Racers Rally For Win In OVC Tournament Opener

Wednesday, May 7

Jacksonville, Ala.

3 p.m.

Murray State

31-22

Eastern Kentucky

28-22

Eastern Kentucky

Murray State

Photo by: Matt Reynolds - Jacksonville State Athletics

5/7/2014 7:12:00 PM | Softball

Box Score

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A six-run, sixth inning helped the Murray State softball team rally from a five-run deficit and top Eastern Kentucky, 7-6, in the opening round of the 2014 OVC Softball Championship at University Field in Jacksonville, Alabama.

The Racers (31-22) fell behind early in the second when Katie Tackett started things off for the Colonels (28-22) with a double. Pinch runner Hayley Schenasi scored two batters later from second on a fielder choice from Amber Murray after a hard collision at the plate with MSU catcher Jocelynn Rodgers. However, Murray State tied things up in the bottom of the frame with a solo home run from Jessica Twaddle, her fourth of the season.

In the fourth, Murray State began the inning with an error and things continued to go downhill from there for the Racers. Eastern Kentucky scored five runs in the frame, capitalizing on four hits, two walks and a MSU error. The Colonels continued to dominate in the circle as well, as LeAnna Pittsenbarger retired 11 straight batters after a single by Casey Castile in the second.

However, after being held to just two hits in the first five innings, the Murray State bats came alive in the sixth, beginning with two straight singles from Shelbey Miller and Mo Ramsey. Miller and Ramsey scored in the next at bat after a single by Alexa Becker and a miscue by the EKU defense. Becker did not stay on the base paths long, as she scored easily from third on a sacrifice fly from Leslie Bridges to cut the lead to 6-4.

Twaddle and Cayla Levins continued the hit parade for MSU after they followed Bridges with a pair of singles. Casey Castile tied the game at six just one batter later with a double that scored Twaddle and Levins, before she advanced to third on another Colonel error. Rodgers put a cap on the scoring in the inning following Castile with a single that got through the left side to score Castile and give MSU the 7-6 lead. Murray State ended the inning with six runs scored on seven hits and two EKU errors.

Lauren Mitchell began the bottom of the seventh for Eastern Kentucky with a single and was quickly joined on the bases by Murray, who reached on a walk. With two outs, Nicole Heitz gave EKU a fighting chance by loading the bases with a single. However, MSU was able to hold on, as Kayla Joyce popped up to end the game.

Twaddle and Castile each recorded two hits in the game, while five others tallied one. Twaddle also scored twice, while Castile finished with two RBIs. CheyAnne Gaskey (14-12) picked up the win for Murray State by allowing just two earned runs on five hits with a strikeout over the final four innings.

Murray State will now return to University Field at 3 p.m., Thursday against the top-seeded host Jacksonville State.