Softball Rally Falls Short at SIUE

Saturday, March 14

Edwardsville, Ill.

3 p.m.

Murray State

12-6, 0-1

SIUE

17-5, 1-0

Murray St.

SIUE

Photo by: Patti Twaddle

3/14/2015 8:50:00 PM | Softball

Box Score

Despite a four-run rally in the sixth inning, the Murray State softball team dropped its OVC opener Saturday, 5-4, at SIU Edwardsville.

It took two innings for SIUE (17-5, 1-0) to figure out Mason Robinson, but once it finally did in the bottom of third, it took full advantage. Pitcher Haley Chambers led off the frame with a single and would be driven by three straight singles from Rachel Keller, Alex McDavid and Brittany Toney.

Trailing 2-0, CheyAnne Gaskey entered the game for Robinson and proceeded to walk two straight batters to extend the Cougar lead to 3-0. However, after she allowed a walk and a triple to begin the fourth, making the score 4-0, Gaskey settled down and allowed just one hit over the next two innings to give her team a chance.

In the top of the sixth, Alexa Becker reached on an error by SIUE centerfielder Jordan LaFave, opening the proverbial flood gates. Mo Ramsey and Jessica Twaddle followed Becker with two straight bunt singles to put MSU (12-6, 0-1) on the scoreboard, 4-1.

After two outs, Jocelynn Rodgers drove in Ramsey with a single that dropped just fair past first base. Cayla Levins then scored Twaddle and advanced Rodger's pinch runner, Mallory Richardson, in the next at-bat with a single of her own. Following Levins, Kalyn Zierke entered the game to pinch hit for the designated player Taylor Odom and came up with MSU's third straight hit to score Twaddle and tie the game at four.

However, in the bottom of the sixth, Gaskey continued to have control issues and walked two straight batters with one out. McDavid took advantage of the situation with her third hit of the day to put the Cougars back on top, 5-4. After another walk by Gaskey, the MSU defense turned its 16^th double play in 18 games to end the inning.

In the seventh, Becker got Murray State started right when she drew a walk to begin the inning. After a failed bunt attempt by Ramsey, Twaddle answered with her third hit of the day to give the Racers runners at first and second with one out. However, MSU was unable to push either across the plate and fell, 5-4.

Twaddle finished the game with a career-high tying three hits, while also scoring a run and driving one in. Despite officially being 0-for-2 in the contest, Becker was also a heavy contributor for MSU in the game. The senior made the most of reaching on an error by scoring and reached base on two other occasions via walk and being hit by a pitch.

Robinson began the game for MSU and went 2.2 innings in the circle, allowing three runs on five hits in the no-decision. Meanwhile, Gaskey took the loss by giving up two runs on three hits with eight walks in the final 3.1 innings to fall to 5-4 on the season.

The Racers will return to Cougar Field tomorrow to wrap up the series with SIUE with a doubleheader. First pitch is scheduled for Noon.