Racers Blanked by Jacksonville on Day Two at Tiger Invite

Saturday, February 27

Auburn, Ala.

9 A.M.

Murray State

2-10

Jacksonville

6-5

Murray State

Jacksonville

Photo by: Dan Hasko - Murray State Athletics

Racers Blanked by Jacksonville on Day Two at Tiger Invite

2/27/2021 2:55:00 PM | Softball

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

Murray State finds itself on wrong end of a pair of pitchers' duels on Saturday

Murray State softball would clash with Jacksonville for a pair of contests in Auburn, Alabama on Saturday. The Racers were held scoreless in the doubleheader, dropping both games to the Dolphins by scores of 2-0 and 1-0 respectively on day two of the Tiger Invite.

Game 1 – Jacksonville 2, Murray State 0
Jenna Veber tossed three scoreless innings in the circle for the Racers to open the contest as the sophomore from Oswego, Illinois earned the start in game one of the day.

Lily Fischer was hit by a pitch and Sierra Gilmore drew a walk to lead off the fourth for Murray State, while an ensuing sacrifice bunt from Lindsey Carroll moved the runners to second and third with just one out to give the Racers a golden chance to plate the first run of the day. Jacksonville's Alyssa Bilodeau escaped the frame without any damage, however, as she set the next two Racer batters down on strikes to keep the game scoreless through the visiting half of the fourth.

The Dolphins would make Murray State pay for not capitalizing on the opportunity, as Jacksonville opened the scoring in the bottom half when a ground ball off the bat of Madison Kennedy drove in the game's first run.

The 1-0 score line remained unchanged until the sixth, when Kennedy was responsible for a Jacksonville insurance run with a one-out RBI double to right center to give the Dolphins a 2-0 advantage through six.

The final nine Racer batters of the competition were retired in order, as Jacksonville earned a 2-0 triumph in game one.

Lily Fischer's first-inning double would be the only hit of the ballgame for Murray State.

In addition to the three scoreless innings from Veber, the Racers got an inning from Taylor Makowsky and two more from Hannah James with both giving up a single run on three hits apiece in the contest.

Game 2 – Jacksonville 1, Murray State 0
Game two would be a similar story as the Racer pitching staff held the Dolphins to just two hits, but the offense fell short as Jacksonville squeaked out a 1-0 victory to complete the doubleheader sweep.

Hannah James dealt four scoreless innings, striking out five while allowing just one hit in her appearance in the circle for the Racers.

The lone run of the contest came in the bottom of the fifth when Madison Kennedy capped a productive day at the plate with a one-out solo home run to left field.

The Racers would have runners on second and third with just one out in the sixth, and then load the bases with two outs later in the frame, but Murray State could not push across the game-tying run.

Lexi Jones (2-2) would collect the only MSU hits of the ballgame.

The Racers will be back in action to close out the Tiger Invite on Sunday with a single game against IUPUI in their final tune-up before OVC competition. First pitch is slated for 11:00 a.m.