaughn finished the game for the Racers and allowed just one hit over two-thirds of an inning.

In game two, after tying the game in the first on a double from Culver, the Racers then found themselves in a 3-1 hole. In the fourth, Lexi Jones blasted a home run to cut the lead to just one at 3-2. However, in the fifth, Eastern Illinois added two more runs on a single from Mitchell and a fielder's choice from Andrea Roberts to take a 5-2 lead.

In the sixth, Jones struck again for Murray State, this time with a two-run shot that pulled the Racers within one at 5-4. In the bottom of the seventh, MSU loaded the bases on a double from Finck and walks from Macey Hale and Goetz. Despite the opportunity, the Racers were unable convert once again fell 5-4.

Jones led her team in the game by 2-for-3 with two home runs and three RBIs. Vaughn took the loss by giving up six runs on three hits with a walk and strikeout over two innings, while Ellison Barrett finished the game and allowed two runs on four hits with a career-best four strikeouts and walk.

The Racers return to action Sunday at Racer Field with a doubleheader against SIUE at 1 p.m.