Racers Ready for Next Task, Will Play Four in Montgomery

Dates: Feb. 21 (12 PM), Feb. 22 (1 & 7 PM), Feb. 23 (11 AM)
Site (Venue): Montgomery, Ala. (Barbara Williams Softball Complex)
Live Video: None
Live Audio: mixlr.com/msuracers (Friday & Sunday)
Live Stats: http://bit.ly/2ubw2Cg
MSU Record (Streak): 7-2 (Won 5)
Racers All-Time vs. The Field: 0-2 (0-2 vs. North Alabama, 0-0 vs. Grambling State & Howard)
Howard Record (Streak): 1-9 (Lost 1)
North Alabama Record (Streak): 5-4 (Lost 4)
Grambling State Record (Streak): 1-8 (Lost 2)
MSU Next Game: Feb. 28 at Coach B Classic (Carbondale, Ill.)
MSU Next Home Game: March 13-15 (Racer Classic)

Montgomery, Alabama will be the next stop for Murray State softball as the Racers have four games on the schedule at the Stinger Classic. At 7-2 overall, the Racers enter the tournament as winners of five straight as they roll into their third weekend of competition.

Last Time Out:
The Racers won all four in Natchitoches, Louisiana at the Lady Demon Classic in their last time out, winning a pair of contests against both Northwestern State and Arkansas-Pine Bluff. Murray State put on a dazzling display of power, posting a .476 slugging percentage with 12 extra-base hits that included four home runs. As a team, the Racers also reached base at a .391 clip while outscoring their opponents 22-3.

Individually, Lexi Jones and Sierra Gilmore led the charge – each launching two round-trippers while batting .333 on the weekend. They combined to drive in seven runs and score six more, while Gilmore and Jones posted slugging percentages of 1.000 and .833 respectively.

Stellar outings in the circle also played a key part in the victories, as Racer pitchers carried just a 0.52 ERA through the four games while opposing hitters were limited to a .163 average. Additionally, the pitching staff issued just three walks over 27 innings while striking out 16.

Jenna Veber, Hannah James, and Taylor Makowsky all earned wins in Natchitoches, while Ellison Barrett picked up the save in the final game of the weekend. James and Veber each tossed complete-game shutouts, while Veber allowed just a single hit over seven innings in her start against Northwestern State on Saturday.

Entering the Weekend:
As winners of five straight and seven of nine to begin the 2020 campaign, the Racers are clicking on all cylinders as they roll into Montgomery. Batting .279, Murray State has scored an average of 4.89 runs per game, while outscoring their opponents 44-21 on the year. Slugging .457 courtesy of 27 extra-base hits, while reaching base at a .393 clip as a team, the Racer offense has looked sharp through nine competitions in 2020. A disciplined approach at the plate has translated to 43 walks taken by Racer batters – tied for ninth in the nation.

Individually, the Racers are fueled by Sierra Gilmore and Logan Braundmeier who enter the weekend hitting .429 and .400 respectively. Gilmore, a junior from Williamsburg, Indiana, also leads the team in RBI (11), runs scored (7), home runs (4), doubles (4), and slugging percentage (1.000). Braundmeier, an Aviston, Illinois native, has posted a team-best .545 on-base percentage with five runs scored and a pair of stolen bases on the year.

In the circle, Murray State carries a 1.78 ERA, which ranks 37^th in the nation, while limiting hitters to a .197 average through 63 innings. With 41 strikeouts to just 17 walks, Racer pitchers own a 2.41 strikeout-to-walk ratio.

Individually, Hannah James (3-1, 1.22 ERA), Jenna Veber (1-1, 1.54 ERA), and Taylor Makowsky (3-0, 3.17 ERA) have each made five appearances in 2020. James, a sophomore from Nicholasville, Kentucky, leads the way with 21 strikeouts and three complete-game shutouts over a team-high 28.2 innings of work.

