Racers Drop Two on Opening Day

Saturday, February 13

Hattiesburg, Miss.

2:30 P.M.

Murray State

0-1

Southern Illinois

1-0

Murray State

SIU

Photo by: Dan Hasko - Murray State Athletics

2/13/2021 10:29:00 PM | Softball

Box Score 1 Box Score 2 PDF Box Score (Game 1)PDF Box Score (Game 2)Photo Gallery Photo Gallery 2

Racer bats struggle in season's first action

Murray State softball returned to competitive action for the first time in 342 days with two games at the Black and Gold Invitational in Hattiesburg, Mississippi on Saturday. While the pitching staff gave the Racers a chance until the end in both contests, Murray State came up just short – falling to Southern Illinois and Southern Mississippi by scores of 3-1 and 2-1 respectively.

Game 1 – Southern Illinois 3, Murray State 1
With Hannah James getting the start in the circle for the Racers in the season opener, the junior from Nicholasville, Kentucky held the opposition scoreless until the fifth when the Salukis put up the first runs via a fielding error and a Jenny Jansen RBI double that gave SIU a 2-0 advantage.

The Racers would answer back in the sixth when Taylor Jackson drove in Jensen Striegel with a pinch-hit RBI single to center field in the freshman's first plate appearance of her college career.

Murray State would then have runners on the corners with two outs in the frame, but was unable to push across the game-tying run as SIU held a 2-1 lead heading to the home half.

With two outs in the bottom of the sixth, a fielding error would once again prove costly for the Racers as SIU's Maddy Vermejan drove in Elizabeth Warwick in the next at-bat to give the Salukis a 3-1 edge.

The Racers did get a runner aboard in the seventh, but that would be the extent of the comeback effort as they fell to Southern Illinois in the season opener.

Aside from Jackson's RBI single, Jensen Striegel collected a pair of hits to lead the Racers offensively. Sierra Gilmore also reached base twice, drawing a pair of walks in the contest.

Hannah James went the distance in the circle, allowing just one earned run while striking out four in the complete-game effort.

Game 2 – Southern Miss 2, Murray State 1
The host Golden Eagles of Southern Miss would open the scoring in the second, posting a single run after a two-out fielding error extended the inning and allowed the home team to take a 1-0 lead.

With Jenna Veber establishing a rhythm in the circle for the Racers, the score would remain unchanged until the fourth when Columbia Holeman crossed the plate for the Golden Eagles to extend their lead to 2-0 through four innings of action.

The Racers loaded the bases with one out in the top of the fifth, but they could not cut into the Southern Miss lead as the score line remained firm through five complete.

After a pair of leadoff walks from Lindsey Carroll and Lexi Jones in the sixth, the Racers would plate their first run of the ballgame on a single to right field from sophomore Tyler Shemwell. Murray State would strand a pair in the inning, however, as the Golden Eagles still held a 2-1 lead through the sixth.

With the Racers down to their last three outs, they were unable to produce a run in the final frame – falling to the hosts 2-1 in the night cap.

Logan Braundmeier, Jensen Striegel, Sierra Gilmore, Tyler Shemwell, and freshman Bryce Adkinson each had a hit for the Racers.

Veber allowed just one earned run in her complete-game performance in the circle, striking out four and not walking a single batter in the outing.

The Racers will return to action on Sunday for two more contests at the Black and Gold Invitational, beginning with a 9:00 a.m. meeting with North Dakota followed by a rematch with Southern Illinois.