Simon Elfrink
Sports Editor
selfrink@murraystate.edu
Murray State softball’s momentum came to an abrupt end in a three-game series against Jacksonville State University. The Racers failed to come away with a single win, dropping all three games to the Gamecocks.
Game One
The Racers got off to a weak start in the first game of the series as the Gamecocks came up with a 9-1 mercy-rule win in the fifth inning.
The Gamecocks wasted no time in the first inning, getting runners on second and third base in quick succession and putting ducks on the pond for senior outfielder Jada Terry, who hit a three-run home run to give the Gamecocks a 3-0 lead.
The Gamecocks tacked on three more runs in the bottom of the second, giving the Racers a six-run deficit to overcome. The best Murray State could do was offer a home run off the bat of sophomore infielder Lily Fischer. Jacksonville State continued to tack on runs until the Racers had to yield a 9-1 defeat.
Junior right-hander Hannah James (5-7) picked up the loss in the pitchers’ column, going only a single inning in the circle. James allowed five runs in her time on the rubber, three of which were earned.
Game Two
Jacksonville’s offense had more to say in game two, getting on the board early in the second inning with a home run off the bat of junior infielder Karsen Mosley. A passed ball allowed another run, and an RBI single from freshman outfielder Shelby Newsome gave the Gamecocks another early 3-0 lead.
Jacksonville State added another three runs in the bottom of the third, this time on a homer by senior pitcher Alexus Jimmerson. The onslaught continued until once again the Gamecocks won by the eight-run rule 8-0 over the Racers.
Redshirt senior righty Taylor Makowsky (4-2) picked up her second loss of the season after pitching the first two innings for the Racers, in which she allowed five hits and four earned runs.
Game Three
The final game of the series was a different story as scoring came slowly for both teams. The Gamecocks got a single run across in the bottom of the second inning on an RBI single down the left-field line from junior infielder Chaney Phillips. The lone run stood as the only mark on the scoreboard throughout the entire game, giving the Gamecocks another shutout victory against the Racers.
Sophomore righty Jenna Veber (5-8) upheld her end of the pitchers’ duel, going six innings in the circle and allowing the game’s only run. Still, the lack of backup from the Racers’ hitting issued her the loss.
The three straight losses set the Racers’ overall record back to 14-19 overall. Murray State will look to turn things around in a pair of games against Austin Peay on Tuesday, April 6, at 2 p.m in Clarksville, Tennessee.