Racers Come up Empty on First Day at Jaguar Classic

Friday, February 19

Mobile, Ala.

10:30 AM

Murray State

1-4

Butler

2-4

Murray State

Bulter

Photo by: Dan Hasko - Murray State Athletics

2/19/2021 7:43:00 PM | Softball

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

Drop two hard-fought contests in Mobile, Alabama

Murray State softball opened its second weekend of competition on Friday with two games at the Jaguar Classic. The Racers came up empty on the day, dropping a pair of low-scoring affairs – 4-0 and 4-2 to Butler and South Alabama respectively in Mobile, Alabama.

Game 1 – Butler 4, Murray State 0
With Hannah James earning the start in the circle for the Racers to kick off the Jaguar Classic, the Nicholasville, Kentucky native kept the Bulldogs scoreless until the fifth frame when Butler's Lauren Fey came around to score on a throwing error after stealing third. A Madi Christiansen two-out RBI single later in the inning extended the Butler lead to 2-0 through five innings of action.

The Racers had a chance to answer back in the next half inning, loading the bases after Lexi Jones drew a one-out walk, but Murray State was unable to get on the scoreboard as the Bulldogs maintained their two-run advantage.

Butler tacked on a pair of insurance runs in the sixth courtesy of a Karli Ricketts two-run double to secure a 4-0 victory for the Bulldogs.

Hannah James recorded a season-high eight strikeouts in the complete-game outing in the circle for Murray State.

At the plate, the Racers were paced by Lily Fischer who collected two hits on the day. Alie Kennedy also doubled in the contest.

Game 2 – South Alabama 4, Murray State 2
The Racers would be the first team on the scoreboard in game two of the day, doing so when senior Logan Braundmeier's one-out single scored Sierra Gilmore, while Lindsey Carroll came around to score on a throwing error as Murray State leaped out to a 2-0 lead through the visiting half of the fourth.

The momentum would change with one swing of the bat, however, when the Jaguars took the lead in the fifth by way of a three-run home run from South Alabama's Victoria Ortiz in the fifth.

With a one-run cushion, South Alabama added another in the sixth with an RBI single from Meredith Keel, and the hosts were able to protect their margin to capture a 4-2 victory.

Jenna Veber struck out a season-high six batters without issuing a walk through four and two-thirds innings in the circle for the Racers in the defeat. Kamryn Carcich also collected one strikeout and did not allow an earned run in relief.

At the dish, it would once again be Lily Fischer who turned in an impressive performance for the Racers, collecting a pair of hits in three opportunities.

The Racers will return to action on Saturday at 10:30 a.m. against Lipscomb for the front half of a two-game slate on day two at the Jaguar Classic in Mobile, Alabama.