Senior softball pitcher breaks school record

Story by Bryan Edwards, Staff writer

 

History was made in more than one way at Racer Field. The Murray State softball program hosted its first tournament on campus, but it was senior pitcher Mason Robinson who claimed a moment that will go into the record books.

In the final game of the Racers’ 5-0 sweep of the inaugural Racer Classic, Robinson picked up the win in a complete-game shutout of the Northern Illinois Panthers. The win was the 58th of her career, making her the winningest pitcher in Murray State history. Robinson passed former record holder CheyAnne Gaskey, who pitched for the Racers during Robinson’s freshman and sophomore seasons.

Robinson said she was grateful for the honor but wants to be a part of a bigger story as a Racer.

“It’s a cool thing to have and it shows that my hard work has paid off, but I couldn’t have done it without my team,” Robinson said. “In 20 years, I hope that people see me as the pitcher that led Murray State to their first OVC Championship instead of the pitcher with the most wins.”

Robinson was recruited out of Olentangy Orange High School in Lewis Center, Ohio, where she was a three-sport athlete, playing volleyball, basketball and softball.

She played all four years in high school, and in 2012, she won 21 consecutive games, posting a .083 ERA during that span. Robinson was an All-District selection in 2012 and a three-time All-Conference selection.

After committing to a different school during her first three years of high school, Robinson said she didn’t think that she wanted to go to that school.

“My senior year I was left with really nowhere to go after I decommitted until I heard that coach (Amundson) got the job at Murray State and that she was interested to talk to me,” Robinson said. “We talked on the phone and I visited then committed a week later. I couldn’t be happier to be where I am.”

Head Coach Kara Amundson said Robinson was one of the first players that she recruited after she took the job at Murray State and she was really interested in Robinson when she heard about her.

“She is a real presence in the circle,” Amundson said. “She had a nasty drop curve and she could really throw the ball.”

Robinson was tested right away as a Racer. She started in 25 games and made 34 appearances in her freshman season, finishing with an 11-8 record and a 2.89 ERA. Robinson was elected to the OVC All-Newcomer Team.

She saw improvement during her sophomore season in the win column. She won 15 games and was a first-team All-OVC honoree. She was also honored as OVC Pitcher of the Week on three separate occasions.

Robinson took over as the Racers’ No. 1 pitcher in her junior season and posted 19 wins during that season. She was one win short of tying Gaskey’s single-season winning record of 20 that she posted in 2015. Robinson also had the 11th shutout of her career during the season, making her the record holder for most career shutouts.

She has also shown that she is one of the best in the classroom, as well. Robinson has been honored on the Commissioner’s Honor Roll for her first three years of school.

Robinson entered her senior year with 45 career wins, and within two months of the season’s beginning, she has already reached 17 wins on the season and 62 in her career. She is the first Racer to win 60 games and is well on track to become the program’s record holder for most wins in a single season.

The career wins record isn’t the only record Robinson has broken this year as she has also broken the career complete games record. Robinson currently has 63 complete games in her career, breaking Shelby Kosmecki’s record of 48 early in the year.

Although she has more wins than any other player in Murray State history, Robinson wants to be remembered for playing for a bigger purpose.

“I want to help my team win a championship, but more importantly, I want to be remembered for how I cared about my teammates,” Robinson said. “I want to be able to do anything to serve my team both on and off the field. It’s not about me or what I’m doing, but it’s about what the team is doing.”

Robinson will continue her record-breaking season at 6 p.m. on Wednesday, March 29, when the Racers face off against the Western Kentucky Hilltoppers in Bowling Green, Kentucky.

Scroll to Top