Murray State’s softball demonstrates the effect a quality coach can have on the team’s overall capability. Throughout Kara Amundson’s career with the Racers as their head coach, she was the winningest coach in program history.
Her contributions to the team have led to improvements with their offense as seven of her players have an above average batting average. With the 2026 season right around the corner, it’s important to highlight the developments of the returning players from the 2025 season and showcase the strengths to look forward to as the season arrives.
Amundson will begin her 14th season as Murray State’s head coach with a record of 328-292. In 2022, she led the Racers to their first Ohio Valley Conference regular season and tournament championship and earned OVC Coach of the Year.
One of the Racers’ greatest strengths in the 2025 season was their consistent quality at bats. The team had a combined .288 batting average where four players had above a .300 average in at least 30 at bats. Sophomore utility Katy Huels led the team with her .374 average, also leading with 37 hits and two triples.
An area where the Racers struggled was their ability to put up home runs against their opponents, having 12 combined home runs as a team while their opponents had 25. The Racers home run leader was between four players, all with two home runs each.
Freshman infielder Hannah Sutton will not be returning in the spring but had two home runs in the 2025 season alongside being named MVC freshman of the week on Monday, April 14, 2025. Sutton also had the most doubles on the team with seven with Huels following behind with six. Sophomore utility and pitcher Kayleigh White and junior catcher Taylor Franzen also will not be returning but had a strong year with two home runs each. Senior outfielder Bailey Broemmer will finish off her college season with the Racers after a strong 2025 season where she had two home runs, 17 hits and 12 runs batted in.
Sophomore pitcher Karlye Graber had the lowest earned runs average out of qualified pitchers on the roster with 5.09 (ERA) and strike outs with 46 and will be returning for the 2026 season. Senior pitcher Bre Haislip followed with the second best ERA with 6.36 in 63.2 innings with an opponent average of .303.
Softball concluded their previous season ranked #9 in the Missouri Valley Conference, ending on a two game losing streak against Illinois State and Drake with a record of 11-17.
Eight Racers received Easton and National Fastpitch Coaches Association All-American Scholar-Athlete honors concluding the 2025 season. Graber, Haislip, Huels, junior utility Adison Hicks, senior utility Erin Lackey, sophomore infielder Kenley Minor, junior pitcher Raylee Roby and junior outfielder Courtney Sandy were all recognized for their grade point averages during 2024-2025. As a team, they had a combined 3.35 GPA.
Huels, Minor and Broemmer were assigned to MVC teams, highlighting each of their strengths in the 2025 season. Huels was appointed to All-MVC First Team for her offensive power which was exhibited through her 17 game hit streak, the longest hit streak by a Racer that season.
Minor was selected for the All-MVC Second Team for both her offensive capabilities and her defensive strength showcased at second base. She hit .333 with a fielding percentage of .937. Broemmer was elected for the MVC All-Defensive team as she excelled in centerfield with 83 putouts in 42 games.
During the November signing day, Amunson added six new players with a main focus on infielders. Outfielder Ava Maples sparked interest from appearing in All-District twice and participating in the 2025 All-District tournament.
Infielder Gracie Belle Weakley participated in All-District three times as well as appearing in All-County three times too. Infielder Camila Taylor is a four time scholar athlete with a 2025 appearance in the All-Conference and All-District, being named the champion of both as well as being named the MVP for her team.
Another player who was a Conference and District champion was pitcher Alyssa Quick who was named both four times as well as 2022 State Champion. Catcher and infielder Payton Stueart had a career .408 batting average as well as three All-Conference appearances of her own. Lastly, pitcher and first baseman Shannon McAuliffe had three All-Region, All-District and All-Conference appearances with a .464 batting average and 996 career strikeouts. The new additions showcase the offensive and defensive power to look forward to in the upcoming seasons.
The 2026 season begins with a series at Alabama State University on Friday, Feb. 6 through Sunday, Feb. 8 at Barbara Williams Softball complex. Conference play begins on Friday, March 6, against Northern Iowa at home.
