Racers Welcome Leathernecks for Midweek Clash

Racers Welcome Leathernecks for Midweek Clash
Wednesday ill be MSU's final tune-up before MVC Play

Date (Time): Wed., Mar. 15 (3 p.m.)
Site (Venue): Murray, Ky. (Racer Field)
Opponents: Western Illinois
TV: ESPN+ (PxP: Harold Huston)
Live Stats: GoRacers.com
MUR Record (Streak): 14-9 (Lost 1)
WIU Record (Streak): 6-18 (Lost 12)
Overall (Streak): MUR leads 5-1 (Won 2)
In Murray (Streak): MUR leads 3-0 (Won 3)
In Macomb (Streak): ---
At Neutral Sites (Streak): MUR leads 2-1 (Won 1)
Last 5 vs. WIU: 4-1 (WWLWW)
First Meeting: W 4-3 (3/4/17 at SIU)
Last Meeting: W 2-0 (3/14/22 at MUR)
Biggest MSU Win: 9 Runs (W 9-0 [5]; 2/13/22 at RM DOME)
Biggest MSU Loss: 6 Runs (L 0-6; 3/17/22 at KU)
Next Game: Mar. 17 vs. UNI
Next Home Game: Mar. 17 vs. UNI

In A Nutshell
The Murray State softball team hosts Western Illinois Wednesday at 3 p.m. at Racer Field in its final game before opening up its inaugural Missouri Valley schedule Friday against UNI.

Series At A Glance
Wednesday will be the seventh all-time meeting between Murray State and Western Illinois with the Racers holding a 5-1 advantage. MSU is 3-0 all-time against the Leathernecks at home including a 2-0 win 366 days ago.

Scouting The Leathernecks
Western Illinois was swept in a doubleheader Tuesday at Tennessee Tech, 4-3 and 6-3, and is now 6-18 on the season, having lost each of its last 12 contests. Bella Alvarez currently leads the Leathernecks with a team-high batting average of .338, while Savannah Rodriguez has a team-high 11 RBIs. In the circle, Rodriguez and Emily Price are both 3-7 on the year and have combined for 125 strikeouts at 62 and 63, respectively.

Notes
• The Racers went 2-2 last week at their own Racer Classic with a pair of wins over Youngstown State and a pair of non-MVC losses to Illinois State.

• Jenna Veber allowed no earned runs against the Penguins Friday, giving up just four with six strikeouts and one walk in the win.

• Hannah James threw a one-hit complete game shutout in the second win over Youngstown State, striking out a season-high 11 with one walk.

• Jenna Veber allowed just one earned run over 14.0 innings of work to go 2-0 on the week. The junior struck out six while issuing no walks and allowing only 14 hits for an opponent's batting average of .246.

• James finished the week with 1.17 ERA over two appearances and 12 innings with an opponent's batting average of .125. Sunday.

• Murray State scored just six runs over the four games, but made them count as five of their 15 hits went for extra bases.

• Jenna Veber currently leads the Valley in the wins this season with eight and is 35th in the category across all pitchers in Division I.

• Hannah James is currently striking out nine batters this season for every walk she issues and is currently 22nd in the nation in strikeout-to-walk ratio.

• With one last weekend, Lily Fischer has now been hit by a pitch 10 times this season. Fischer leads the Racers all-time in HBPs with 51 and is also third nationally in the category amongst active players.

Next Event

Players Mentioned

Lily Fischer

Hannah James

Jenna Veber

Murray State University Athletics