Story by Adam Redfern
Staff writer
Game 1: Murray State v. University of 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 4:45 p.m at Racer Field.
Game 3: Murray State vs. Purdue Fort Wayne
The Racers picked up their first win on the second day of the Racer Classic when they beat Purdue Fort Wayne 2-0.
Junior pitcher Taylor Makowsky pitched her second complete game in the Racer Classic and only allowed three hits on the day. Makowsky racked up seven strikeouts and only three walks to cap off an impressive game for the Racers.
“Our pitching won the day today,” Head Coach Amundson said. “I think it was one of the first times I can say that. We only gave up one run today, against teams that can really hit the ball.”
Murray State looked poised to score in the bottom of the third when they had freshman utility player Abby Shoulders on third, senior infielder Brenna Finck on second and senior infielder Lillie Goetz on first. However, the Racers were unable to capitalize on the opportunity and left the game at 0-0.
The only runs on the day came from sophomore infielder Sierra Gilmore singling to right, scoring Goetz followed by a sacrifice-fly from freshman utility player Lindsey Carroll to take a 2-0 lead.
This was all the Racers needed, holding Purdue Fort Wayne scoreless to claim a 2-0 win.
Game 4: Murray State vs. Samford
Murray State won its second game of the day to end their Racer Classic record at 3-1 when they beat Samford 5-1.
Gilmore opened the scoring for the Racers when she hit a two-run home run in the bottom of the second. Murray State added another run in the bottom of the third when sophomore outfielder Logan Braundmeier was walked with the bases loaded to make the game 3-0.
Carroll tacked on another run in the bottom of the fourth when she hit a sacrifice fly to score sophomore outfielder Jensen Striegel.
Freshman pitcher Hannah James had a good outing despite giving up five runs in three innings in her last outing. She only allowed one hit until the fifth where she allowed three more hits and a run. She was then pulled from the game to make way for senior pitcher Amber Van Duyse to close the game.
While James didn’t have her best outing on Sunday, but after a discussion with Amundson she was able to bounce back on Monday.
“Hannah didn’t throw her best game yesterday,” Amundson said. ‘We had a discussion about how she can make some adjustments. I thought she lived up to the challenge, and she threw four and half really good innings.”
Sophomore utility player Ryan Brzozowski scored the only run for Samford in the fifth with an RBI single.
Goetz added the final run for Murray State when she hit an RBI double out to center to end the game at 5-1.
The Racers will play again on March 15-17, in the Memphis Softball Tournament.
