Murray State University Athletics
Murray State
21-29, 18-15
Morehead State
11-29, 3-25
James' Big Day Fuels Racers to Sweep of Morehead State in Final Action of 2021
5/8/2021 9:50:00 PM | Softball
Junior Hannah James broke the program's single-season strikeout record, Racers earn walk-off win in extras to highlight final outings of 2021
Murray State softball wrapped up the season on a high note on Saturday when they concluded the 2021 campaign with a doubleheader against Morehead State at Racer Field. The Racers ended the year with a series sweep of the Eagles, earning victories of 5-1 and 1-0 on the day.
"We're lucky. I'll never forget having to tell those kids that we couldn't play last year. Getting out here and being able to compete and create that family atmosphere again…we didn't take it for granted, and we're looking forward to the future of Racer softball," said MSU head coach Kara Amundson.
Game 1 - Murray State 5, Morehead State 1
The Racers picked up right where they left off in yesterday's 14-4 victory when they stayed aggressive offensively with a pair of runs in the opening frame.
Sierra Gilmore's one-out double drove in Lily Fischer for the first Racer run, before a perfectly-executed first and third double steal saw Gilmore cross the plate later in the inning as Murray State owned a 2-0 advantage through the end of one complete.
The score would remain unchanged until the home half of the fourth when the Racer bats generated two more runs – this time courtesy of a Jordan Childress pinch-hit double that scored a pair to extend the Murray State lead to 4-0 through four innings of action.
The Eagles did get one back in the sixth when Jennifer Clausen's two-out RBI single made it 4-1, but the Racers responded with another run of their own in the bottom half when Kamryn Carcich launched her first home run in a Racer uniform – a solo shot that restored the Racers' four-run cushion.
Jenna Veber cruised through a 1-2-3 seventh in the circle, and the Racers secured a 5-1 victory to win their seventh OVC series of the season.
The five Racer runs came on seven hits, with Lily Fischer (2-3, R) and Sierra Gilmore (2-3, RBI, R, 2B, SB) each turning in a multi-hit performance. Childress' double and Carcich's home run accounted for the other two Murray State extra-base hits in the contest.
Hannah James earned her ninth victory of the season, tossing five scoreless frames while surrendering just two hits and striking out four Eagle batters.
Jenna Veber went the rest of the way, striking out one while allowing just the single run in two innings of relief.
Game 2 - Murray State 1, Morehead State 0 (8 inn.)
The final contest of the campaign saw the Racers head to extra innings for the seventh time in 2021.
Hannah James recorded eleven of the first 12 outs by way of strikeout, but one of those eleven would be much more significant than the rest. When the Nicholasville, Kentucky native set down Morehead State's Maddie Kawall on strikes in the second frame, she recorded her 149th strikeout of the season – setting a new Murray State single-season program record. The previous record of 148 from 2013 was held by CheyAnne Gaskey.
James carried a no-hit bid into the seventh, but a Josie Wefer double to open the frame spoiled the effort. James would keep the shutout intact when she retired the next three Eagle batters in order as the game remained scoreless through the top of the seventh.
Lindsey Carroll reached on an error by the Eagle shortstop in the home half, and would even reach third with two outs in the inning, but the game's first run was left stranded 60 feet away as the season finale required extra innings to decide a winner.
Jenna Veber entered to pitch the eighth and retired three-straight batters to keep the Eagles off the board in their first opportunity in extra innings.
After Jensen Striegel drew a lead-off walk in the home half, she stole second and then scored the game's winning run by way of a Logan Braundmeier base hit through the left side as the Racers earned a 1-0 victory in walk-off fashion.
Hannah James dealt seven scoreless innings of one-hit softball while tying a career high with 13 strikeouts in the contest as the new Murray State single-season record now stands at 158. Veber would be credited with her eighth win of the season for her stellar outing in relief.
Five different Racers collected a hit in the season finale, with Kamryn Carcich (2-3) leading the way with a two-hit performance.
The Racers end the season at 22-19 overall that includes a 19-15 mark against OVC competition.
"We're lucky. I'll never forget having to tell those kids that we couldn't play last year. Getting out here and being able to compete and create that family atmosphere again...we didn't take it for granted, and we're looking forward to the future of Racer softball." #GoRacers🏇 pic.twitter.com/vgyv6NKMA4
— Murray State Softball (@RacersSoftball) May 9, 2021
Team Stats
Pitching:
W: James, Hannah (9-11)
L: PERKINS, Kelsey (0-4)
Batting:
RBI: CLAUSEN, Jennifer 1
Base Running:
RUNS: KINGERY, Kirya 1
SB: KINGERY, Kirya 1 ; KAWALL, Maddie 1 ; SPEAR, Trinity 1
CS: KAWALL, Maddie 1
HBP: GAILOR, Madeline 1 ; KINGERY, Kirya 1
Batting:
2B: Childress, Jordan 1 ; Gilmore, Sierra 1
HR: Carcich, Kamryn 1
RBI: Childress, Jordan 1 ; Gilmore, Sierra 1 ; Carcich, Kamryn 1
Base Running:
RUNS: Fischer, Lily 1 ; Gilmore, Sierra 1 ; Jacque, Chloe 1 ; Carcich, Kamryn 1 ; Proctor, Brittney 1
SB: Gilmore, Sierra 1 ; Carroll, Lindsey 1
CS: Fischer, Lily 1
