Racers Advance to MVC Finals

Friday, May 8

Carbondale, IL

6:30 p.m.

Murray State

29-22

Southern Illinois University

34-17

Team	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	Runs R	Hits H	Errors E
Murray St.	3	0	1	0	1	1	0	6	10	0
Southern Ill.	0	1	0	0	0	0	0	1	2	2

5/8/2026 9:41:00 PM | Softball

Box Score

Murray State will face Belmont with The Valley on the line.

By: Charlie Williams

The Murray State Racers (29-22, 17-9 MVC) move on to the final round of the 2026 Missouri Valley Conference Championship after falling to the Belmont Bruins (39-11, 21-5 MVC) and defeating the Southern Illinois Salukis (34-17, 21-6 MVC) on Friday in Carbondale, Illinois.

Game 1: Belmont 4, Murray State 0
The Racers fell in a pitching duel in the opening game of the day, as a trio of Murray State pitchers allowed four runs on five hits.

After Belmont put up a pair of runs in both the first and third innings, the Racers looked to mount a threat in the third inning as Katy Huels singled down the left-field line for their first hit of the game. Despite Huels later stealing second, the Racers could not score in the third.

The Racers threatened to score again in the seventh as Parker Holcombe walked and Allie Waldron singled to put a pair of runners on base, but once again, the Racers could not score.

Bre Haislip (12-9) took the loss after allowing two earned runs in the first inning. Raylee Roby allowed another pair of runs in 4 2/3 innings of work as a reliever, and Karlye Graber pitched 1/3 of an inning as well.

Allie Waldron and Katy Huels had the only hits for the Racers.

Game 2: Murray State 6, Southern Illinois 1
Needing a win to survive and advance to the finals, the Racers came out hot in the opening inning against the host Salukis.

Parker Holcombe plated the first pair of runs for the Navy & Gold, scoring Kynadee Warner and Adison Hicks on a double to left-center field. Reagan Towns added one more with a single to right-center field that gave Murray State a 3-0 lead in the opening inning.

After Southern Illinois scored on a solo home run in the bottom of the second, the Murray State bats got back to work in the third. Allie Waldron hit a solo homer to right field, setting an MVC record with her fourth of the tournament and pushing the lead to 4-1.

Two innings later, Kenley Minor recorded her second hit of the MVC Championship in style, blasting a home run to right field that bounced off the top half of the video board.

In the top of the sixth, Katy Huels singled before Ailey Schyck reached first on an error. Both runners advanced on a bunt single by Adison Hicks before Huels scored on an RBI groundout by Parker Holcombe that gave the Racers a 6-1 lead going into the final inning.

Karlye Graber finished the job in the circle, drawing a flyout and a pair of popouts to end the game.

Graber (11-5) went the distance and earned the win after allowing just two hits and one run while striking out four Saluki batters in a complete game that saw the sophomore throw 111 total pitches.

Parker Holcombe finished the day 2-for-4 with three RBI, a double, and a run scored. Reagan Towns and Adison Hicks both went 2-for-4 as well, with Towns notching an RBI. Kenley Minor and Allie Waldron both homered, while Kynadee Warner and Katy Huels each added one hit.

Up Next
The Racers move on to the final round of the MVC Championship, where they will play the top-seeded Belmont Bruins. The two teams will face off at 1 p.m. CDT, while a Murray State win will force a second game approximately 45 minutes after the conclusion of Game 1.

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