Story by Zach Scott, Staff writer
The Racers’ struggles continued on Friday when they lost both games of the doubleheader to Tennessee Tech (14-24).
Murray State (10-29) lost the first game 5-1 then dropped the second game 5-4 thanks to a walk-off homerun by freshman infielder Taylor Thomas for the Golden Eagles.
Game One:
The Golden Eagles struck first in game one, scoring four runs unanswered. This included a two-run single by sophomore utility-woman Raegan Sparks, that scored senior utility player Callen Griffin and freshman outfielder Hannah Richter.
The Racers were able to answer back in the top of the sixth inning with an RBI single from junior catcher Madison Culver that scored junior infielder Lillie Goetz. That would be the only run the Racers were able to put on the board, as they lost 5-1.
Junior infielder Brenna Finck led the way offensively for the Racers, finishing the game 2-for-3 with two singles.
Junior pitcher Grace Vaughn got the start inside the circle, going three innings and giving up two runs, both unearned. Senior pitcher Haven Campbell came into relief in the fourth inning, pitching three innings and giving up three runs, all of them earned.
Game Two:
The bats came alive in the second game for the Racers, as they scored four runs in the top of the first inning.
Culver started the rally with a single to the shortstop, scoring Finck and advancing Goetz to third base. Freshman infielder Sierra Gilmore then hit a sacrifice fly to right field, scoring Goetz and advancing Culver to third base.
Sophomore infielder Lexi Jones kept things going for the Racers, reaching first base off of an error by Golden Eagles junior first basemen Hallie Davis. The error allowed Culver to score, increasing the Racers’ lead to 3-0. Senior infielder Erika Downey then capped off Murray State’s big first inning, scoring on a wild pitch.
The Golden Eagles answered back in the fourth and fifth innings off of two Sparks’ homeruns. In the fourth, Sparks hit a solo homerun to put the Eagles on the scoreboard and in the fifth hit a three-run homerun to tie the game at four.
After a scoreless top of the seventh for the Racers, freshman infielder Taylor Thomas hit a walk-off solo homerun for the Golden Eagles, giving them the 5-4 win.
The Racers will look to snap their seven-game losing streak at 5 p.m. on Wednesday, April 18, when they take on the Memphis Tigers in Memphis, Tennessee.
