Racers Continue OVC Campaign With Weekend Doubleheaders

Friday, March 29

Racer Field

2 P.M.

Murray State

Tennessee State

Photo by: Dave Winder-Murray State Athletics

Racers Continue OVC Campaign With Weekend Doubleheaders

3/28/2019 8:55:00 PM | Softball

Game Notes vs. TSU (PDF)Game Notes vs. Belmont (PDF)

Dates: March 29^th/March 31^st
Site (Venue): Murray, Kentucky (Racer Field)
ESPN+ Stream vs TSU: Game 1: https://es.pn/2U6Wusv
Game 2: https://es.pn/2FJJd0q
Live Stats vs. TSU: Game 1: https://bit.ly/2CLfp1i
Game 2: https://bit.ly/2I2VBu1
Links for Sunday vs. Belmont: Available on GoRacers.com
MSU Record (Streak): 12-16 (L1)
Racers All-Time vs. Opponents: 29-18 (16-3 vs. TSU, 13-5 vs. Belmont)
TSU Record (Streak): 5-15 (L7)
Belmont Record (Streak): 19-10 (W1)
MSU Next Games: April 2 vs. SIU
MSU Next Home: April 6 vs. Tennessee Tech

The Racers continue their Ohio Valley Conference schedule with a pair of doubleheaders on the weekend. Friday afternoon features two games against the Tigers of Tennessee State, while Sunday is a doubleheader date with Belmont. Both sets of competitions will take place at Racer Field in Murray, Kentucky to close out a five-game Racer homestand.

Last Time Out:
The Racers are coming off a midweek matchup with Memphis that saw Murray State fall 8-0 in their third meeting with the Tigers in 2019. While the Racers came up short on the scoreboard, Wednesday saw a couple of stellar individual performances for Murray State on the afternoon. Anchoring the top of the Racer lineup, Brenna Finck (2-2, 2B) and Jensen Striegel (2-2) each collected a pair of hits for Murray State in the midweek defeat.

Entering the Weekend:
The Racers enter the weekend at 12-16 overall with a perfect 2-0 record in OVC competition thus far. Batting .271 through all competitions, Murray State averages 4.61 runs per contest with 16 home runs on the year. Additionally, they have swiped 28 bags on the base paths, which is good for an average of one per competition.

Individually, Brenna Finck leads the Racers with a .340 average and a team-high 20 runs scored in 2019. Lillie Goetz has also been a factor at the dish for Murray State, turning in a .333 average while leading her side with 23 RBIs on the year.

In the circle, Hannah James looks to build on her outstanding start to conference play as she has yet to surrender an earned run through eight innings of OVC action. On the season, she leads Murray State with seven wins while carrying a 3.06 ERA through 89.1 innings in 2019. She currently holds a 3.19 K/BB ratio in her 21 appearances.

Scouting Tennessee State:
The Tigers have had a rough start to 2019, entering Friday's doubleheader on a seven-game skid to accompany an 0-4 record to begin OVC competition. Batting .267 as a team, they have hit nine home runs to fuel their 3.15 runs per contest on the year.

In the circle, TSU carries a team ERA of 4.14, while opposing hitters have managed a .307 average against Tiger arms in 2019.

Individually, TSU has seen good production from Bri Vire, whose .397 average and 14 runs scored leads the Tigers at the plate. Also eclipsing the .300 mark entering Friday afternoon is Reese Weber, whose .349 average and team-best nine RBIs have been major contributions to the Tiger lineup.

The Racers could expect to see Raven Loveless in the circle on Friday, as she carries a team-best 3.31 ERA and has earned four of the five Tiger wins in 2019. She carries a 2.92 K/BB ratio in 61.1 innings of work on the year.

Scouting Belmont:
The Bruins enter the weekend with a 19-10 overall record with a 2-2 conference start against OVC competition. Belmont has been efficient at the plate, batting .290 with 20 home runs on the year. Their 5.24 runs per contest is 64^th in the nation, while they have reached base at a .371 clip entering the weekend's doubleheader.

In the circle, the Bruins have been even more impressive, as their 1.84 ERA ranks 18^th in the country. Posting a 2.83 K/BB ratio as a team, they also rank 30^th nationally as their pitching staff has fired on all cylinders to in 2019.

At the plate, Baylee Cook is batting .355 with 20 RBIs, while Alicia Veltri poses a threat to hit the deep ball as she has gone yard five times on the season.

In the circle, Brooklin Lee (1.59 ERA, 89 SO, 88.0 IP) and Veltri (1.71 ERA, 86 SO, 82.0 IP) have captained a pitching staff that has put up phenomenal numbers in their first 29 games of 2019.

All-Time Series:
Murray State and Tennessee State have collided 19 times in their history, with the Racers holding a commanding advantage as winners of 16 of those meetings. The Racers swept the doubleheader at Tiger field in Nashville in 2018, defeating TSU by scores of 11-3 and 7-1.

Against the Bruins, the Racers have prevailed in 13 of the 18 prior meetings after taking both games of the doubleheader on the road last season, earning wins of 1-0 and 4-3 in 2018.

Weather Forecast:
The Friday forecast is calling for 68 degrees and cloudy, with chances of showers in the morning and evening hours. Winds are expected to blow in at 10 miles per hour. Chance of rain: 50%

Sunday is a sunny high of 50 degrees, with winds blowing out at around 12 miles per hour. Chance of rain: 0%.