Simon Elfrink
Sports Editor
selfrink@murraystate.edu
Murray State Rifle split in its double header on Saturday, Nov. 7, beating Jacksonville State 4690-4630, but falling to the University of Kentucky 4621-4735.
Head Coach Alan Lollar had good things to say about his team despite picking up the first loss of the season.
“I am really proud of everyone,” Lollar said. “We had some really good performances today and showed some really good team balance. We are beginning to show why I get so excited about this team.”
The Racers led with their best foot forward in the first match against Jacksonville State. Murray State posted season-highs in all three scoring categories, going 2334 in smallbore and 2356 in air rifle for an aggregate of 4690. The smallbore and aggregate scores against Jacksonville State were the best the Racers showed since Nov. 3, 2018.
As usual, sophomore Mattias Kiru led the Racers with a season-high 1181 aggregate on a 586 in smallbore and a 595 in air rifle. Freshman Allison Henry placed second on a line of 586 in smallbore, 589 in air rifle and an 1175 aggregate. Freshman Kylie Delaney came in fourth with a season high aggregate score of 1167, following her best smallbore score of the season (584) and an air rifle score of 583.
Coming in sixth was junior Anna Scheer, who scored an 1164 aggregate after going 578 in smallbore and 586 in air rifle. Senior Dana Buesseler followed Scheer, shooting 574 in smallbore and 586 in air rifle to combine for an 1160 aggregate.
The match against UK did not go as the Racers wanted. Still, freshman Abby Zinsmeyer was able to salvage a fourth place spot on the rankings, shooting an 1160 aggregate, her highest of the year. Freshman Emily Endecott followed Zinsmeyer at the fifth spot, posting a 574 in smallbore and a 580 in air rifle for an 1154 aggregate.
Freshman Scott Patterson came in eighth overall with an 1153 aggregate, and freshman Noelle Meals rounded out the top ten with an 1135.
The Racers will get a week to prepare to go to Lexington, Kentucky, to face off against Morehead State on Saturday, Nov. 14, at 8 a.m.