Murray State University Athletics
Friday, February 25
Auburn, Ala.
8:00 p.m.
Murray State
vs
Middle Tennessee State
Racers Head South for War Eagle Classic
2/23/2011 4:41:08 PM | Softball
After nearly two weeks off, the Murray State softball team returns to action with four games this weekend in the War Eagle Classic, hosted by Auburn University.
Game Notes
MSU meets Middle Tennessee State for the third time this season in the weekend opener Friday night at 8 p.m. The Racers take on undefeated host Auburn in their lone game Saturday afternoon at 3 p.m. and will close out the weekend with Sunday contests against Belmont at 9 a.m. and Georgia Southern at 11:30 a.m.
Scouting the Blue Raiders
Murray State's opening opponent in the War Eagle Classic will be a familiar one, as the Racers opened the season with a split at Middle Tennessee State Feb. 13. After a high-scoring opener in a 16-13 loss, MSU came back to close out the night with a come-from-behind 3-2 victory. The Blue Raiders are coming off of a 9-7 win against Georgia Southern after previously losing four consecutive games at the Garnet and Gold Games. Senior Corrie Abel leads MTSU on offense with 12 hits in 27 at bats for a .444 batting average with eight RBI and had five hits against the Racers. Pitcher Janelle Robinson picked up a two-out save against MSU in game one and took the loss in game two, allowing three runs on seven hits with nine strikeouts in the complete game effort.
Scouting the Tigers
The hosts of the War Eagle Classic, Auburn has opened the season with nine consecutive wins, including four in a row as hosts of the Tiger Classic against Southern Miss, Campbell, Western Illinois and Western Carolina. Eight players have homered this season for the Tigers as they have out-scored their opponents 53-14 this season.
Scouting the Bruins
Belmont exits the weekend at 3-5 overall, having split four games at the Austin Peay Spring Classic with wins over UMKC and a one-run victory against Austin Peay. Junior Ashley Byers leads the Bruins on offense with four home runs and nine RBI with a .348 batting average.
Scouting the Eagles
Georgia Southern dropped four of five games played at the Garnet and Gold Classic, picking up its lone win against Middle Tennessee State. The Eagles, 4-7 overall this year, are led by Kelly Burnett and Marie Fogle on offense.
Sullivan Starts Off Strong
Junior Chelsey Sullivan won her first start of the season, limiting Middle Tennessee to two runs on six hits in a complete game 3-2 win. Sullivan's first win in a start in 2010 didn't come until her seventh start of the season.
Buch Perfect at the Plate
Senior 2B Lauren Buch powered the Racer offense against Middle Tennessee State, collecting hits in all six official plate appearances. She homered in the fourth inning of game two to tie the score before doubling in the final run of the game in the top of the sixth in the 3-2 win. She ended the day with three doubles, four runs scored and two RBI.
Way to Start a Career
Freshman Meghan Sims homered in her first collegiate at bat. Sims, batting second in the MSU lineup, drove a 1-2 pitch deep to left center to give the Racers a 1-0 lead in game one.
Early Season Events
MSU will continue non-conference action over the next three weeks in a pair of early season events. The Racers will resume play Feb. 25 against Middle Tennessee State in the War Eagle Classic hosted by Auburn. Auburn and Belmont await MSU on Feb. 26 with a closing game against Georgia Southern on Feb. 27. One week later, the Racers will head west for five games in the DeMarini Invitational hosted by Cal State Fullerton. The first day of the three day event finds MSU playing Cal State Northridge and Oregon State. Home-state opponents Stanford and Cal await on day two with a final game against Iowa to wrap up the weekend.
Playing Tough Competition
Murray State will meet with four different teams in non-conference play that advanced to the 2010 NCAA Championships. UAB, Auburn and Stanford each won one game and dropped a pair in the regional round. 11th seeded California was a perfect 3-0 in the regional round before dropping a pair in the super regionals against Georgia.
Long Time, No See
The Racers open the 2011 season with 16 consecutive games before returning to Murray for their home opener against Eastern Illinois on Mar. 19. The schedule turns in MSU's favor toward the end of April as the Racers will play 11 straight home games just before the end of the regular season.
2011 Racers
MSU brings back 13 players from last season's inaugural squad with three freshmen and a sophomore transfer joining the team. Seven returners started at least 38 games in the field last season and the Racers projected starting lineup heading into 2011 had 348 games of experience last year.
Catch Us If You Can
Murray State blew past the rest of the OVC on the base paths in 2010, leading the conference with 96 stolen bases. Junior Megan Glosser ranked second in the OVC with 28 steals in 32 attempts, and teammate Jenna Bradley tied for third overall with 17 stolen bases. The Racers are 6-8 in steal attempts this season as Glosser leads the OVC with four.
All-OVC Selections
The Racers had three players earn All-OVC recognition in their first season of competition. Freshman Ellyn Troup was named to the 12-member All-OVC Second Team and the All-Newcomer Team as an infielder. Junior Jenna Bradley joined Troup on both the all-second and all-newcomer teams as an outfielder. The final member of the MSU squad to earn league honors was sophomore Megan Glosser, as a utility player on the All-Newcomer Team.
Making the Most of the First Season
The Racers didn't waste any time making a name for themselves in their inaugural season. MSU is one of a few teams around the NCAA that have advanced to their respective conference tournaments (when not all the teams advance) in their first season of competition. Boise State earned the last seed in the Western Athletic Conference tournament at season ago and Brigham Young won the Mountain West title to advance to the NCAA Regional in 2001.
