Story by Adam Redfern
Staff writer
Murray State softball played its first home games of the season on Sunday, March 10, against the University of Northern Iowa and Samford University.
Game 1: Murray State vs. Northern Iowa
The Murray State softball team dropped its first game of the 2019 Racer Classic against UNI thanks to a five-run third inning from the Panthers.
The Racers started the scoring early in the bottom of the first and second where they tacked on one run in each inning. In the first, senior catcher Madison Culver hit a sacrifice fly to score senior infielder Brenna Finck. In the bottom of the second, freshman utility player Abby Shoulders earned an RBI on a fielder’s choice that scored sophomore infielder Sierra Gilmore.
Freshman pitcher Hannah James had a solid outing until the top of the third when she gave up five runs coming off of two home runs from the Panthers. A three-run shot from junior infielder Sammey Bunch and a two-run bomb from junior catcher Ashley Chesser had Murray State down 5-2.
Head Coach Kara Amundson was upset with James allowing five runs but understands that this is a great learning experience for her.
“She is a freshman and I think working through adversity in a game sometimes is tough to do,” Amundson said. “I think that was a perfect opportunity for her to learn and be able to bounce back. I told her she has plenty of innings left this year so she’s gotta let that one go.”
After an uneventful fourth, senior Lillie Goetz hit a three-run dinger of her own in the bottom of the fifth to make the score 5-5.
The Racers looked poised to take the lead in the bottom of the sixth when they had two runners on second and third with no outs. However, they failed to cash in on the opportunity.
Amundson is looking to take advantage of opportunities with runners in scoring position in future games.
“That was one thing, and I told them there was about five different things that happened towards the end of the game that we didn’t capitalize on,” Amundson said. “There are a few things that we could step-up and get those things done, we will be alright.”
The Panthers capitalized when they scored one in the top of the seventh to take the lead, but the Racers answered with a run of their own to go into extra innings.
UNI scored four in the top of the ninth when senior infielder Brittney Krodinger reached first on a fielder’s choice and an error scored one. Senior outfielder Courtney Krodinger hit a three-run dinger of her own to give the Panthers a 10-6 lead.
Murray State tacked on another run in the bottom of the ninth, but fell short 10-7.
Game 2 Murray State vs. Samford
Murray State picked up its second game on the day with a 4-1 win over Samford. Junior pitcher Taylor Makowsky earned her first win on the season by only allowing six hits.
The Racers scored first in the bottom of the second when Shoulders hit a two-RBI double out to left center. Gilmore tacked on another in the bottom of the third when she hit a solo home run.
Samford was held scoreless in the first three innings thanks to Makowsky’s six strikeouts, but they found its way onto the scoreboard when sophomore infielder Timberlyn Shurbutt scored on a wild pitch.
Makowsky faced two separate situations in the game where the bases were loaded, but she was able to dig herself out of them by not allowing a single run either time.
“She is a bulldog, she really is, and I think that is something really good for the team,” Amundson said. “She has the mentality that when she’s in the circle she wants the ball and wants to get people out.”
Sophomore outfielder Logan Braundmeier added another run in the bottom of the sixth when she hit an RBI single to score Carroll and end the game at 4-1.
The Racers will continue the Racer Classic against Purdue Fort Wayne at 1:30 p.m. on Monday, March 11, and Samford at 3:45 p.m at Racer Field.
