Jakob Milani
Sports Editor
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Murray State’s softball team traveled to play a midweek double header against conference rival Austin Peay University on Wednesday, April 27.

The Racers dropped the first game 2-1 after leading early on, and then dropped game two of the series in walkoff fashion in the eighth inning.

GAME ONE

Junior right-hander Hannah James took the mound for the Racers. Her 1.25 ERA on the season looked as though it would hold strong as she gave up just one hit in the bottom of the first inning, and then one more in the bottom of the second. This left the Governors with two runners on base and no runs to show for.

The Racers were the first on the board in the top of the second inning when junior second baseman Lindsey Carroll stepped up to the plate. On the first pitch, she hit a home run to straight away center to put the Racers up.

While freshman left fielder Isabella Wilson and sophomore catcher Taylor Jackson followed the homer with a couple of hits, the Racers left them stranded on base, leading 1-0 after two innings.

The third inning saw the three batters for both teams go down in order, but the Governors managed to make their way onto the board in the bottom of the fourth.

It started with graduate shortstop Brooke Pfefferle reaching on a fielder’s choice, and then freshman designated hitter Kylie Campbell hit a single.

Junior left fielder Kendyl Weinzapfel followed it with a single of her own before sophomore catcher Mea Clark hit a sacrifice fly to right field to bring home Pfefferle and tie the game at one run apiece.

While the Governors starting pitcher, senior right-hander Harley Mullins, was still dealing in the top of the fifth inning by putting down the Racers in order, sophomore right-handed pitcher Jenna Veber came in to relieve James in the bottom half and put the Governors batters down in 1-2-3 fashion.

The Governors scored their last run in the bottom of the sixth as Weinzapfel singled to left field and brought Pfefferle around to score and put the team up. The Racers were unable to get any runs in the top of the seventh, and that was the end of it. Austin Peay defeated Murray State 2-1.

The Governors struck out four times and had seven hits through 24 batters, while the Racers had six hits through 27 batters and didn’t strike out.

GAME TWO

Veber was the starting pitcher for the Racers in game two and struggled from the get-go.

Sophomore right fielder Megan Hodum made her way to third before senior third baseman Lexi Osowski hit a sacrifice fly to right field, allowing Hodum to reach home.

Then, Campbell came up to bat and hit a double to left field, bringing in Pfefferle and graduate center fielder Bailey Shorter to put the Governors up 3-0 early on.

The score remained the same until the top of the sixth inning when the Racers made it on the board.

The first run came off of a single from junior third baseman Gracie Osbron that brought senior center fielder Logan Braundmeier across the plate.

Two more runs came across when Carroll singled and brought home Osbron and senior shortstop Sierra Gilmore to tie the game at three runs apiece.

Veber’s pitching and Murray State’s defense kept the Racers hopes alive as the last six Governors batters all grounded out or lined out. As no runs came across in the seventh inning, the game was forced into extras.

While the Racers put two runners on base with a single from Gilmore and a walk from Osbron, neither were able to come across home plate and gave the Governors a chance to walk it off.

Hodum started the bottom half of the eighth with a single, which was then followed by a single from Shorter. Finally, a single from Osowski brought home Hodum for the final run and the walk-off win. The Governors defeated the Racers 4-3.

The Racers had five hits and four walks through 29 batters, while striking out three times in the game. The Governors had eight hits and four RBIs through 29 batters without striking out once.

Murray State’s record falls to 32-14-1 overall and 16-6 in the OVC. The Racers’ final two series of the season take place over the next two weeks, with the next three-game series taking place at Tennessee Tech.

The Eagles  host the Racers with two games on Saturday, April 30, and one game on Sunday, May 1. First pitch of game one is at 1 p.m. on Saturday.