Racers Roll in Edwardsville - Take Both Ends of Saturday Doubleheader

Saturday, March 20

Edwardsville, Ill.

1 P.M.

Murray State

8-14, 5-2

SIUE

2-10, 2-5

Murray St.

SIUE

Photo by: Piper Cassetto

Racers Roll in Edwardsville - Take Both Ends of Saturday Doubleheader

3/20/2021 10:45:00 PM | Softball

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

MSU secures third OVC series win with pair of victories over SIUE

Murray State softball traveled to SIUE for a Saturday doubleheader to kick off a three-game weekend series against the Cougars. The Racers secured their third-straight OVC series as they took both games on the day, earning a 3-2 win in the first followed by a 7-1 triumph in the second.

Game 1 – Murray State 3, SIUE 2

If there was ever a textbook definition of a pitchers' duel, the first three innings of Saturday's first contest would be just that as the game's first 18 batters were retired in order to open the ballgame.

It would be the Cougars who opened the scoring when they did so in the bottom of the fourth courtesy of a Lexi King RBI double that gave them a 1-0 advantage through one complete.

The Racers got an opportunity to answer right in the top of the fifth when they loaded the bases with just one out, but Alie Kennedy was thrown out at home on an infield ground ball for the second out before an ensuing ground out kept the Racers off the board in their half of the frame.

The score would remain unchanged until the top of the seventh when the old saying "everything after two" rang true for the Racers. Still trailing by a single score and down to their final out, Chloe Jacque singled and then stole second to put the tying run in scoring position for Murray State. Logan Braundmeier drove in Jacque to level the game with a base hit, but the Racers weren't satisfied with a tie ballgame as a Jensen Striegel walk followed by a Lily Fischer two-run double to right center gave the Racers their first lead of the afternoon – a 3-1 advantage through the top half of the final inning.

The Cougars got one back in the home half, and had the tying run at second, but Jenna Veber closed the door on the comeback effort as the Racers earned a 3-2 victory to open the series.

Hannah James got the start in the circle and tossed 3.1 innings, surrendering just one earned run while striking out a pair. Veber got the win, going 3.2 innings in relief with a single earned run and two strikeouts of her own without issuing a single walk in the outing.

Braundmeier, Striegel and Fischer were responsible for the three Racer hits offensively, while Striegel also stole a base in the contest.

Game 2 – Murray State 7, SIUE 1

The Cougars got on the board in the first inning, but the Racers answered right back in the second when a ground ball off the bat of Kamryn Carcich scored Sierra Gilmore to tie the game at 1-1.

Murray State kept the momentum going in the third when Chloe Jacque came around to score on a throwing error as the Racers captured a 2-1 advantage through the end of three.

Once the Racers had the lead, they wouldn't look back – adding to their tally in the fifth when Logan Braundmeier led off the Racer half with her third home run of the season – a solo shot to left center as she extended the MSU lead to 3-1.

The Racers put it away for good when they tacked on four more runs on five hits in the seventh, beginning with a Logan Braundmeier RBI double to left center that scored Alie Kennedy. A Lily Fischer two-run triple followed by a Sierra Gilmore run-scoring single widened the margin to 7-1 as the Racers prevailed in comfortable fashion in the second game of the day.

Taylor Makowsky improved to 3-1 in the circle on the year as the fifth-year senior struck out four while allowing just one earned run through five innings of work. Veber then earned her third save of the campaign, tossing two shutout innings while surrendering just one hit in relief.

The Racers collected 10 hits in the win, with Logan Braundmeier leading the way with three hits that included a double and a home run as the senior from Aviston, Illinois collected two RBI, two runs, and a stolen base. Sierra Gilmore (2-4, RBI, R) and Chloe Jacque (2-3, R) also posted multi-hit performances on the day.

The Racers return to action on Sunday when they go for the series sweep to wrap up the weekend against with the Cougars. First pitch is set for 1:00 p.m.