Story by Adam Redfern
Staff writer
Murray State softball left the Coach B Classic winning two of three and moving to 6-10 overall on the season.
Murray State vs. SIU
The Racers got their fifth win on the season when they took on SIU thanks to an offensive showcase from senior infielder Lillie Goetz and senior catcher Madison Culver.
Goetz got the Racers started when she hit a two-run home run in the top of the first, scoring sophomore outfielder Jessen Striegel.
Culver doubled Murray State’s lead in the top of the third when she hit another two-run home run, scoring Striegel once more.
The Salukis carved into the Racers’ lead in the bottom of the third when senior infielder Eyrika Brandenburg hit a single to right, scoring two runs. Sophomore infielder Jenny Jansen added another run in the next at-bat when she hit a double to right, scoring Brandenburg.
With the score at 4-3, both teams’ defenses stepped up and didn’t allow any runs in the fourth through the sixth.
The Racers ended the drought in the top of the seventh when Goetz hit a single-run home run to put the final score at 5-3 for Murray State.
Murray State vs. St. Louis University:
The Racers won their second game of the 2019 Coach B Classic when they beat Saint Louis University in an offensive showdown 13-12.
Murray State started the scoring in the top of the first when senior infielder Lillie Goetz singled to the shortstop and sophomore outfielder Jensen Striegel scored on a throwing error. Sophomore outfielder Logan Braundmeier singled to third scoring senior catcher Madison Culver who advanced to home on another throwing error.
Despite the defensive errors in the top of the first, the Billikens answered with their bats in the bottom of the second when they score nine runs.
Senior catcher Kaylyn Breitbach started the inning with a three-run bomb out to center. Sophomore outfielder Kat Lane laid down a bunt and scored another run for Saint Louis on an error. The Racers allowed another run on errors to make the score 5-2. The Billikens added four more runs thanks to an RBI single and a three run home run from freshman infielder Kristi Stevenson to cap off their nine-run inning.
Murray State immediately started to carve into the seven-run lead when senior infielder Lexi Jones hit a 2-RBI single out to left, and freshman utility player Lindsey Carroll hit a RBI single to center to bring the score to 9-5 going into the fourth.
The Racers added another run in the top of the fourth thanks to Braundmeier’s RBI double out to left, making it just a three-run lead.
Saint Louis answered in the bottom of the fourth with a two-run home run from junior pitcher Kaylea Chappelle.
After the fourth inning the Racers’ offense came to life, scoring seven runs to the Billikens’ one.
Goetz singled out to right, scoring two for the Racers, making the score 11-8.
The lone run in the last four innings for the Billikens came from freshman outfielder Gabbie Kowalik who hit an RBI single.
The last three innings were all Murray State as they scored four in the top of the sixth. Jones hit a three-run home run to bring the Racers within one run at 11-12. Senior infielder Brenna Finck added another when she grounded out to third to tie the game at 12-12.
Jones pushed the Racers into a 13-12 lead in the top of the eighth when she hit a sacrifice fly out to center.
Saint Louis couldn’t find an answer in its final two at-bats to leave the score at 13-12 for the Racers’ win.
Murray State vs. #17 University of Kentucky
Murray State dropped its first game of the 2019 Coach B Classic when they played the No. 17 ranked University of Kentucky losing 14-4.
UK started the scoring in the top of the first when senior outfielder Kelsee Henson hit a two-RBI single out to center field.
The Racers answered quickly with two runs of their own when Braundmeier hit a two-RBI single to tie the game.
In the top of the second, UK built onto their lead when freshman catcher Kayla Kowalik hit a two-RBI triple out to center. In the next at-bat, senior infielder Katie Reed singled to third and scored Kowalik.
Senior infielder Mallory Peyton tacked on another run in the top of the third when she hit a solo home run, making the score 6-2 for the Wildcats.
Carroll chipped away at the four-run lead when she hit an RBI double in the bottom of the fourth to bring the Racers within three.
Junior infielder Alex Martens added another run in the top of the fifth when she grounded out to second and scored one.
Freshman Denise Teague hit a sacrifice fly to reduce the lead to 7-4 for the Wildcats.
UK scored seven runs in the top of the seventh to extend their lead to 14-4, overpowering the Racers.
Murray State will hit the road for its next game against Southern Illinois at 3 p.m. on Wednesday, March 6 at Carbondale, Illinois.
