Belmont’s Walk-Off Sends Softball Home With A Split

Sunday, April 21

Nashville, Tenn.

12 p.m.

Murray State

19-23, 10-9

Belmont

13-29, 3-16

Murray St.

Belmont

Photo by: Murray State Sports Information

4/21/2013 1:41:00 PM | Softball

Box Score 1 Box Score 2

| Game 1 Box Score (PDF) | Game 2 Box Score (PDF) | Season Stats (PDF)

A walk-off home run by Belmont in game two of Sunday's doubleheader at Rose Park in Nashville forced the Murray State softball team to settle for a split. The Racers won the lid lifter 4-2, but fell in the finale, 3-2.

In the opener, the Racers (19-24, 10-10) were held scoreless in the first three innings by Belmont starter Taylor Moon. However, in the top of the fourth Murray State busted up the no-hitter in a big way.

The inning got started by Alexa Becker and Casey Castile each getting on base with a single. The duo was move to second and third by a fly ball from Ellyn Troup, then brought home in the following at bat by another single from Leslie Bridges to make it 2-0. After Mallory Richardson got on board after being hit by a pitch, Christian Cox brought her and pinch runner Brianne Sanders home with a double to left field.

In the bottom of the inning, Belmont (14-29, 4-16) put the Racers in a hole early by loading the bases with no outs. Mia Vierra made it 4-1 when she used a sacrifice fly to score Heather Turner, who led off the inning with a double down the left field line. The Bruins added another run later in the inning when MJ Lawson drew a bases loaded walk with two outs. However, pitcher Shelby Kosmecki answered in the very next bat by sitting down Kirbie Ferrell looking for her fourth strikeout of the game.

In the top of the fifth, CheyAnne Gaskey entered the game in relief of Kosmecki for the Racers in an attempt to record her third save in as many tries this season. Gaskey's attempt was successful as she allowed no run on just two hits over three complete innings. The save was the fifth of Gaskey's career and she is now tied in Kosmecki for the most in program history. Kosmecki moved to 7-16 on the year with the win after allowing just two runs on five hits with two walks and four strikeouts.

Bridges led Murray State in the game by going 2-for-3 with two RBIs, while Becker, Castile and Cox each finished the contest with one hit. Bridges and Cox had the only RBIs on the day, while Becker, Castile, Richardson and Sanders scored one run each.

In game two, it was the Bruins that struck first as Ashley Hammer tripled to right center in the bottom of the first and was brought home one batter later on a sacrifice fly from Turner. In the third, the Racers were able to take over the lead with a two RBI single to center field that scored Ramsey and Miller.

Neither team was able to score for the remainder of the game and with two outs and a runner on in the bottom of the seventh it was left to Kat Hollingsworth to provide some offense. If it was offense Belmont was looking for, Hollingsworth provided, as she homered to left field to help the Bruins walk off with a 3-2 win.

Troup finished the game by leading the team at 2-for-2 with a walk, while Miller also had two hits to go along with a run. Gaskey fell to 11-7 with the loss as she allowed three runs on nine hits with two walks and a strikeout.

Murray State now returns home for a non-conference doubleheader on Wednesday with NAIA member St. Catharine. First pitch is scheduled for 3 p.m.