Murray State
Austin Peay
Players Mentioned
Softball Hosts Austin Peay For Battle of the Border
3/28/2022 5:42:00 PM | Softball
Racers look to stay undefeated in conference play
The Murray State softball team returns to action Tuesday when it hosts Austin Peay in a Popeyes Battle of the Border doubleheader at 2 p.m. at Racer Field in Murray, Kentucky.
The Racers enter Tuesday's doubleheader at 22-8 overall, 6-0 in OVC play and winners of each of their last 12 games. One of the biggest keys to Murray State's success so far this season has been its pitching. The MSU pitching staff currently has the fourth lowest ERA in the country at 1.21, is eighth nationally in shutouts with 11 and fifth in strikeout-to-walk ratio at 5.26:1.
Hannah James and Jenna Veber have been an effective 1-2 punch for Murray State in the circle this season. Both Racers currently have ERAs of 1.05 with James entering Tuesday at 10-3 on the year, while Veber is currently 9-4. Veber currently leads the nation in batters hit with just one, while Veber is sixth in shutouts with six.
Offensively, Logan Braundmeier leads the way for Murray State with a batting average of .387, followed by Gracie Osbron at .345 and Lily Fischer at .342. Braundmeier also currently leads the nation in doubles with 16 and is fifth in doubles per game 0.53.
The Govs enter Tuesday's doubleheader at 15-15 overall and 2-4 in league play after winning two of three this past weekend at Morehead State. Austin Peay currently hits .305 as a team, led by Lexi Osowski who is hitting .462 with 29 RBIS, nine doubles and eight home runs. In the circle, the Govs have a team ERA of 3.90, while opponents hit .290 against them. Jordan Benefiel leads the Govs staff currently 7-5 on the season with a 3.05 ERA, a .262 opponent's batting average, 71 strikeouts and 32 walks.
The Racers are currently 21-12 all-time against Austin Peay and 11-5 against the Govs at home. The two teams split their four-game series last season with the Racers winning both games in Murray and Austin Peay winning both in Clarksville.
Both games of Tuesday's doubleheader are scheduled to air live on ESPN+, weather permitting.
