Jakob Milani
Staff Writer
The Murray State softball team won their second straight series on April 23, through April 25, when they defeated EIU two games to one.
Game One
Junior right-hander Hannah James took the mound for the Racers in game one and saw trouble early. James gave up three hits in the first three innings, but the Racers defense helped hold the Panthers scoreless.
The Racers took an early 1-0 lead in the top of the third when senior shortstop Sierra Gilmore singled up the middle to bring home senior center fielder Jensen Striegel. The Racers extended their lead in the fourth inning with a double from senior first baseman Lexi Jones, making it a 2-0 ballgame.
The Panthers answered in the bottom of the fourth with a home run from freshman catcher Amber Cieplinski, bringing the Panthers within one run of the Racers. Cieplinski also managed to draw the only walk for the Panthers in the game in the bottom of the first.
Runs kept coming in for the Racers as Gilmore hit a home run in the top of the fifth inning to bring in Striegel and make it a 4-1 game. Gilmore finished the game with three hits and three RBIs.
The Racers tacked on two more runs in the top of the seventh with a hit from freshman outfielder Bryce Adkinson, followed by a sacrifice fly from junior second baseman Lindsey Carroll. The Panthers weren’t able to make a comeback, giving James her seventh win of the season with a score of 6-1.
Game Two
Senior right-hander Taylor Makowski was handed the ball on Sunday, April 25, to lead the Racers in game two. Through 3.1 innings, she allowed six hits and a run to cross home-plate.
Gilmore continued her dominant weekend with a single in the top of the third, bringing home Striegel and sophomore third baseman Lily Fischer. Those two RBIs made it a 2-0 game heading into the bottom of the third inning.
The Panthers made it close in their half of the inning. Junior shortstop Megan Burton hit a deep home run to center field, making it a one-run game. Makowsky managed to pitch her way out of the inning, leaving the score 2-1 after the third inning.
Makowsky started the fourth inning with some trouble, allowing the first two batters to each get a hit. Sophomore right-hander Jenna Veber took over after the second batter and pitched out of the jam, including a strikeout and a popup to Gilmore.
Veber held off the Panthers for the remainder of the game, marking her seventh win of the season. The Racers took their second win of the series, defeating the Panthers in game two 2-1.
Game Three
James got the start on the mound for the Racers in game three. She struggled from the get-go, allowing three hits and three runs through the first three innings.
The first run in the game came from the Panthers in the bottom of the second when freshman designated hitter Abi Stahlhut doubled to center to bring a runner home. This gave the Panthers an early 1-0 lead over the Racers.
After a home run from Burton in the bottom of the third inning, James was replaced on the mound by Veber. She managed to pitch her way out of the inning, leaving the score 3-0 in favor of the Panthers.
The Panthers weren’t done there as they added another run in the bottom of the fourth inning. Freshman third baseman Aniyah Holt singled to left-center to bring home freshman left-fielder Abby Taylor, making it 4-0 Panthers.
The Racers failed to make any comeback in the game, falling to the Panthers in the final game of the series. James received her ninth loss of the season after giving up three runs, including the three-run home run to Burton.
The Racers’ last game was on Wednesday, April 28, against the University of North Alabama Lions. The Racers didn’t manage to put any runs on the board and allowed 11 runs by the Lions, including two grand-slams in the game. This added another loss to Makowsky’s record, making her 5-3 on the season.
The Racers finished the week with a 19-26 record overall and a 16-12 record in the conference. The Racers pick back up on Saturday, May 1, and Sunday, May 2, in a three-game series against SEMO.
