Murray State University Athletics
Photo by: Dan Hasko - Murray State Athletics
Racer Softball Voted Third, Gilmore named Player to Watch in OVC Preseason Poll
2/7/2022 3:24:00 PM | Softball
Racers Picked Third in OVC preseason poll
The Murray State Racers softball team was voted to finish third in the Ohio Valley Conference preseason poll, as released by the OVC. The poll, which is voted on by the league's head coaches and sports information directors, saw the Racers receive 121 ranking points and one first place vote, placing them behind 2021 OVC Regular Season champions Southeast Missouri (157) and Austin Peay (140).
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Murray State finished the 2021 season with a 19-15 OVC record and a 22-29 overall mark to finished sixth in the league. The Racers return two-thirds of their starting lineup and top two pitchers.
Additionally, senior Sierra Gilmore has been named to the OVC's preseason Players to Watch List for the second season in a row. The Williamsburg, Indiana native led the Racers in batting average (.327), slugging percentage (.532), on-base percentage (.381), hits (51), RBI (40), and doubles (17) through in 2021. Her 17 doubles were the most in the Ohio Valley Conference.
The Racers are set to open the 2022 season on February 11th against Bulter as part of a five-game weekend at the DePaul Dome Tournament in Chicago, Illinois.
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2022 OVC SOFTBALL PLAYERS TO WATCH
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Lexi Osowski, IF, Sr. - Austin Peay
Cheyenne Cavanaugh, OF, Sr. - Belmont
Megan Burton, IF, R-Sr. - Eastern Illinois
Lennon Spicer, P, So. . - Morehead State
Sierra Gilmore, IF, R-Sr. -Murray State
Rachel Rook, P, R-Sr. - Southeast Missouri
Sydney Baalman, P, So. - SIUE
Anayah Baker-Rowell, INF/UTIL -Tennessee StateÂ
Haeli Bryson, P/IF- Tennessee TechÂ
Kaitlyn Kelley, IF, Jr., - UT Martin
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2022 OVC SOFTBALL PREDICTED ORDER OF FINISH
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1. Southeast Missouri (16) - 157
2. Austin Peay (2) - 140
3. Murray State (1) - 121
t4. Eastern Illinois - 107
t4. UT Martin (One first-place vote) - 107Â Â Â Â Â
6. SIUEÂ Â Â - 82
7. Tennessee Tech - 69
8. Belmont - 63
9. Tennessee State - 33
10. Morehead State - 21
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Murray State finished the 2021 season with a 19-15 OVC record and a 22-29 overall mark to finished sixth in the league. The Racers return two-thirds of their starting lineup and top two pitchers.
Additionally, senior Sierra Gilmore has been named to the OVC's preseason Players to Watch List for the second season in a row. The Williamsburg, Indiana native led the Racers in batting average (.327), slugging percentage (.532), on-base percentage (.381), hits (51), RBI (40), and doubles (17) through in 2021. Her 17 doubles were the most in the Ohio Valley Conference.
The Racers are set to open the 2022 season on February 11th against Bulter as part of a five-game weekend at the DePaul Dome Tournament in Chicago, Illinois.
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2022 OVC SOFTBALL PLAYERS TO WATCH
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Lexi Osowski, IF, Sr. - Austin Peay
Cheyenne Cavanaugh, OF, Sr. - Belmont
Megan Burton, IF, R-Sr. - Eastern Illinois
Lennon Spicer, P, So. . - Morehead State
Sierra Gilmore, IF, R-Sr. -Murray State
Rachel Rook, P, R-Sr. - Southeast Missouri
Sydney Baalman, P, So. - SIUE
Anayah Baker-Rowell, INF/UTIL -Tennessee StateÂ
Haeli Bryson, P/IF- Tennessee TechÂ
Kaitlyn Kelley, IF, Jr., - UT Martin
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2022 OVC SOFTBALL PREDICTED ORDER OF FINISH
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1. Southeast Missouri (16) - 157
2. Austin Peay (2) - 140
3. Murray State (1) - 121
t4. Eastern Illinois - 107
t4. UT Martin (One first-place vote) - 107Â Â Â Â Â
6. SIUEÂ Â Â - 82
7. Tennessee Tech - 69
8. Belmont - 63
9. Tennessee State - 33
10. Morehead State - 21
Players Mentioned
IF
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