WEDNESDAY'S SCORES
Alabama State 3,
UT Martin 0
@Illinois State 2,
Murray State 0
Michigan State 10,
Murray State 6
ALABAMA STATE 3, UT MARTIN 0
ATLANTA, Ga. - The University of Tennessee at Martin softball team saw its season come to a close on Wednesday afternoon in the consolation round of the Postseason National Invitational Softball Championship, falling 3-0 to Alabama State.
The Skyhawks (39-20) struggled to find much on the offensive side of the ball after tallying just four hits on the day. Carly Gonzales, Gracyn McBride, Alli Fulcher and Renate Meckl each tallied base hits in the contest but could not capitalize with runners on base, stranding eight on the bags.
Sara Hooten (8-5) returned to the pitching rubber after missing the past several games due to injury. The sophomore would post a strong outing, holding Alabama State scoreless through six innings before allowing a pair of runs to score in the top of the seventh. Freshman Samantha Scott would appear in relief in the seventh, allowing a pair of base hits while one run came home to score.
UT Martin’s best scoring opportunity came in the first inning. The Skyhawks would load the bases in the first as Gonzales was hit by a pitch before advancing to second on a wild pitch. A pair of walks to McBride and Jodie Duncan later in the inning loaded the bags with one out but the Skyhawks would strand all three runners on base following back-to-back outs.
A controversial play in the bottom of the third erased a run off the scoreboard for the Skyhawks. A leadoff bunt single would put Gonzales on base before Lauren Myers ripped a double into the right field corner. Despite Gonzales coming all the way around to score on the play, the speedster would be called out for leaving early as the run was wiped off the scoreboard.
The score would remain tied until the top of the seventh. A pair of base hits would put runners on second and third with no outs. With two runners in scoring position, Alexia Boggess would stroke a single into the right center gap to plate a pair. The Hornets would add to their margin with another RBI single by Laura Aguilar to bring the game to its final score of 3-0.
ILLINOIS STATE 2, MURRAY STATE 0; MICHIGAN STATE 10, MURRAY STATE 2
NORMAL, Ill. - The Murray State softball team’s 2017 season came to an end Wednesday with a pair of losses in the 2017 National Invitational Softball Championship at Marian Kneer Stadium in Normal, Illinois. The Racers began the day with a 2-0 loss to Illinois State, followed by a 10-6 defeat at the hands of Michigan State.
Illinois State was first on the board in the first when Allison Spence singled up the middle to plate Shannon Felde and put her team on top 1-0. The Redbirds added an insurance run in the fourth with a sacrifice fly from Annie Heineman.
Murray State was only able to scratch out three hits in the game and was not able to score any runs. The Racers' best chance came in the third with back-to-back hits from Maggie Glass and Madison Culver to lead off the frame. Despite the strong start to the inning, MSU could not score and ended up falling, 2-0.
Haven Campbell took the loss for Murray State by allowing two runs on seven hits with two walks. Sarah Finck earned the shutout in the circle for Illinois State by allowing just three hits with no walks and six strikeouts.
Facing elimination in their second game of the day, the Racers got off to a hot start and jumped out to a 6-0 lead heading into the bottom of the sixth. Kaylee Ranburger, Cayla Levins and Brenna Finck each had RBI singles in the scoring barrage, while Ranburger drove in a second run on a sacrifice fly.
However, in the bottom of the sixth, things unraveled quickly for Murray State and the Spartans began to mount a comeback almost identical to the Racers’ the day before. Michigan State pounded out 10 runs on eight hits and an error. Seven different Spartans drove in runs in the inning which was capped by a two-run home run from Kelcey Carrasco. Murray State was unable to generate any offense in the top of the seventh and fell, 10-6.
Brenna Finck led Murray State in the contest by going 2-for-4 with two runs and a RBI. Her second hit of the day broke the MSU single-season record for hits with 73, a record previously held by Megan Glosser and Jessica Twaddle who each had 72 hits in 2012 and 2015, respectively. Lea Forester and McKenzie Long helped power the Michigan State offense in the game by each going 3-for-4.