Racer Softball's Jones Has Unfinished Business

For Lexi Jones and the Murray State softball team, there is a sense that there is a great deal of unfinished business after the 2020 season was cut short due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The Racers were 12-10 after opening the season with one of the more difficult schedules in the program's history that featured contests against #6 Oklahoma #14 Oklahoma State. Additionally, the Racers played all 22 contests on the road with the Ohio Valley Conference decision to postpone all athletic activities coming less than 24 hours before they were supposed to make their home debut at the Racer Classic in Murray, Kentucky.
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Coming off a solid start to the abbreviated 2020 campaign and knowing that most of the roster returned from a year ago, Jones says the team morale is higher than ever. "Having a majority of the team back for the 2021 season, we know what we are capable of - especially after our hot start last year. We have a ton of new talent this year, which makes things even more exciting, because we know how much better we can be with the new additions," said Jones.

The Racers welcome eight new additions to the squad for the 2021 season, and the strong class of newcomers is a huge spark to the already-talented roster.

Getting the opportunity at a fifth year, after the NCAA granted an extra year of eligibility to make up for the lost season, means that Jones is the true Racer veteran in the locker room as the only player on the roster to have already experienced four years in a Racer uniform. Jones has used this unique situation to further develop her leadership skills, and has found a tremendous opportunity to guide the plethora of young talent on this year's team. "It is hard to explain how different this year feels compared to last year. Technically I am still a "senior," but my headspace is completely different than last year. After our season got cut short and thinking that my career was over, I kept questioning if I took all those opportunities for granted. Being gifted this fifth year, I promised myself that I was going to make the most of every moment, because you never know when it will be your last. From a leadership perspective, I think I have done more of the emotional and mental leadership by trying to help the younger girls realize this amazing opportunity we have and to make the most of it. I've been through it all here, so I like to think that girls look up to me for guidance in that regard," she explained.

Jones, who graduated with her bachelor's degree in advertising in the spring of 2020, is now pursuing her master's in Mass Communications.

With four years of traditional student-athlete experience, this year will look a bit different for Jones. "Before the pandemic, I was already accepted into the Mass Communications graduate program here at Murray State. The program is 100% online, so I had planned on going home to Maryland to complete school. After COVID and getting this fifth year opportunity, I am still doing the program, but now I get to do it here in Murray!"

On an individual level, Jones was on pace to have her best season in a Racer uniform before the 2020 campaign was cut short. Batting .290 with six home runs through 21 games, Jones was also tied for eighth in the OVC with 20 RBI. Additionally, she became the first Racer softball player to record four career grand slams after bases-clearing blasts against both Grambling State and Creighton a year ago. "After last season, I see the potential for how much I can contribute to my team this year. I want the 2021 season to be a continuation of last year. With having such a long time off, it is really important that I work even harder this fall to get back to where I was."

Finally, Jones says that her journey as a student-athlete has prepared her to overcome the obstacles that the pandemic has created. "I think the biggest takeaway from being a student-athlete is that you have to make sacrifices and do what is best for the greater good. Things aren't always easy, but you have to keep moving to make the best out of every situation you are given. I think that can apply to the challenges we are currently facing, because it is a lot of unknown right now. We have to just focus on the task at hand currently. If we make the sacrifices now and work towards a common goal as a team, and even as an athletic department, I think we will end up where we need to be."

Murray State University Athletics

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