Racers Head to Auburn for Five Games at Tiger Invite

Dates: Feb. 26th (2:30/5 PM), Feb. 27th (9 AM/12 PM), Feb. 28th (11 AM)
Site (Venue): Auburn, Alabama (Jane B. Moore Field)
Live Video: SEC Network+ (Friday vs. Auburn)
Live Audio: Auburn Sports Network (Friday vs. Auburn)
Live Coverage Links: goracers.com/coverage
MSU Record (Streak): 2-7 (Lost 1)
Racers All-Time vs. The Field: 1-5 (0-4 vs. Auburn, 1-1 vs. Jacksonville, 0-0 vs. IUPUI)
Auburn Record (Streak): 5-1 (Lost 1)
Jacksonville Record (Streak): 3-4 (Won 1)
IUPUI Record (Streak): 0-0 (-)
MSU Next Game: March 5^th at UT Martin (DH)
MSU Next Home Game: March 13^th vs. Eastern Kentucky

Murray State softball will travel to Auburn, Alabama for five weekend games at the Tiger Invite in its final tune-up before beginning Ohio Valley Conference competition. The Racers are set to play a Friday doubleheader against Auburn, a Saturday doubleheader against Jacksonville, and a single Sunday contest against IUPUI on the weekend. Friday's doubleheader with Auburn will be streamed live on SEC Network+ while the game can also be heard on Auburn Sports Network.

A Look at the Racers:
The Racers (2-7) managed just one win in five chances last weekend at the Jaguar Classic in Mobile, Alabama, with a 1-0 victory over the host Jaguars serving as the highlight of the trip. The Racers saw a productive weekend at the plate from sophomore Lily Fischer, however, who went 7-14 while reaching base at a .563 clip through the five contests. Sierra Gilmore also hit her second home run of the season, which proved to be the difference in the Racers' 1-0 victory over South Alabama on Saturday.

In the circle, junior Hannah James recorded 28 strikeouts in just 21.2 innings of work, while opposing hitters managed just a .184 average against her on the weekend as she passed Haven Campbell (201) to now own sole possession of the #4 spot on Murray State's all-time strikeout list with 206 in her Racer career.

Fischer enters the weekend batting a team-best .429 on the season with a .478 on-base percentage through eight games played in the new campaign. Despite a 2-3 record, James carries an impressive 1.66 ERA with 36 strikeouts and is holding hitters to a .176 average to lead Murray State in the circle in 2021.

All-Time Series:
Friday's doubleheader against Auburn will mark the fifth and sixth meetings between the two sides, with Auburn holding a 4-0 lead in the all-time series that dates back to 2011. The most recent meeting came in 2016 when the Tigers came out on top in a 10-0 contest at their home in Auburn, Alabama. As for Jacksonville, the Racers and Dolphins have met just twice in their history, with the all-time series split at one game apiece entering the weekend. Both of the prior contests came in 2016, with the Racers earning a 9-1 victory during the most recent competition. Finally, Sunday's single game against IUPUI will mark the first all-time meeting between the Racers and Jaguars.

Scouting Auburn:
The Tigers (5-1) are coming off a 2-1 weekend at the Osprey/Dolphin Invitational in Jacksonville that was highlighted by a 5-4 victory over #19 South Carolina on Saturday. Auburn is batting .288 as a team and is averaging 5.17 runs per contest. The pitching staff has posted a combined 2.10 ERA and has recorded 49 strikeouts through 40 innings on the year.

Individually, Aspyn Godwin is leading the way offensively, batting .500 with three home runs, five extra-base hits, eight RBI, and five runs scored through six games in 2021. Senior Makenna Dowell also enters the weekend on an eight-game hitting streak that dates back to March 10, 2020.

In the circle, Auburn has seen Shelby Lowe and Maddie Penta carry the majority of the work load, as they have posted earned-run averages of 0.75 and 1.47 respectively. Penta has also recorded 22 strikeouts in 19 innings while holding opposing hitters to a .121 average at the dish.

Scouting Jacksonville:
The Dolphins are 3-4 entering the weekend after going 1-3 at their home tournament last time out. The lone win of the weekend came in impressive fashion with a 14-4 thumping of South Florida. Jacksonville is batting .237 as a team in 2021 and are averaging 3.14 runs per game. They are led by redshirt senior Mackenzie Buss, who is hitting .381 with two RBI and a pair of runs scored.

In the circle, the Dolphins carry a 2.55 team ERA and have recorded 47 strikeouts through 46.2 innings on the year. Jacksonville has seen a tremendous start to the season from redshirt senior Alyssa Bilodeau, who has fanned 32 batters to pair with a 1.19 ERA through 29.1 innings thus far. Having issued just six walks to this point, she owns a 5.33 K/BB ratio.

Scouting IUPUI:
For the Jaguars, the Tiger Invite will be their first action of 2021 as they are set for their first competition since March 8, 2020. The Jags will have a different identity this season, as they return just seven players from the 2020 squad that went 5-15 before the shutdown. They feature 10 true freshmen on the roster, and will also have three sisters playing together in junior Jaida Speth, incoming freshman Jasmin Speth, and UIC grad transfer Jennah Speth.

In the circle, Lexi Lucas, a 2019 Horizon League All-Freshman selection, is the only pitcher returning with any significant experience, as she posted a 9.66 ERA through 50.1 innings during the pandemic-shortened season a year ago. The top bat from last season does return to the lineup in Jaida Speth, who turned in a .373 average and was second on the team with nine runs, and 10 RBI in 2020.

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Players Mentioned

Haven Campbell

Lily Fischer

Sierra Gilmore

Hannah James

Murray State University Athletics