Racers Plagued by Four-Run Third, Fall to Mercer on Final Day of Mizuno Classic

Sunday, March 8

Stillwater, Okla.

10:00 A.M.

Murray State

12-10

Mercer

10-16

Murray State

Mercer

Photo by: Dan Hasko

Racers Plagued by Four-Run Third, Fall to Mercer on Final Day of Mizuno Classic

3/8/2020 1:45:00 PM | Softball

Box Score Box Score (PDF)

Murray State softball closed the Mizuno Classic with a single game against Mercer in Stillwater, Oklahoma on Sunday. Sierra Gilmore belted her seventh home run of the season, but the Racers could not overcome a four-run third inning from the Bears as Murray State endured a 5-3 defeat to conclude the weekend.

The Racers got a spark from Gilmore in the first inning of the contest when the junior from Williamsburg, Indiana went yard with a two-out solo shot to give her side a 1-0 lead in the early stages of the ballgame.

Murray State went on to double its lead in the third, scoring another run when Logan Braundmeier crossed the plate on a throwing error from the Mercer catcher as the Racers held a 2-0 advantage through the top half of the inning.

Defensive miscues would prove costly for the Racers in the bottom half, however, as four fielding errors contributed to a four-run third frame for Mercer as the Bears took the lead for the first time in the ballgame - owning a 4-2 edge through three complete.

A sacrifice fly off the bat of Sierra Gilmore that scored Jensen Striegel cut the Mercer lead to the slimmest of margins in the fifth, as the Bears clung to a 4-3 lead heading to the home half of the frame.

Mercer went on to match the Racer run with one of their own during the ensuing half inning, though, as they owned a two-run margin once again after Allie Jones scored from third off a Rachel Baker bunt to make it 5-3 in favor of the Bears through the end of five.

A two-out single from Braundmeier would bring the tying run to the plate in the seventh, but the Racers could not complete the comeback effort as they fell to Mercer 5-3 at Cowgirl Stadium in Stillwater.

Braundmeier fueled the Racers at the plate, as the Aviston, Illinois native reached base three times – collecting a pair of hits while scoring a run and stealing two bases in the defeat. Sierra Gilmore's solo home run in the first brought her season total to a team-leading seven round-trippers on the year.

In the circle, Jenna Veber worked three innings and, while she took the loss, all four runs scored against the freshman were unearned as she struck out one and did not issue a walk on the day.

Hannah James also tossed three innings in relief, striking out two while surrendering one earned run in the contest.

The Racers will be back in action on Friday when they make their 2020 home debut at the Racer Classic in Murray, Kentucky. First pitch against Youngstown State is slated for 3:00 p.m.