2011 OVC Coaches Poll
Murray State was predicted to finish seventh in the OVC as voted on by the league's coaches. Jacksonville State, the 2010 OVC Championships winner, was named pre-season favorite. Tennessee Tech followed in second with 2010 OVC regular season champion UT Martin in third.
Game Notes
MSU meets Middle Tennessee State for the third time this season in the weekend opener Friday night at 8 p.m. The Racers take on undefeated host Auburn in their lone game Saturday afternoon at 3 p.m. and will close out the weekend with Sunday contests against Belmont at 9 a.m. and Georgia Southern at 11:30 a.m.
Scouting the Blue Raiders
Murray State's opening opponent in the War Eagle Classic will be a familiar one, as the Racers opened the season with a split at Middle Tennessee State Feb. 13. After a high-scoring opener in a 16-13 loss, MSU came back to close out the night with a come-from-behind 3-2 victory. The Blue Raiders are coming off of a 9-7 win against Georgia Southern after previously losing four consecutive games at the Garnet and Gold Games. Senior Corrie Abel leads MTSU on offense with 12 hits in 27 at bats for a .444 batting average with eight RBI and had five hits against the Racers. Pitcher Janelle Robinson picked up a two-out save against MSU in game one and took the loss in game two, allowing three runs on seven hits with nine strikeouts in the complete game effort.
Scouting the Tigers
The hosts of the War Eagle Classic, Auburn has opened the season with nine consecutive wins, including four in a row as hosts of the Tiger Classic against Southern Miss, Campbell, Western Illinois and Western Carolina. Eight players have homered this season for the Tigers as they have out-scored their opponents 53-14 this season.
Scouting the Bruins
Belmont exits the weekend at 3-5 overall, having split four games at the Austin Peay Spring Classic with wins over UMKC and a one-run victory against Austin Peay. Junior Ashley Byers leads the Bruins on offense with four home runs and nine RBI with a .348 batting average.
Scouting the Eagles
Georgia Southern dropped four of five games played at the Garnet and Gold Classic, picking up its lone win against Middle Tennessee State. The Eagles, 4-7 overall this year, are led by Kelly Burnett and Marie Fogle on offense.
Sullivan Starts Off Strong
Junior Chelsey Sullivan won her first start of the season, limiting Middle Tennessee to two runs on six hits in a complete game 3-2 win. Sullivan's first win in a start in 2010 didn't come until her seventh start of the season.
Buch Perfect at the Plate
Senior 2B Lauren Buch powered the Racer offense against Middle Tennessee State, collecting hits in all six official plate appearances. She homered in the fourth inning of game two to tie the score before doubling in the final run of the game in the top of the sixth in the 3-2 win. She ended the day with three doubles, four runs scored and two RBI.
Way to Start a Career
Freshman Meghan Sims homered in her first collegiate at bat. Sims, batting second in the MSU lineup, drove a 1-2 pitch deep to left center to give the Racers a 1-0 lead in game one.
Early Season Events
MSU will continue non-conference action over the next three weeks in a pair of early season events. The Racers will resume play Feb. 25 against Middle Tennessee State in the War Eagle Classic hosted by Auburn. Auburn and Belmont await MSU on Feb. 26 with a closing game against Georgia Southern on Feb. 27. One week later, the Racers will head west for five games in the DeMarini Invitational hosted by Cal State Fullerton. The first day of the three day event finds MSU playing Cal State Northridge and Oregon State. Home-state opponents Stanford and Cal await on day two with a final game against Iowa to wrap up the weekend.
Playing Tough Competition
Murray State will meet with four different teams in non-conference play that advanced to the 2010 NCAA Championships. UAB, Auburn and Stanford each won one game and dropped a pair in the regional round. 11th seeded California was a perfect 3-0 in the regional round before dropping a pair in the super regionals against Georgia.
Long Time, No See
The Racers open the 2011 season with 16 consecutive games before returning to Murray for their home opener against Eastern Illinois on Mar. 19. The schedule turns in MSU's favor toward the end of April as the Racers will play 11 straight home games just before the end of the regular season.
2011 Racers
MSU brings back 13 players from last season's inaugural squad with three freshmen and a sophomore transfer joining the team. Seven returners started at least 38 games in the field last season and the Racers projected starting lineup heading into 2011 had 348 games of experience last year.
Catch Us If You Can
Murray State blew past the rest of the OVC on the base paths in 2010, leading the conference with 96 stolen bases. Junior Megan Glosser ranked second in the OVC with 28 steals in 32 attempts, and teammate Jenna Bradley tied for third overall with 17 stolen bases. The Racers are 6-8 in steal attempts this season as Glosser leads the OVC with four.
All-OVC Selections
The Racers had three players earn All-OVC recognition in their first season of competition. Freshman Ellyn Troup was named to the 12-member All-OVC Second Team and the All-Newcomer Team as an infielder. Junior Jenna Bradley joined Troup on both the all-second and all-newcomer teams as an outfielder. The final member of the MSU squad to earn league honors was sophomore Megan Glosser, as a utility player on the All-Newcomer Team.
Making the Most of the First Season
The Racers didn't waste any time making a name for themselves in their inaugural season. MSU is one of a few teams around the NCAA that have advanced to their respective conference tournaments (when not all the teams advance) in their first season of competition. Boise State earned the last seed in the Western Athletic Conference tournament at season ago and Brigham Young won the Mountain West title to advance to the NCAA Regional in 2001.
2011 OVC Coaches Poll
Murray State was predicted to finish seventh in the OVC as voted on by the league's coaches. Jacksonville State, the 2010 OVC Championships winner, was named pre-season favorite. Tennessee Tech followed in second with 2010 OVC regular season champion UT Martin in third.
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