Racers Take Weekend Series, Split Sunday Doubleheader with Eastern Kentucky

Sunday, March 14

Murray, Ky.

1 P.M.

Murray State

7-12, 4-1

Eastern Kentucky

11-5, 3-2

Eastern Kentucky

Murray State

Photo by: David Eaton-Murray State Athletics

Racers Take Weekend Series, Split Sunday Doubleheader with Eastern Kentucky

3/14/2021 9:29:00 PM | Softball

Box Score 1 Box Score 2 Box Score PDF (Game 1)Box Score PDF (Game 2)Photo Gallery Photo Gallery 2

MSU wins second OVC series in as many opportunities

Murray State softball wrapped up a three-game series against Eastern Kentucky with an afternoon doubleheader at Racer Field on Sunday. The Racers split the day, earning a 7-3 victory in the first game before falling 4-1 in game two. Taking two of three from the Colonels over the course of the weekend, the Racers improved to 4-2 in OVC play, winning their second weekend series against conference foes in as many opportunities.

"It's going to be huge down the stretch as we continue through to make sure we're taking series when we have the opportunity. We did that today in the first game. We played really hard, had the bats alive again, and got really good pitching in the circle from Taylor and Jenna…coming out and taking the first two was a big deal for us," said MSU head coach Kara Amundson.

Game 1 – Murray State 7, Eastern Kentucky 3

The Racers picked up right where they left off the night before in Sunday's first game, scoring five runs on five hits in the opening frame.

After back-to-back singles from Logan Braundmeier and Jensen Striegel, Lily Fischer was hit by a pitch to load the bases for Sierra Gilmore. In true cleanup hitter fashion, Gilmore knocked in a pair with a two-RBI single to center, before Lindsey Carroll sent a base hit to left to push another run across.

After Carroll stole second, Lexi Jones made the first inning a monster one when she laced a two-run single to right as the Racers captured a 5-0 advantage through the end of one as the first six Racer batters reached base safely.

Eastern Kentucky got one back in the third when Ariyana Miranda came in to score on a fielding error, and later cut the deficit to 5-3 when Sammi Miller and Jaelyn Sanders drove in runs in the fifth.

With the Racers still holding a two-run advantage in the home half of the sixth, sophomore Lily Fischer gave MSU some breathing room when she belted the first home run of her career – a two-out, two-run shot to widen the margin to 7-3 through six complete.

"She's playing maturely. She's a young kid, but she's playing maturely. She's staying within herself and not making the game too big. It's been really cool to see her grow, and she's just settled into her swing. She's really confident in her swing right now, and she's just having fun – it's cool to see," said Amundson on the recent play of Fischer.

Jenna Veber would retire the side in order in the seventh for the Racers to secure the victory and clinch the weekend series.

Taylor Makowsky improved to 2-1 in the circle as the Tomball, Texas native struck out four over four and one-third innings while surrendering just two earned runs on the day.

Veber, who entered to pitch with one out in the fifth, did not allow a base runner the rest of the way as she collected her second save of the year.

At the plate, Lindsey Carroll (2-3, RBI, R), Sierra Gilmore (2-4, 2B, 2 RBI, R), Lily Fischer (2-3, HR, 2 RBI, 2 R), and Jensen Striegel (3-4, 2 R, SB) each posted multi-hit performances as the Racers put up 11 hits in the contest.

Game 2 – Eastern Kentucky 4, Murray State 1

EKU put up one run in the first and two more in the second to jump out to a three-run lead in game two, before a Kamryn Carcich RBI single in the home half of the second scored Lindsey Carroll to put the Racers on the board as they trailed 3-1 through two complete.

After the third and fourth innings went 1-2-3 for both sides, the Racers put runners on the corners with two outs in the fifth, but were unable to generate a run. The Colonels would add one more in the seventh on a Vianna Barron RBI single and, despite the Racers putting a runner in scoring position in both the sixth and seventh frames, could not produce another run in the ballgame.

Hannah James turned in an impressive shift in relief, as the junior went the rest of the way after taking over in the circle with one out in the second inning. The Nicholasville, Kentucky native struck out a career-high 13 batters, which is one off the Murray State single-game record of 14 that was set by CheyAnne Gaskey on February 24^th, 2013 against Saint Louis.

Offensively, freshman Kamryn Carcich led the way with two hits and a pair of stolen bases in addition to the lone Racer RBI of the ballgame.

The Racers will return to action on Wednesday when they host Memphis in a midweek nonconference contest at Racer Field. First pitch is slated for 3:00 p.m.

"It's going to be huge down the stretch for us as we continue through to make sure we're taking series when we have the opportunity. We did that today."

Coach Kara Amundson on winning the weekend series over EKU 🥎#WeAreRacers🏇 pic.twitter.com/kQcOW38ofb
— Murray State Softball (@RacersSoftball) March 15, 2021