Story by Adam Redfern
Staff writer
Murray State softball was unable to score enough runs to bring home a win in its three games in the NC State Fairfield Inn & Suites Crabtree Invitational.
Game #1- Murray State vs. UMBC
The Racers took a 3-2 loss to UMBC after their first two games of the NC State Fairfield Inn & Suites Crabtree Invitational were canceled on Saturday due to weather.
Freshman Pitcher Hannah James had another decent outing for the Racers, only allowing five hits on the day, despite the lack of offense to back up her performance.
Murray State were first to crack the scoreboard when they scored one run in the second and third innings. Freshman utility player Lindsey Carroll doubled to right, scoring junior infielder Lexi Jones. Senior catcher Madison Culver earned another RBI in her senior campaign when she singled to right, scoring senior infielder Brenna Finck.
The Retrievers went on to score three runs in the top of the sixth to take the lead thanks to a sacrifice fly from junior infielder Valerie Hammett and a two-run bomb from sophomore utility player Imani Dawson.
The Racers had an uneventful rest of the game, leaving the score at 3-2 to UMBC.
Game #2- Murray State vs. NC State
North Carolina State dominated and won the game 9-1 thanks to a seven-run third inning.
The Wolfpack took the lead first in the game when they hit not one, but two three-run home runs in the third inning. Sophomore outfielder Sam Russ hit the first home run, senior infielder Jessica Moore hit the second and junior infielder Skylar Johnston got an RBI single to take a 7-0 lead in the third inning.
The only run scored for the Racers was a home run from senior catcher Madison Culver in the top of the sixth.
Junior utility player Bridgette Nordberg hit a two-RBI triple in the bottom of the sixth for NC State to cut the game short and give the Wolfpack a 9-1 win.
Game 3- Murray State vs. NC State
NC State’s junior utility player Bridgette hit three home runs in the final game of the NC State Fairfield Inn & Suites Crabtree Invitational to propel the Wolfpack to a 10-1 win.
Senior catcher Madison Culver drove in the only run for the Racers in the first inning when she hit a sacrifice fly to center to score senior infielder Brenna Finck.
The Wolfpack answered quickly when Nordberg hit a two-run homer out to right to gain a 2-1 lead.
After the first inning NC State didn’t allow the Racers to score again, and continued to expand its lead.
In the third inning Nordberg slapped another two-run home run, doubling the Wolfpack lead.
NC State had an offensive explosion in the bottom of the fifth, scoring six runs. Freshman infielder Kelli Wagner hit a sacrifice fly to score one, senior infielder Natalie Jones hit a three-run home run, and Nordberg hit her third two-run home run to end the game short at 10-1.
After a winless weekend, the Racers will continue their road stretch when they play on Mar. 1, in the 2019 Coach B Classic in Carbondale, Illinois. The first game is against Wichita State and will begin at 10 a.m.
