Racers Set to Rock 'n' Roll in Memphis

Dates: March 15-17
Site (Venue): Memphis, Tennessee (Tiger Softball Complex)
Audio Stream: For games against Memphis: https://bit.ly/2CljPfc
Live Stats: https://bit.ly/2NAKbOG
Tournament Home Page: https://bit.ly/2u6jOY7
MSU Record (Streak): 9-11 (Won 3)
Racers All-Time vs. The Field: 4-6 (4-6 vs. Memphis)
Texas Tech Record (Streak): 24-1 (Won 11)
Memphis Record (Streak): 12-10 (Lost 1)
North Alabama Record (Streak): 11-6 (Won 1)
MSU Next Games: March 22 at Eastern Illinois
MSU Next Home: March 27 vs. Memphis

The Racers travel to Memphis, Tennessee on Friday as they are slated for five games at the Tiger Classic, hosted by the University of Memphis. During their stay in the "Birthplace of Rock 'n' Roll," Murray State is set to take on North Alabama, Maine, and Texas Tech, in addition to a pair of match-ups with the host Tigers.

Last Time Out:
The Racers enter the weekend on a three-game winning streak after taking three of four as hosts of the Racer Classic in Murray, Kentucky. After falling to Northern Iowa in extra innings to open the weekend, Murray State rattled off three straight wins to conclude the tournament. They defeated the Mastodons of Purdue Fort Wayne, while also earning a pair of victories against the Samford Bulldogs.

The Racers turned in a .301 average through their four games on the weekend, averaging 4.5 runs per contest at their home tournament. Murray State also displayed their discipline at the dish, drawing 17 walks on the weekend, translating to a .421 on-base percentage through the two days of competition.

Defensively, Murray State held their opponents to just three runs per game, while allowing just two scores through the final three games of the tournament. Opposing hitters managed a feeble .217 average against Murray State pitching, while Racer arms recorded 26 strikeouts through 30 innings of work.

Superb pitching highlighted the first weekend of home action for the Racers, as the team carried a 1.40 ERA through their four competitions. Free passes were also few and far between, as Murray State issued just seven walks, while posting a 3.71 K/BB ratio in the 30 innings of tournament action.

Individually, the Racers were guided by Lillie Goetz, who hit .500 with three doubles and a home run, while turning in a remarkable .667 on-base percentage. Murray State also saw great production from Sierra Gilmore, whose .429 average and pair of round-trippers were instrumental in the trio of Racer victories.

In the circle, Taylor Makowsky made her season debut in style as she earned her first two wins in a Racer uniform. Tossing complete games in the win over Samford on Sunday and the triumph over Purdue Fort Wayne on Monday, she recorded 16 strikeouts without surrendering an earned run through her 14 innings at the Racer Classic. She consistently deceived opposing batters, holding them to a .180 average, while posting a 4.0 K/BB ratio in her first appearances of 2019.

Entering the Weekend:
The Racers enter the weekend at 9-11 overall, riding a three-game win streak after their aforementioned wins at the Racer Classic. They have fared well offensively in 2019, ranking in the top third of NCAA Division-I programs in batting average at .287. Additionally, their 4.85 runs per game also ranks in the top third of the nation, making the Racers a dominant force at the plate.

Brenna Finck continues to produce consistent numbers for the Racers, batting .369 with six stolen bases and a team-high 16 runs scored. Driving in those runs, Lillie Goetz leads Murray State with 20 RBIs and eight extra-base hits on the year. Finally, the Racers have seen the power of Madison Culver on display at the dish, as she leads the team with four home runs to go along with 17 runs batted in thus far in 2019.

Scouting #13 Texas Tech:
Texas Tech enters the tournament in Memphis as winners of 11 straight after taking all five games as hosts of the Jeannine McHaney Memorial Classic in Lubbock, Texas. The Red Raiders, who compete as a member of the Big 12 Conference, roll into the weekend ranked at #13 in the USA Today/NFCA Coaches poll with just a single blemish on an otherwise undefeated 2019 season through 25 games played. A testament to their offensive firepower, Texas Tech enters the weekend with top-10 nationwide designations in several statistical categories. Their .363 average is fourth in the country, while a .448 on-base percentage and .593 slugging percentage are good for fifth and sixth in the nation respectively. Finally, their 7.48 runs per contest speak to their offensive efficiency and ability to score runs against quality competition.

At the plate, the Red Raiders are led by the duo of Jessica Hartwell and Karli Hamilton. Hartwell has turned in a team-best .437 average while blasting six home runs on the year, while driving in a team-high 26 RBIs. Hamilton, who enters the weekend with a .434 average and a team-high 30 runs scored, leads the nation with six triples on the season.

