Murray State University Athletics
Murray State
16-23, 13-10
Belmont
10-19, 6-14
Braundmeier's Big Day Sparks Racers in Pair of Victories Over Belmont
4/17/2021 9:58:00 PM | Softball
Senior Outfielder collected six hits over the doubleheader that included a pair of home runs
The bats caught fire for Murray State softball as the Racers earned wins on both ends of Saturday's doubleheader against Belmont at Racer Field. The day began with a 9-1 six-inning triumph before game two saw MSU capture a 5-0 win as the Racers outhit the Bruins 21-8 over the two contests. Six of those hits came from senior outfielder Logan Braundmeier, who also belted a pair of home runs on the afternoon.
"I think we had kind of gotten away from how we wanted to play the game, and I think what we saw today was exactly what we want to be doing as a team to be successful," said MSU head coach Kara Amundson.
Game 1 – Murray State 9, Belmont 1 (6 inn.)
The Racers took an aggressive approach at the plate from the first inning of the day as they put up a pair of scores in the game's first frame when Sierra Gilmore and Lindsey Carroll each plated a run with RBI singles as MSU held a 2-0 advantage through one inning of action.
Logan Braundmeier widened the margin in the third when her solo home run pushed the Racer lead to 3-0.
MSU then struck again in the fourth when they added another run by way of an RBI double off the bat of Taylor Jackson that scored Kamryn Carcich.
The Bruins scratched across their lone run of the contest in the fifth when Kaley Varner's single to right scored Elison Ollinger, but the Racers responded with authority with a four-run home half.
Braundmeier once again provided the spark, driving in a pair with her single up the middle before Tyler Shemwell and Lily Fischer both drew back-to-back bases-loaded walks to force in two more Racer runs to make it 8-1 after five complete.
After Braundmeier collected her fourth hit of the ballgame in the following frame, Kamryn Carcich brought the competition to an early end when her RBI double sealed a 9-1 run-rule victory for the Racers in six innings.
Hannah James went the distance in the circle for Murray State, notching her sixth win of the year after allowing just one run on three hits while striking out seven Bruins in the outing.
Sierra Gilmore (2-4, 2 R, RBI, SB) and Kamryn Carcich (2-3, 2 2B, BB, RBI, 2 R) each collected two hits apiece while Braundmeier (4-4, 3 RBI, 3 R, HR) became just the 13th Racer to record four hits in a game. The feat has been accomplished 19 total times in program history.
Game 2 – Murray State 5, Belmont 0
The first run of the afternoon's second game came in the bottom of the second as Murray State once again opened the scoring when Lily Fischer's two-out single to center field scored Jordan Caple to give the Racers a 1-0 lead.
The MSU offense went right back to work in the third frame, putting a runner in scoring position from the inning's first pitch when Sierra Gilmore lined a double to left field. Lindsey Carroll drove in Gilmore with a bloop single down the right field line, before the Racers added one more courtesy of a two-out RBI double from Taylor Jackson that scored Carroll to make it 3-0 through three complete.
The Racers took full control in the fifth, tacking on two more insurance runs when Logan Braundmeier belted her second home run of the day – a two-run shot to left that extended the lead to 5-0 after five innings of action.
Taylor Makowsky earned the win in the circle, improving to 5-2 in 2021, as the fifth-year senior dealt six scoreless frames with a season-high six strikeouts. Jenna Veber came in to work the seventh, and cruised through a 1-2-3 inning with a strikeout to seal the victory.
At the plate, Lily Fischer (2-4, RBI), Sierra Gilmore (2-3, RBI, 2 R, 2B), Logan Braundmeier (2-3, 2 RBI, R, HR), and Lindsey Carroll (2-3, RBI, R) each collected two hits apiece in the victory. For Braundmeier, her two home runs in the doubleheader bring her season total to a team-leading six round-trippers in 2021.
The Racers (17-23, 14-10 OVC) will try for the sweep of the Bruins on Sunday in the series finale. First pitch is set for 1:00 p.m. from Racer Field in Murray, Kentucky.
"I think we had kind of gotten away from how we wanted to play the game, but I think what we saw today was exactly what we want to be doing as a team to be successful."
— Murray State Softball (@RacersSoftball) April 18, 2021
- Head coach Kara Amundson after Murray State's victories over Belmont on Saturday 🥎#WeAreRacers🏇 pic.twitter.com/NnEpVdCb39
Team Stats
Pitching:
W: James, Hannah (6-8)
L: Clesi, ALex (2-8)
Batting:
RBI: Varner, Kaley 1
Base Running:
RUNS: Ollinger, Elison 1
SB: Ollinger, Elison 1
Batting:
2B: Carcich, Kamryn 2 ; Jackson, Taylor 1
HR: Braundmeier, Logan 1
RBI: Fischer, Lily 1 ; Gilmore, Sierra 1 ; Braundmeier, Logan 3 ; Carroll, Lindsey 1 ; Carcich, Kamryn 1 ; Jackson, Taylor 1 ; Shemwell, Tyler 1
SH: Striegel, Jensen 1
Base Running:
RUNS: Fischer, Lily 1 ; Striegel, Jensen 1 ; Gilmore, Sierra 2 ; Braundmeier, Logan 3 ; Carcich, Kamryn 2
SB: Gilmore, Sierra 1
