Jakob Milani
Staff Writer
jmilani@murraystate.edu
A mid-week doubleheader proved not to be an issue for the Murray State softball team as the Racers won both games against the Austin Peay Governors.
The Racers scored at will against the Governors, tallying 10 runs on the day, including a home run in the first game. The Governors scored just three runs across both games despite an exceptional hitting effort.
Game One
The Racers started junior right-hander Hannah James as their pitcher in game one. The Governors spared no time getting the game started as senior center fielder Bailey Shorter tripled in the first inning, but James managed to force the next three outs to get out of the inning without allowing a run.
Junior right hander Harley Mullins started the game for the Governors and struggled from the get-go. The Racers scored three runs in the bottom of the first off of two hits from senior center fielder Jensen Striegel and sophomore third baseman Lily Fischer, taking a 3-0 lead.
The Racers extended their lead in the fourth inning when sophomore left fielder Chloe Jacque scored on a sacrifice groundout. The very next at-bat, junior second baseman Lindsey Carroll hit a three-run homer, giving the Racers a 7-0 lead.
The Governors managed to get a run on the board in the fifth inning when a single brought in graduate pinch-runner Emily Moore to make the score 7-1.
The Governors scored once more in the top of the sixth inning when junior third baseman Lexi Osowski hit a solo home run to make the score 7-2.
The Racers scored one last time in the bottom of the sixth when Fischer came home on a sacrifice ground-out by redshirt senior first baseman Lexi Jones, giving the Racers an 8-2 lead. The Governors weren’t able to do anything in the seventh and the Racers took game one by a score of 8-2, marking James’ fifth win of the season.
Game Two
The Governors looked to split the series in game two as Mullins took the mound for the second game. The Racers started off hot, scoring in the first inning when Fischer hit a two run homer, bringing in Striegel as well, giving the Racers a 2-0 lead.
The Racers started sophomore right hander Jenna Veber on the mound for game two. Veber was dominant from the start, forcing the first 11 outs for the Governors in the game, including three strikeouts.
The Governors finally got it going in the fourth inning when graduate first baseman Kelsey Gross doubled to bring home Osowski, making the score 2-1 in favor of the Racers.
The Racers held the Governors scoreless for the rest of the game despite Veber allowing six hits in five innings pitched, resulting in five runners left on base. The Governors were able to keep the Racers from scoring again in the game and allowed just one hit after the first inning.
The Governors fell short of the Racers in game two of the series by a score of 2-1, giving Veber her fourth win of the season.
Across both games, the Racers scored 10 runs on eight hits and eight walks with a home run in game one. The Governors scored a total of three runs on the day with 13 hits, including one home run.
The Racers, who are now on a five game win streak, improve to 12-14 on the season and 9-2 in conference play. The Racers play at home against Tennessee State University next in a three game series, with the first game starting on Friday, March 26, at 4 p.m.