Story by Zach Scott, Staff writer

Murray State (14-32) took on Eastern Illinois (31-15) Saturday in a doubleheader at Racer Field.

The Racers dropped both games to the Panthers, losing both games 5-4.

Game One:

Murray State wasted no time getting on the board against Eastern Illinois in the first game. Junior catcher Madison Culver doubled to right field in the bottom of the first inning, bringing in junior infielder Brenna Finck to give the Racers the early 1-0 lead.

After the early start, Murray State’s bats went cold all throughout, until the sixth inning when they were down 2-1.

In the bottom of the sixth, Culver hit a sacrifice fly scoring junior infielder Lillie Goetz to tie the game up at two apiece. Later in the inning, freshman infielder Sierra Gilmore took a 3-2 pitch over the centerfield wall. The two-run homerun scored sophomore outfielder Kristen Bialek to give the Racers the 4-2 advantage.

Murray State was unable to hold onto the lead in the seventh inning, when the Panthers tacked on two game-saving runs to tie the game at four to send the game to extra innings.

Eastern Illinois jumped on the Racers in the top of the eighth inning, loading the bases and eventually scoring the game-winning run to give it the decisive 5-4 lead. Murray State was unable to answer in the bottom half of the eighth, giving the Panthers the 5-4 win in thrilling fashion.

For the Racers, Culver finished 1-for-3 at the plate with a double and two RBIs. Gilmore had a respectable game as well, going 1-for-3 with a homerun, two RBIs and a run scored. Goetz finished 1-for-4 with a triple and a run scored.

Senior pitcher Haven Campbell got the start inside the circle in the first game, going 7.1 innings, striking out and walking four apiece. Campbell allowed five runs, four earned. Junior pitcher Grace Vaughn came in relief for Campbell, pitching .2 innings, allowing one hit after facing three batters.

Despite the loss, Head Coach Kara Amundson had plenty of praise for Campbell.

“Haven did plenty well enough for us to win and honestly she didn’t even throw her best game, we just didn’t do the job behind her,” Amundson said.

Game Two:

Like game one, the Racers were able to put a run on the board in the bottom of the first inning.

After giving up a run in the top of the first, Murray State answered back with a double by Culver, scoring Finck.

Eastern Illinois scored two more runs in the top of third, but the Racers answered back with a solo homerun by sophomore infielder Lexi Jones to cut the Panthers lead to 3-2.

Eastern Illinois answered back with two more runs in the top of the fifth inning to give it a 5-2 lead.

In the bottom of the sixth inning, Jones hit her second homerun of the game, this time a two-run shot to right field, scoring Goetz to make the Panthers lead 5-4.

Despite loading the bases in the bottom of the seventh inning, Murray State was unable to capitalize as they dropped the second game of the doubleheader against the Panthers 5-4.

Jones led the way in the second game, going 2-for-3 with two homeruns, two runs scored and three RBIs. Culver contributed with a 1-for-4 game with a double and one RBI. Finck finished the game 1-for-3 with a double, walk and a run scored.

Vaughn got the start inside the circle for the second game, pitching two innings, striking out and walking one apiece. Vaughn gave up three runs, all earned. Sophomore pitcher Ellison Barrett came in relief for Vaughn, pitching five innings, striking out four while only walking one. Barrett gave up two runs, both earned.

Amundson pointed out that every time they chipped away at the Panthers lead, the Racers gave up runs immediately afterwards.

After two more tough losses for the Racers, Amundson has become accustomed to these type of games throughout this underwhelming season.

“We’ve been doing this all year,” Amundson said. “We had multiple opportunities, ran ourselves out of plays.”

After dropping both games, the Racers will need almost a miracle to make the OVC tournament.

Hanging onto the hopes of making the post season, Amundson expects her team to take the field the rest of the games with the same mentality they have all year.

“You have to come out here and play as hard as you possibly can,” Amundson said.

The Racers are back in action for another doubleheader when they take on Southern Illinois University at Edwardsville at 1 p.m. and 3 p.m. on Sunday, April 29, at Racer Field.