All-Time Series:
Of the three opponents on the schedule this weekend, the Racers will clash with two of them for the first time. Murray State has never seen Howard or Grambling State, but has played a pair of contests against the Lions of North Alabama. The series is young, featuring just two games played just last season in UNA's first year competing as an NCAA D-I program. The Racers came up short in both contests by the slimmest of margins – a 3-2 nine-inning thriller at the Tiger Classic in Memphis, and a 5-4 ballgame at Racer Field.

Scouting Howard:
The Bison have had a slow start to 2020 as they enter the weekend with a 1-9 record through their first ten, but did earn their first victory of the year against Mount St. Mary's at the Campbell Invitational in Buies Creek, South Carolina last weekend. They were selected to finish fourth in this year's MEAC Preseason Poll, after a 2019 season that saw them post a 19-29 overall record with an 8-7 mark against conference opponents. As a team, Howard is batting .228 and averaging 3.3 runs per game, led by Camille Navarro (.387,10 R, 6 SB) and Kalita Dennis (.382, 8 RBI, 6 R). Dennis, the reigning MEAC Rookie of the Year, was also named to USA Softball's Collegiate Player of the Year Watch List after she batted .411 with 42 runs scored in her freshman campaign. In the circle, the Bison have struggled a bit – posting an ERA of 6.64 while allowing opponents to hit .366. The Racers will likely see Sydney Hixenbaugh (0-4, 6.33 ERA) who has tossed a team-high 27.2 innings thus far.

Scouting North Alabama:
The Lions are 5-4 overall, but enter the weekend on a four-game losing streak after going 1-4 at the Mississippi State Bulldog Kickoff classic last week in Starkville, Mississippi. Their five wins actually come against just two opponents – three victories over Tennessee State, and two over Alcorn State. The Lions were picked to finish fourth in this year's ASUN Preseason Poll, after a 2019 season that saw them go 26-20 with a 10-10 mark against conference opponents in their first year competing at the NCAA Division-I level. This season, UNA is batting .265, with a pair of home runs through nine games. They are reaching base at a .338 clip, and have outscored opponents 40-22 on the year. 2019 ASUN All-Freshman selection Lexie Harper (.423, 6 RBI, 4 R, 7-7 SB) has been the leader offensively for the Lions in the 2020 campaign.

In the circle, the Lions are posting a 2.02 team ERA with 63 strikeouts through 52 innings. They have also held opponents to a .220 average in 2020. The UNA pitching staff features the 2019 ASUN Pitcher of the Year in Megan Garst, who has picked off right where she left off a year ago with a 1.03 ERA and 28 strikeouts over 20.1 innings in the new campaign.

Scouting Grambling State:
The Lady Tigers carry a 1-8 record into Montgomery, but did pick up their first win of 2020 last weekend at the UIW Cardinal Invitational with a 2-0 victory over Cleveland State in San Antonio, Texas. Grambling State was selected to finish third in the Western Division of their conference according to this year's Southwestern Athletic Conference Preseason Poll after a 2019 season where they went 16-23 with a 4-12 mark in conference competition. This year, the Lady Tigers are hitting .215 while averaging 2.67 runs per contest. They are led by Anaiyah Fultz (.308, 5 R, 2 RBI), who is enjoying a solid start to her sophomore season.

In the circle, Grambling State carries an ERA of 5.12 in 2020, with Payton Shells (3.35 ERA, 10 K) having worked a team-high 23 innings entering the weekend.

Weather Forecast:
Friday is calling for a sunny high of 51 in Montgomery, but strong winds are expected at 11 miles per hour to the north/northeast. Chance of precipitation: 0%. Saturday is a bit warmer, with temperatures predicted in the mid-50s to accompany sunny skies and a slight breeze to the north/northeast - chance of precipitation: 10%. Finally, Sunday will feature a cloudy 60 degrees with winds around four miles per hour blowing to the east. Chance of rain: 10%

Racers Ready for Next Task, Will Play Four in Montgomery

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Players Mentioned

Ellison Barrett

Logan Braundmeier

Sierra Gilmore

Hannah James

Lexi Jones

Taylor Makowsky

Jenna Veber

Murray State University Athletics