Racers Split Twin Bill - Walk Off Series Finale - Murray State University Athletics

Friday, March 28

Murray, KY

3:00 p.m.

Murray State

10-20, 1-9

Missouri State

10-21, 8-2

Missouri State

Murray State

Racers Split Twin Bill - Walk Off Series Finale

3/28/2025 9:12:00 PM | Softball

Box Score 1 Box Score 2 Photo Gallery Photo Gallery 2

Freshman Emmerson McKinnins Walks Off Missouri State

By: Charlie Williams

The Murray State Racers (11-20, 2-9 MVC) split a pair of games against the Missouri State Bears (10-22, 8-3 MVC) on Friday at Racer Field in Murray, Ky.

The Racers remain in ninth place in the Missouri Valley Conference while the Bears are in fourth place, possessing the final bye in the 2025 MVC Softball championship.

Game One
The first game of the afternoon saw the Racers once again out-hit the Bears but come up short 4-0. Missouri State scored their first run in the third inning on a McKenzie Vaughan solo home run to left field. Chloe Merced added three more on another home run, this one to left center.

The Racers out-hit the Bears 4-3 but left four runners stranded compared to just two for Missouri State.

Katy Huels, Kenley Minor, Parker Holcombe, and Courtney Sandy each had one hit for the Racers and Sandy recorded the only stolen base. Karlye Graber (3-5) went the distance in a losing effort, striking out three and walking one.

Merced's three RBI led all batters and Kenzie Derryberry was the only other Bear to Record a hit. Mackenzie Chacon (2-6) was the winning pitcher, going the distance and getting the shutout while allowing just four hits and striking out three.

Game Two
Missouri State scored a run in the first inning again in the second game of the afternoon, this time off an RBI double to center field from Alexis Perales that gave the Bears an early 1-0 lead.

Parker Holcombe knotted things back up for the Racers in the bottom of the second with a single to right field that allowed Kenley Minor to score all the way from second base. After a pair of scoreless innings, the Bears added two more but Katy Huels provided a response. The freshman outfielder hit a single up the middle that allowed Erin Lackey to score from second, cutting the deficit to 3-2.

Trailing by one in the final inning, the Navy & Gold got to work. In the game as a pinch hitter, Kayleigh White got things going with a single and advanced to second after Lackey drew a walk. White was then called out at home on a play that saw Huels reach second on a single and pushed Lackey to third.

Freshman Hannah Sutton provided the equalizer, hitting a high fly ball to right field that was caught for the out but scored Lackey, tying the game 3-3 and sending it into extra innings.

In the eighth inning, relief pitcher Karlye Graber was able to draw three consecutive foul outs to bring the Racers to the plate with a chance to walk it off. Parker Holcombe gave the Racers life with a double to left center. Courtney Sandy was the next Racers to reach base, drawing a two-out walk to bring freshman catcher Emmerson McKinnis to the plate. After Sandy and Holcombe advanced on a wild pitch, McKinnis delivered the winning run with a single that just got through the left side, scoring Holcombe and ending the game.

The Navy & Gold won the hitting battle 13-6 but were responsible for two errors. Missouri State stranded four runners compared to nine for Murray State.

Karlye Graber (4-5) got the win in relief, pitching the final three and two-thirds. The freshman allowed just one hit and walked one while recording one strikeout. Bre Haislip was the starter and retired after pitching 4 and one-third, allowing one earned run and five hits.

Katy Huels and Parker Holcombe both had outstanding days at the plate, going 3-4 and being responsible for one RBI. Riley Jestadt put up two hits while Erin Lackey, Kenley Minor, Courtney Sandy, Kayleigh White, and Emerson McKinnis had one each. McKinnins and Hannah Sutton had one RBI each.

McKenzie Vaughan (6-6) took the loss after relieving Makenzi Swick in the fifth inning. Both pitchers allowed a pair of earned runs and Vaughan had four strikeouts. Taylor Akers led the Bears at the plate, going 2-4 with an RBI.

Murray State softball returns to Racer Field on Tuesday, April 1 for the final game of their non-consecutive series with Belmont. First pitch is scheduled for 3:30 pm. CT. The game will be streamed on ESPN+.

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