FRIDAY'S SCORES
Murray State 3, Loyola Chicago 2
Austin Peay 6, Samford 2
@Jacksonville State 3,
Austin Peay 2
@Belmont 5, North Alabama 0
@Tennessee Tech 11, Quinnipiac 0
@Tennessee Tech 2, Quinnipiac 0
MURRAY STATE 3, LOYOLA CHICAGO 2
MURRAY, Ky. - Murray State softball (12-8) took the rubber match game over the Loyola Chicago Ramblers (6-11), 3-2, on a cold and windy Friday afternoon in Murray, Kentucky on day two of the Racer Classic.
Loyola Chicago outhit the Racers 4-3 but Murray State used timely hitting and smart base running to take the win.
Hannah James got the ball in the circle for the Racers after making two appearances in yesterday's doubleheader and cruised through the first four innings of the game only allowing two base runners.
The Racers gave James early run support as Gracie Osbron rocketed a ball over the right fielder's head for an easy triple. Next batter Lindsey Carroll hit a sacrifice fly to right to score Osbron as the Racers went up 1-0 in the second.
In the fourth, with the bases loaded and two outs, pinch hitter Erin Lackey drew a walk for her first collegiate RBI, putting Murray State up two.
The Ramblers tied the game in the top of the fifth using a three singles and an error to plate two runs. Jenna Veber came on in relief and ended the Rambler's threat getting three straight outs.
Murray State came right back in the bottom half of the inning. With two outs and runners on the corners, Sierra Gilmore make a break to steal second but caught herself in a rundown long enough for Logan Braundmeier to race home and give the Racers the 3-2 lead.
The one-run cushion proved plenty for Veber as she sat the Ramblers down in order the next two innings to earn her seventh win of the season. Veber faced the minimum nine batters over her three innings of work with one strike out.
The Racers will face St. Thomas and Western Illinois for day three of the Racer Classic which continues on Sunday (March 13). First pitch is scheduled for 2:30 p.m.
AUSTIN PEAY 6, SAMFORD 4; JACKSONVILLE STATE 3, AUSTIN PEAY 2
JACKSONVILLE, Ala. - Austin Peay State University’s softball team split its final two games at the Jacksonville State Invite, Friday at University Field, as the Governors defeated Samford, 6-4, before dropping a heartbreaker to Jacksonville State, 3-2.
In the opener versus Samford, the Govs (13-10) would rally from an early 2-0 hole, with a four-run second inning and a two run third to go up 6-2.
Samford would cut into the Govs lead with a run in the third and a run in the seventh, to make it 6-4, but Bailey Shorter ended the game in grand fashion, bring in what was a game-tying home run with a catch over the center field fence for the final out.
In night cap versus Jacksonville State (13-8) proved to be a pitcher’s duel, as two teams only managed two runs each over the first six inning, but the Gamecocks were able to push across a third run in the bottom of the seventh to edge the Govs, 3-2.
BELMONT 5, NORTH ALABAMA 0
NASHVILLE, Tenn. - Belmont University claims victory over University of North Alabama in their first home matchup of the season, 5-0. The Bruins came out strong both offensively and defensively against the Lions.
Top of the first the Bruins held the Lions to no runs. The Bruins fed off this energy and were ready to put on a show at their home field. Bottom of the first lead off hitter Cheyenne Cavanaugh started off the Bruins getting to first on a walk. Baie Ensio followed, moving Cavanugh to second on a base hit through the infield on the left. Abi Ledbetter was called out at first, grounding out to third thus, moving Cavanaugh and Eniso over. Both runners in scoring position, Kristen Green was up for the Bruins securing herself a spot on first and scoring Cavanaugh. Green fierce around the bases, stole second. A bad throw down to second Ensio was able to score on the throw. Ellison Ollinger struckout for the second out of the season. Designated player Alicia Veltri doubled to right field to score Green. The Bruins finished the inning with 3 runs and 3 hits to start the Bruins off offensively, 3-0.
Alicia Veltri led the Bruins off in the bottom of the fourth with a solo homerun. This was her second home run of the season and thirteenth of her career, 4,0.
Alicia Veltri came in clutch again in the bottom of the fifth with a single to score Kristen Green, 5-0.
The Bruins did not shy away defensively either. Cheyenne Cavanaugh posted a Sports Center Top 10 worthy play in the bottom of the third. Sliding in close to infield Cavanaugh dove to secure the out for the Bruins. The Bruins held the Lions to earn their third shutout of the season. Emma Summers pitched the entire matchup earning herself her second win of the season allowing only two hits and completing three strikeouts.
The Bruins will finish out the Bruin Classic competing against Akron at 12:45 and Bradley at 3:30 on Sunday.
TENNESSEE TECH 11, QUINNIPIAC 0; TENNESSEE TECH 2, QUINNIPIAC 0
COOKEVILLE, Tenn. - The Tennessee Tech offense came out on fire in the first game of the Golden Eagle Classic against Quinnipiac, then Tyler Erwin claimed a victory in the pitcher’s duel in the night cap as the Golden Eagles won their fifth straight game and five of their last six, topping the Bobcats 11-0 in five innings, then beating Quinnipiac 2-0 in the second game.
The Golden Eagles (14-6) return to action on Sunday as the Golden Eagle Classic continues. Tech will host Bellarmine in the day’s opener at Noon, while Indiana State will take on Bellarmine at 2:30 and Quinnipiac returns to action against the Sycamores at 5 p.m.
In the day’s opener, Savannah Talley was 3-for-3 at the plate with two RBI, while Sydney Love-Baker, Kaylan Cole and Nicolle Nysted each drove in two runs.
Alyssa Arden (W, 7-4) had a solid outing in the circle, allowing one hit in four innings of work, walking two and striking out three. Her counterpart, Sydney Horan, took the loss, allowing six runs – four earned – on six hits in 1 1/3 innings, walking three and striking out one. Julia Woeste allowed five runs on six hits in the final 2 2/3.
Mackenzie Fitzgerald led off the bottom of the first with line drive single up the middle, then stole second before Love-Baker drew a walk. Haeli Bryson hit a grounder and the Bobcats chose to take Fitzgerald out at third. Carmen Betts hit an infield single to short, loading the bases. With two down, Sydney Dukes took a walk to drive the first run in, then Cole dropped a single into left field to drive in Betts and Bryson. Talley hit a single to center field, driving in Dukes for a 4-0 lead.
In the second, Fitzgerald led off with a triple to right center, but on the throw back in from the outfield, the ball sailed into the Tech dugout, allowing Fitzgerald to take home. Bryson later came home to score on a wild pitch to make it a 6-0 lead after two.
Love-Baker hit a two-run triple, driving in Talley and Fitzgerald to make it 8-0, then a Talley RBI double and a Nysted pinch-hit two-run double added three more runs in the fourth.
In game two, Erwin allowed just one hit to the Bobcats, walking one and striking out seven – all on swinging strike threes – to earn the complete-game victory to improve to 5-1 on the season.
Fitzgerald, Love-Baker and Betts had Tech’s three hits off of Quinnipiac hurler Jaclyn Gonzalez, who walked one and struck out two en route to the loss.
Tech scored its two runs in the sixth inning. Fitzgerald led off the frame with a single past third, then stole second. Love-Baker put down a bunt, but a fielding error at first allowed her to reach. With a double steal, Fitzgerald went home, then Love-Baker swiped second and advanced to third on an errant throw trying to get Fitzgerald. Bryson hit a 5-3 grounder, picking up the RBI as Love-Baker crossed the plate.