Racers Shut Out Vikings, Fall to Zips

Saturday, March 8

Murray, KY

12:30 p.m.

Murray State

8-10

Cleveland State

5-12

Cleveland State

Murray State

Photo by: David Eaton-Murray State Athletics

3/8/2025 5:51:00 PM | Softball

Box Score 1 Box Score 2

The Murray State Racers defeated Cleveland State 9-0 and fell to Akron 4-3.

By: Charlie Williams

The Murray State Racers (8-11) closed out the Racer Classic with a 9-0 win over Cleveland State (5-12) and a 4-3 loss to the Akron Zips on Saturday in Murray, Ky.

The Racers got hot early against the Vikings and never let up. Parker Holcombe scored the first run of the day on an errant throw from the opposing catcher to put the Racers up 1-0 in the first.

Holcombe started the scoring in the second inning as well with an RBI single that scored Bailey Broemmer to add one more. Ava Ozment tacked on three more with a base-clearing double that put the Racers ahead 5-0.

Katy Huels added a run in the third on a single to left field that scored Ailey Schyck. Kenley Minor capped off the scoring with a bases-clearing triple that gave the Navy & Gold a 9-0 lead but was called out at home trying to stretch the play.

The Vikings were unable to put up a run in the following two innings giving the Racers a 9-0 run-rule victory.

Bre Hailslip pitched all five innings and got the win, improving her record to 3-5. The junior allowed just four hits, struck out three, and walked none. Melissa Holzopfel (2-3) was the losing pitcher for the Vikings, allowing five earned runs in two and one-third innings.

Kenley Minor and Ava Ozment led the team with three RBI each after their base-clearing hits. Minor, Ozment, and Parker Holcombe each had two hits while Katy Huels, Summer Ray, and Taylor Franzen all recorded one.

The Racers appeared to be staying hot against Akron, putting up two runs in the first inning. Katy Huels opened things up, scoring on a sacrifice from Ava Ozment and Parker Holcome scored on another sacrifice from Erin Lackey.

The Zips got on the board in the fourth with their first run coming via a wild pitch. Sophia Wygast then tied things up with an RBI single up the middle. Akron added two more in the fifth via a sacrifice and another wild pitch, putting the Zips ahead 4-2.

The Racers cut the deficit to one when Erin Lackey scored on a play that saw Taylor Franzen reach on a dropped ball at first base. Despite having the tying run aboard at third, the Racers were unable to add a run in the final inning and Akron escaped with the 4-3 win.

Kenley Minor led the team with three hits, Parker Holcombe had two, and Ava Ozment, Erin Lackey, and Taylor Franzen each had one. Ozment, Lackey, and Franzen each recorded an RBI.

Karlye Graber took the loss in the circle, falling to 2-3 on the season. The freshman allowed four earned runs across four and one-third innings.

Macy Walters went the distance and collected the win for Akron. Meagan Lee led the Zips with three hits.

The Racers are back in action for a 3:30 p.m. CT midweek contest at Belmont on Wednesday, March 12 in Nashville, Tenn.

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