Racers Fall in Exciting Friday Matchups

Friday, February 28

Oxford, MS

10:30 a.m.

Murray State

4-7

Nicholls

7-9

Murray State

Nicholls

2/28/2025 5:53:00 PM | Softball

Box Score 1 Box Score 2

Murray State suffered losses to Nicholls and South Alabama.

By: Charlie Williams

Murray State softball was unable to pick up a win on the first day of the Ole Miss Classic, falling 10-5 to Nicholls and 18-14 to South Alabama.

Murray State (4-8) jumped out to an early lead in the opening game of the day. Erin Lackey plated two with a double down the left-field line to put the Racers ahead 2-0 in the opening inning. Bailey Broemmer added one more in the second, scoring via a Taylor Franzen sacrifice fly to make it 3-0.

Nicholls (6-9) added one run in both the second and third before Ailey Schyck sent her fifth home run of the season over the left field wall to make it 4-2 going into the bottom of the fourth.

The Colonels caught fire in the bottom of the fourth, putting up four runs. They stayed hot in the fifth with another four runs, including a three-run homer by Kayleigh Lugowski to make it 10-4. The Racers were able to add one more run in the sixth with an RBI single from Ailey Schyck, but could not score another run making the final score 10-5.

Erin Lackey and Ailey Schyck led the Racers with two hits and two RBI each. Taylor Franzen had one RBI and Kenley Minor, Ava Ozment, and Bailey Broemmer all recorded hits as well. Raylee Robdy started in the circle allowing three hits and one earned run in one and one third innings. Karlye Graber was the losing pitcher, allowing five earned runs in one inning.

Molly Yoo was the winning pitcher, allowing seven hits and five earned runs through five innings pitched. Molly VandenBout was the leader at the plate for the Colonels, recording three RBI on two hits and walking once.

The second game of the day saw South Alabama (10-6) jump ahead 9-0 going into the bottom of the fifth before the Racers' rally began.

Summer Ray got things started with her first home run of the season. The three-run shot to left field cut the deficit to just 9-3. Ailey Schyck added two more in the bottom of the sixth inning with yet another home run. This one was a 2 RBI shot to center field to cut it to 9-5.

The action continued in the seventh with the Jaguars putting up four more runs, including a two-RBI double by Brooklynn Bockhaus. Trailing 14-5 the Racers got to work. Ava Ozment was the first to break through with a two-RBI double and Erin Lackey sent Kenley Minor home on a fielder's choice on the next at-bat.

Still trailing 14-8 with two outs, Bailey Broemmer reached on an error, scoring Riley Jestadt and keeping the Racers alive. Summer Ray and Rylee Webb made it 14-11 with two RBI singles before Katy Huels cleared the bases and scored two more with a triple down the right-field line. Needing one more run to tie it, Parker Holcombe hit an RBI single to tie the game and send it to extra innings.

The Colonels put up four in the eighth innings and the Racers were unable to score, making the final score 18-14.

Katy Huels led the Racers with three hits while Parker Holcombe, Ailey Schyck, and Summer Ray had two each. Kenley Minor, Ava Ozment, and Rylee Webb each had one. Ray led the team with four RBI. Bre Haislip (1-4) was the losing pitcher, allowing 10 hits and six earned runs with three strikeouts across three and two-thirds innings.

Tori Miller (3-1) got the win in the circle, striking out seven and allowing five earned runs through six and two-thirds innings. Gabby Stager led the Jaguars with four hits and four RBI.

The Racers will play a pair of Saturday games at the Ole Miss Classic. They will open the day with another matchup against South Alabama at 10:30 a.m. CT and will face the host Ole Miss Rebels at 3:30 p.m. CT.

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