In the circle, Texas Tech has been powered by Missy Zoch (8-0, 1.29 ERA, 54.1 IP) and Erin Edmoundson (12-1, 1.81 ERA, 73.1 IP) who have combined for 20 of the 24 Red Raider wins. Texas Tech carries a team ERA of just 1.91, and have held hitters to a .195 average in 2019.
The Racers are set to clash with Texas Tech for the first time in program history this weekend in Memphis, Tennessee.

Scouting Memphis:
Memphis enters the weekend as winners of seven of their last eight after dropping a midweek contest to Ole Miss on Wednesday. The Tigers, who compete as a member of the American Athletic Conference, have shown their speed on the base paths, averaging 1.57 stolen bases per game while ranking 15^th in the country with 0.38 triples per contest.

The Racers and Tigers have met 10 times prior to this weekend, with Memphis holding the all-time series six game to four. The last meeting came just last year, when the Tigers defeated the Racers 5-4 at their home in Memphis, Tennessee.

Individually, the Tigers are led by Baylee Smith, whose .393 average, .821 slugging percentage, 19 RBIs and four home runs are all team-highs. She fuels an offense that is hitting .260 and averaging 3.82 runs per contest through their 22 games played thus far.

Pitching for the Tigers, Memphis has relied on Mariah Nichols, who carries a 2.87 ERA through 63.1 innings of work on the season. She has recorded 40 strikeouts, but has also issued 37 walks as batters have hit a mediocre .241 against her pitching in 2019. The Tigers carry a 3.01 team ERA through 144 innings of action entering the tournament this weekend.

Scouting North Alabama:
North Alabama approaches the tournament after splitting a pair of contests with Austin Peay on Sunday. The Lions of North Alabama are competing as a member of the Atlantic Sun Conference for the first time in 2019, after making the transition from NCAA Division-II as a former member of the Gulf South Conference.

UNA enters the weekend batting .288 with nine home runs through their 17 games in 2019. They have been efficient on the bases, swiping 16 bags in 17 attempts while averaging 4.65 runs per competition.

The Lions are guided by Veronica Westfall, who is batting .420 on the season, leading the team in that category while also turning in a team-best .423 on-base percentage. Generating the power in the UNA lineup, Harley Stokes has launched five of the team's nine home runs while slugging a team-high .660 through 50 at-bats in 2019.

In the circle, the Lions are led by Megan Garst, who carries a minuscule 0.89 ERA through 47 innings of action on the year. Her 5-2 record goes accompanies 67 strikeouts, while hitters continue to struggle against her – hitting just .132 at the plate. UNA carries a team ERA of 2.40, while recording 116 strikeouts in 111 innings of work in 2019.

Scouting Maine:
The Black Bears will arrive in Memphis on a four-game skid after a trio of defeats in Lawrence, Kansas over the weekend. The losses came against the University of Missouri-Kansas City, Southeast Missouri State, and the Kansas Jayhawks. Maine, a member of the America East Conference, averages 3.08 runs per contest in 2019, batting .260 to accompany four home runs on the year.

At the plate, the Black Bears have seen good production from Laurine German, who leads the team with a .394 average through her 33 at-bats on the season. She is slugging a team-best .667, and has recorded five extra-base hits on the year. Additionally, Brianna Neely's seven stolen base attempts for the Black Bears translate to a 0.78 average per game, which is good for 11^th in the nation.

In the circle, the workload has been split almost equally between four different pitchers, but the Racers could expect to see Lilly Volk, who carries a 3.37 ERA with a 2-3 record on the year. She has recorded just two strikeouts in 2019, while also issuing nine walks to opposing hitters. Teams have seen some success at the plate against her to this point, as they are posting a .333 average while she is dealing for the Black Bears.

Scheduled to play against each other on Sunday of the Tiger Classic, this weekend will mark the first all-time meeting between Maine and the Murray State Racers.

Weather Forecast:
Sunny skies should accompany mild temperatures as the Racers travel to Memphis this weekend. With no precipitation in the forecast, Friday is a high of 52, while Saturday is a high of 55 degrees. Sunday will cap off a lovely weekend with temperatures expected to reach 60, with sunshine predicted for most of the day. Temperatures will be a bit chilly in the overnight hours, dipping into the low 40s/upper 30s, with winds to the north between 8 and 12 miles per hour for most of the weekend.

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Players Mentioned

Madison Culver

Brenna Finck

Sierra Gilmore

Lillie Goetz

Taylor Makowsky

Murray State University Athletics