Murray State University Athletics
Murray State
Austin Peay
Racers Set to Host Austin Peay in Midweek Battle of the Border Doubleheader
3/23/2021 10:52:00 PM | Softball
MSU looks to stay hot in OVC play after winning all three of their conference series entering Wednesday
Date: March 24, 2021 – 2 PM / 4 PM
Site (Venue): Murray, Ky. (Racer Field)
Live Video: ESPN+
Live Stats: goracers.com/coverage
MSU Record (Streak): 10-14, 7-2 OVC (Won 3)
Racers All-Time vs. Austin Peay: 19-10
Austin Peay Record (Streak): 10-6, 5-4 OVC
MSU Next Game: March 26th vs. Tennessee State
MSU Next Home Game: Same
Murray State softball returns to Racer Field to host Austin Peay in a midweek Battle of the Border rivalry doubleheader on Wednesday afternoon. The pair of OVC contests will be the front half of four games against the Governors this season due to the league's new schedule format for the 2021 campaign. Both of Wednesday's competitions will be streamed on ESPN+ with live stats available on goracers.com.
All-Time Series:
The Racers and Governors have clashed 29 times prior to Wednesday's doubleheader with Murray State owning a commanding 19-10 advantage in the all-time series. Austin Peay has gotten the best of the Racers as of late, however, taking four of five meetings since 2018.
A Look at the Racers:
The Racers (10-14, 7-2 OVC) have won all three of their conference series in 2021 after sweeping SIUE over the weekend. The Racers have outscored opponents 50-29 over nine conference contests, while their 20 stolen bases are tied for the most in the league.
Individually, Logan Braundmeier has been on fire to open the conference slate, batting .419 with two home runs, eight RBI, and an OVC-leading 13 runs scored. Sierra Gilmore has also been locked in over the last three weekends, hitting .370 with nine RBI and five runs scored. Jensen Striegel's seven stolen bases in OVC games are also tied for the most in the league.
In the circle, the Racers have posted a 2.57 ERA through nine games against conference opponents, which ranks second in the OVC behind Southeast Missouri. Taylor Makowsky is a perfect 3-0 in OVC play, carrying a 1.31 ERA to pair with 11 strikeouts through 16 innings of work against league foes. Hannah James has also put up impressive numbers in OVC competition as she features a 2.31 ERA while holding opposing hitters to a .189 average at the dish. Additionally, her 33 strikeouts in conference games ranks second in the OVC.
Scouting Austin Peay:
The Governors (10-6, 5-4 OVC) are coming off a weekend series against Eastern Illinois that saw them earn one win in three opportunities as they enter Wednesday's games in seventh place in the conference standings. The Govs are hitting .267 through all competitions.
Brooke Pfefferle leads the way offensively, hitting .429 while driving in six runs and scoring nine more. Bailey Shorter (.391, 1 HR, 11 RBI), Lexi Osowski (.357, 1 HR, 9 RBI), and Kelsey Gross (.333, 1 HR, 18 RBI) have also seen productive seasons at the plate thus far.
The Austin Peay pitching staff is carrying a 3.69 ERA through 16 contests this year, with freshman Jordan Benefiel (3-1) leading the way with a 1.58 ERA to pair with 18 strikeouts through 17.2 innings thus far. Additionally, Gross has also gotten it done in the circle for her side this season, notching a team-high four wins while recording 22 strikeouts with a 2.79 ERA over 32.2 innings of work.
Notes
· Jensen Striegel's 38 career stolen bases have her in a tie with Jenna Bradley (2010-11) for fifth-most in program history. In front of her in the fourth spot in Jessica Twaddle (2014-17) with 39, while Shelbey Miller (2013-16) is third on the list with 41.
· Fifth-year senior Lexi Jones needs just one more home run to break into the top five on Murray State's all-time home runs list. Her 24 career round-trippers currently sits one behind Casey Castile's 25 for fifth-most in Racer history. Castile played for MSU from 2012-14.
· Sierra Gilmore's 99 RBI are now tied with Shelbey Miller for the #7 spot on MSU's all-time RBI list. Immediately ahead of her is Ellyn Troup (2010-13) in the #6 spot with 100 as Gilmore looks to further move up the rankings. She is also six away from tying Jenna Bradley's 105 to move into the top five in MSU history.
· With 81 strikeouts on the year, junior pitcher Hannah James passed Haven Campbell's 201 career strikeouts to now own sole possession of the #4 spot on the program's all-time strikeout list with 251 total in a Racer uniform.
· Sierra Gilmore has posted six multi-hit games on the year to lead the Racers in that category.
· Logan Braundmeier enters Wednesday riding a four-game hitting streak.
