Racers Walk-Off With Split Against EKU

Friday, April 26

Racer Field

3 p.m.

Murray State

21-24, 0

Eastern Kentucky

27-16, 0

Eastern Ky.

Murray St.

4/26/2019 9:22:00 PM | Softball

Box Score 1 Box Score 2 GAME 1 BOX SCORE (PDF)GAME 2 BOX SCORE (PDF)SEASON STATS (PDF)

Senior Lexi Jones capped a four-run seventh inning rally with a single turned error that allowed the Murray State softball team to walk-off with a 7-6 win in game two of an OVC doubleheader against Eastern Kentucky Friday at Racer Field in Murray, Kentucky. The Colonels, however, did get the better of the Racers in game one of the twin bill by a score of 5-1.

In the opener, the Racers (22-24, 12-6 OVC) scored first when Lindsey Carroll scored Lillie Goetz on an RBI single, after Goetz led off the game with what would be her first of three walks on the day. Murray State held the narrow 1-0 lead until the third inning, when EKU's bats came alive. Over the last five innings of the game, the Colonels (27-17, 13-5 OVC) scored five runs on nine hits to secure the 5-1 win.

Much of MSU's troubles in the game came at the plate, as they mustered just four hits, while being struck out nine times by EKU pitchers. Hannah James (11-11) took the loss in the circle for the Racers after allowing five runs on 11 hits with no walks, but only two strikeouts over 5.2 innings of work.

In game two, the Racers were hot right out of the gates, scoring three runs in the first three innings, while Taylor Makowsky retired the first nine Colonels she faced in the contest. However, EKU's Hannah Clark cut Murray State's lead to just one in the fourth with a home run, before tying it in the sixth with a sacrifice fly.

In the seventh, the Colonels surged ahead when Erica Bowers scored two on her first home run of the season after a leadoff single by Carley Robinson. Later in the inning, Sammi Miller extended EKU's lead to 6-3 with a sacrifice fly of her own.

After Carroll started the inning with a single, she was replaced on the base paths on a fielder's choice from Brenna Finck. Finck, though, was not alone on the bases for long as Culver drew a walk to give the Racers two runners with just one out.

With momentum going their way, Logan Braundmeier trimmed EKU's lead to two with a double down the right field line that scored Finck from second. Braundemeier then found her way to third in the next at bat on a wild pitch that also scored Culver to pull the Racers within one at 6-5.

Denise Teague was next for Murray State and found her way to first on a fielder's choice that did not result in an out by EKU. With the go-ahead run at first, Lexi Jones sent a ball to left field that was misplayed by the Colonel outfielder to not only allow Braundmeier to score from third for the tie, but also Teague to score from first for the 7-6 win.

Jensen Striegel was 3-for-4 in the game to lead Murray State, while Finck was 2-for-4 with two runs and a RBI and Braundmeier was also 2-for-4, with a run and a RBI of her own. Amber Van Duyse (2-2) was lights out for the Racers in the final inning as she allowed no runs on no hits with no walks to earn her second win of the season.

Murray State returns to Racer Field for the final time this season Sunday, when it hosts Morehead State for a senior day doubleheader beginning at 1 p.m.