Late Surge Downs Racers Against Wolfpack

Monday, February 25

Raleigh, NC

10 a.m.

Murray State

4-9

NC State

6-6

Murray St.

NC State

Photo by: Dave Winder-Murray State Athletics

2/25/2019 4:46:00 PM | Softball

Box Score

The Racers fell to NC State to close out the Fairfield Inn & Suites Crabtree Invitational in Raleigh, North Carolina on Monday morning. Behind three home runs from Brigette Nordberg, the Wolfpack put on a commanding offensive display on their way to a 10-1 win over the Racers.

Murray State manufactured their first run of the game in the opening frame after a sacrifice fly from Madison Culver scored Brenna Finck, who drew a leadoff walk to open the ballgame. Carrying a 1-0 lead into the home half, the Wolfpack would retaliate with two runs of their own when Brigette Nordberg crushed a two run round-tripper to right, giving her side a 2-1 lead through the end of the first.

After a scoreless second inning from both sides, the Racers had a promising opportunity after loading the bases in the visiting half of the third. Attempting to erase the deficit, the Racers were unable to push across a run - stranding three to end the inning.

After a leadoff walk to start the home half for NC State, Nordberg stepped to the plate and sent another two run shot to left center for her second long ball of the competition. With no further damage to the scoreboard, the Wolfpack would hold a 4-1 lead through the end of three complete.

Unable to get the offense going in the next half, the Racers found themselves in a difficult position defensively when NC State put runners on first and second with nobody out in the bottom of the fourth. Grace Vaughn came on to pitch for the Racers, inheriting both baserunners, but would work out of the predicament without surrendering a run - keeping the score within reach at 4-1 through four innings of play.

Moving to the home half of the fifth, the first three Wolfpack batters would reach safely to load the bases with nobody out. After a sacrifice fly from Kelli Wagner scored one, Natalie Jones would blow the game open with the third Wolfpack home run of the day - a three run blast to left field. Finally, NC State would finish off the game in style when Nordberg launched her third home run of the ballgame, a two run rocket to arrive at a final score of 10-1 in favor of the Wolfpack.

Madison Culver (1-2, RBI) drove in the Racer run, while Jensen Striegel, Sierra Gilmore, and Denise Teague also recorded a hit in the ballgame.

The Racers return to action this coming weekend at the Coach B Classic, hosted by the Salukis of Southern Illinois.