WEDNESDAY'S SCORES
Tennessee State 2, @Alabama A&M 1 (8)
Tennessee State 7, @Alabama A&M 0
@Murray State 3, Memphis 0
@Middle Tennessee 2,
Belmont 0
Tennessee Tech 8, @Chattanooga 0
MURRAY STATE 3, MEMPHIS 0
MURRAY, Ky. - Three runs in the first inning proved to be all the offense the Murray State softball team needed Wednesday, as it shutout Memphis, 3-0 at Racer Field in Murray in a mid-week, non-conference matchup.
Brenna Finck led off the game for Murray State with a single and was later joined on the base paths by Jessica Twaddle and Jocelynn Rodgers, who also singled, to load the bases with just one out. After Rodgers’ hit, Madison Culver gave MSU an early 2-0 lead with a single to right field that scored Finck and Twaddle.
The Racers then took a 3-0 lead in the next at bat after Culver’s pinch runner Kristen Bialek drew an errant throw by Memphis on her successful stolen base attempt, allowing Rodgers to score from third. Memphis had its chances in the game, but despite having four hits, was unable to score and ended the game with five runners stranded.
Haven Campbell moved to 10-7 on the season after tossing the final four innings of the game and allowing no runs on just two hits with a strikeout. Despite starting the game and never losing the lead on her watch, Mason Robinson notched a no decision in the contest after not pitching the requisite number of innings to earn the win. Robinson threw 3.0 innings for Murray State and surrendered no runs on two hits with two strikeouts and a walk.
Twaddle led the Murray State offense Wednesday by going 2-for-3 at the plate with one run scored. With the exception of Twaddle’s second hit of the game in the sixth inning, all of the Racers’ offense occurred in the opening stanza.
The win moved MSU’s overall record to 30-14 on the season, marking the fourth 30-win season in the eight-year history of the program and the third in the five-year tenure of head coach Kara Amundson.
Murray State returns to action this weekend when it hosts OVC doubleheaders with Tennessee State and Belmont on Saturday and Sunday, respectively.
MIDDLE TENNESSEE STATE 2, BELMONT 0
MURFREESBORO, Tenn. - Belmont Softball fell behind early and was unable to overcome an early deficit on the road at in-state rival Middle Tennessee State on Wednesday evening. The Bruins (29-14) were held off, 2-0, by the Blue Raiders (15-23), splitting the annual series.
The Blue Raiders made a mark on the scoreboard in the bottom of the first frame, picking up two runs, and held on to the narrow run advantage for the next several innings. Junior Lexi Rouse (Macon, Ga.) smacked a double to left in an attempt to spark the Bruins in the top of the fifth frame but was eventually stranded.
BU attempted a two-out rally in the top of the sixth inning. Senior Amy Zeronian (Pasadena, Calif.) sent the ball screaming down the left line for a double and sophomore Jordan Spicer (Hendersonville, Tenn.) reached base on four balls. However, a fly out and pop out kept the Bruins from turning it into a stronger scoring opportunity. Belmont put together another rally in the top of the seventh with a single to left by senior Chelsey Deloney (Gardendale, Ala.) but it fell shy as the Blue Raiders were able to hold on to their narrow lead for the win.
BU outhit MTSU, 5-2 but was unable to plate a run during the contest.
Sophomore Jordan Spicer (Hendersonville, Tenn.) led the Bruins at the plate, going 2-for-2.
Work inside the circle was split between freshman Brooklin Lee (Burns, Tenn.) and junior Lexi Rouse (Macon, Ga.). The pair combined for four strikeouts.
Belmont returns to action on Saturday, April 22 with a doubleheader on the road at Austin Peay. First pitch is scheduled for Noon
TENNESSEE TECH 8, CHATTANOOGA 0
CHATTANOOGA, Tenn. - A six-run second inning was all the Tennessee Tech softball team needed to jump-start its offense on Wednesday as the Golden Eagles cruised to an 8-0, five-inning victory over Chattanooga.
Seven different Golden Eagles recorded hits and grabbed RBI in the contest. Demi Coleman led the offense with two hits, while Bayli Cruse drove in two runs.
Danielle Liberatore worked four full innings, allowing just three hits and a walk as she struck out seven. Taylor Waldrop pitched one inning in relief, allowing one hit and one walk.
In the second, Alyssa Richards led off with a single to left, but was out at second as Hallie Davis reached. Davis then stole second and Kennedy walked, with back-to-back singles from Callen Griffin and Coleman driving in two.
A throwing error by the Chattanooga catcher as Griffin tried to steal third allowed her to come home and score while Coleman took third, then scored on Aalia Bivens' single to right. Raegan Sparks, Leigh Ellen Sparks and Cruse each received walks to plate another run, then Richards picked up an RBI on a fielder's choice.
In the third inning, Kelly Kennedy led off with a solo home run to right center, then, in the fourth, Davis picked up an RBI as hit a bases-loaded single to left, plating Thomas.
The Golden Eagles (15-25) return to action on Saturday as they host Eastern Illinois in a doubleheader, starting at 12 p.m.
TENNESSEE STATE 2, ALABAMA A&M 1; TENNESSEE STATE 7, ALABAMA A&M 0
NORMAL, Ala.- Recaps coming soon.