Racers Drop Extra-Inning Battle in Series Finale with Belmont

Sunday, April 18

Murray, Ky.

1 P.M.

Murray State

17-24, 14-11

Belmont

11-20, 7-15

Belmont

Murray State

Photo by: David Eaton-Murray State Athletics

Racers Drop Extra-Inning Battle in Series Finale with Belmont

4/18/2021 8:49:00 PM | Softball

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Three Bruin home runs were the difference in a ten-inning contest at Racer Field

Murray State softball wrapped up its six-game homestand with a single contest against Belmont on Sunday in the final edition of a three-game weekend series with the Bruins. Playing in their sixth extra-inning competition since March 16^th, the Racers came up short in a ten-inning affair - falling to Belmont by a score of 5-3 at Racer Field in Murray, Kentucky.

Lauren Veltri opened the scoring for Belmont in the third when her RBI single gave the visitors a 1-0 advantage that served as the first Bruin lead of the weekend series.

The Racers responded in the fourth when Jensen Striegel sparked a two-run Racer frame after she stole second following her lead-off single as the Racers had a runner in scoring position with nobody out. Sierra Gilmore wasted no time bringing her around to score as the senior lined a full-count offering for a double that leveled the contest at 1-1. Murray State was not content with a tie score line, however, going on to capture its first lead of the afternoon three batters later when Jordan Childress scored Gilmore with a pinch-hit sacrifice fly to center field that put the home team in front by a score of 2-1 through four complete.

The Racers held that one-run margin until the seventh when Belmont forced extra innings courtesy of a lead-off solo home run from Audrey Lyle.

The two sides remained even at 2-2 until the Belmont half of the tenth when a Kaley Varner two-run home run put the Bruins in front. Audrey Lyle tacked on one more for the visitors when she launched her second home run of the day – another solo shot to make it 5-2.

A sacrifice fly off the bat of Gilmore in the home half scored Lily Fischer to get one run back for the Racers, but that would be the extent of the Murray State comeback effort as they fell to the Bruins 5-3 in the series finale as the Racers moved to 1-5 in extra-inning affairs in 2021.

Lily Fischer (2-5, 2B, R) and Jensen Striegel (2-5, R, 2 SB) each collected two hits to lead the way at the plate for the Racers, while Sierra Gilmore doubled and chipped in two RBI in the defeat.

Hannah James got the start in the circle, but worked only three innings – surrendering one earned run while striking out five in the outing. Jenna Veber took the loss, giving up four earned runs with a pair of strikeouts over six and two-thirds innings of relief.

The Racers (17-24, 14-11 OVC) will return to action on Saturday when they kick off a seven-game road trip with a doubleheader against Eastern Illinois to open a pivotal three-game OVC series with the Panthers.