Racers Take Two From Aces in Doubleheader

Friday, April 18

Murray, KY

2 p.m.

Murray State

17-23, 7-12

Evansville

18-26, 4-15

Evansville

Murray State

Photo by: David Eaton-Murray State Athletics

4/18/2025 7:45:00 PM | Softball

Box Score 1 Box Score 2

Murray State Clinches Series Win Over Evansville

By: Charlie Williams

The Murray State Racers (18-23, 8-12 MVC) picked up a pair of wins over the Evansville Purple Aces (18-27, 4-16 MVC) in a Friday doubleheader in Murray, Ky.

The Racers won the first game of the afternoon 6-4 and the second game 5-2.

Game One
The first two innings started out quietly as neither team scored a run. Murray State pitcher Bre Haislip delivered three strikeouts across the first two innings, including one to end the first.

The Purple Aces plated the afternoon's first run in the third as Taylor Howe scored on an Eliza Piggott fielder's choice. The Racers immediately answered as Taylor Franzen reached on a single before Katy Huels drove her home on a triple to left field. Huels scored on the next at-bat as Kenley Minor reached on an error. After advancing to second on another error, Minor was driven in by Parker Holcombe as the sophomore singled to the shortstop to make it 3-1. Miriah Powell provided the answer for the Purple Aces in the fourth with a solo homer to left field, making it 3-2.

Bailey Broemmer added one more for the Racers in the bottom of the sixth, scoring on a sacrifice fly from Katy Huels to give Murray State a 4-2 lead entering the final inning. The Aces rallied to add a pair of runs in the top of the seventh on a sacrifice fly from Brooke Voss and a Miriah Powell RBI single to tie the game.

Parker Holcombe represented the tying run for the Racers in the bottom of the seventh after a single to right field that brought up Hannah Sutton. The freshman came out aggressively, swinging at the first pitch she saw and sending it deep over the left field wall and winning the game for Murray State 6-4.

On the game, the Racers had six runs, 12 hits, and just one error. The Purple Aces scored four runs on seven hits and committed three errors.

Parker Holcombe, Hannah Sutton, and Kayleigh White led the way for Murray State with two hits each, and Sutton and Katy Huels led all Racers with two RBI each. Huels extended her hitting streak, going 1-3 with a run scored. Kenley Minor, Ava Ozment, Riley Jestadt, Bailey Broemmer, and Taylor Franzen each had one hit as well.

Karley Graber (7-8) got the win in relief, pitching four complete innings and allowing five hits and three earned runs while striking out one. Bre Haislip (6-10) got the start in the circle and pitched three innings, allowing one earned run and striking out three while walking five.

Gracie Hollingsworth (7-6) took the loss for Evansville, pitching six innings and allowing four earned runs. Miriah Powell led the Aces with two hits and two RBI.

Game Two
The Racers came out of the gate hot in the second game with a pair of runs in the bottom of the first. Katy Huels was the first to score, reaching on a bunt from Hannah Sutton. Kenley Minor added the second run on a play that started with Ailey Schyck reaching on a fielder's choice. After advancing to third, Minor appeared to be stuck in a rundown between third and home but slid back into third safely. Minor then caught the Aces napping, taking off for home and sliding in to give the Racers a 2-0 lead.

Evansville responded in the fourth with a pair of runs of their own. Zoe Frossard scored the Aces' first run after Kynadee Warner reached on an error. Taylor Howe tied the game on an RBI double to left center, scoring Warner.

After a quiet fifth, the Racers put the hammer down in the sixth. Parker Holcombe gave the Racers the lead with a two-RBI single up the middle. Holcombe then added another run, scoring on a sacrifice fly from Ailey Schyck to give the Racers a 5-2 lead.

Murray State Pitcher Raylee Roby closed out the game in the seventh, retiring the side in order to give the Racers their second win of the day.

In the game, the Racers scored five runs on eight hits and committed one error. The Purple Aces scored two runs on four hits and committed four errors.

Parker Holcombe led the Racers with two RBI on the day, going 1-3 with a run scored and a stolen base. Katy Huels and Kenley Minor had two hits each to lead the team. Ailey Schyck, Ava Ozment, and Bailey Broemmer added one hit each.

Raylee Roby (4-3) went the distance and got the win, allowing no earned runs on four hits.

Kate Ridgeway (5-10) took the loss in the circle, allowing one earned run on five hits. Taylor Howe led Evansville at the plate, going 2-4 with an RBI.

The Racers and Aces will return for the final game of the series on Saturday, April 19 at 1:00 p.m. CT. The game will be streamed live on ESPN+.

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