Racers Stumble in Midweek Contest Against Hilltoppers

Wednesday, May 1

Bowling Green, Ky.

5 p.m.

Murray State

24-25

Western Kentucky

34-12

Murray St.

WKU

Photo by: Dan Hasko

5/1/2019 10:38:00 PM | Softball

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The Racers paid a visit to Bowling Green, Kentucky to take on the Hilltoppers of Western Kentucky University in a single game on Wednesday evening. Murray State's final non-conference contest of the 2019 season would end in defeat after early scoring from the home side propelled WKU to a 4-1 victory to begin the month of May.

The Hilltoppers would be the first team on the scoreboard when a two-out infield single from Jordan Vorbrink scored a run in the opening frame. In what would have been the third out, Sierra Gilmore came up just short in an extraordinary diving effort to snag a soft line drive as WKU took a 1-0 lead after one inning of play.

Western Kentucky added three more in the following inning when Maddie Bowlds sent a 1-1 offering over the wall in right center with two runners on base to give her side a 4-0 advantage through two innings of action.

The Hilltoppers would carry that lead all the way to the top of the sixth, when Murray State would see their first run of the ballgame cross the plate when Denise Teague drew a bases-loaded walk to bring in Sierra Gilmore. Unfortunately, the Racers were unable to push across any additional runs as they would still be chasing three through the visiting half of the sixth.

In a game that saw just 10 combined hits, the contest would not see another run as the Racers fell to the Hilltoppers by a final score of 4-1.

Hannah James turned in 4.2 impressive innings in the circle, allowing just one hit while striking out a pair and not surrendering an earned run in her relief appearance for the Racers.

At the plate, Lillie Goetz (1-3, 2B, BB) would reach safely twice for Murray State and be responsible for the lone Racer extra-base hit of the ballgame.

The Racers will be back in action on Saturday as they travel to Edwardsville, Illinois to take on the Cougars of Southern Illinois University Edwardsville. Saturday's Ohio Valley Conference doubleheader will mark the end of the regular season schedule for the Racers, who have already clinched a spot in this year's OVC Tournament in Oxford, Alabama the following week.