Box Score 1 |
Box Score 2 MURRAY, Ky. – The University of Evansville softball team headed to Murray, Ky., to take on the Murray State Racers in a mid-week doubleheader this afternoon, and despite strong play from the Purple Aces squad, the team was unable to come away with a win.
Evansville (15-21) fell to the Racers (21-18) in game one, 9-3, and lost game two of the doubleheader by a score of 9-3 as well.
Game One The first game of the mid-week doubleheader started with junior
Megan Gurski (7-10) in the circle for UE and Mason Robinson in the circle for the Racers.
The Purple Aces struck first in the game; with the pitcher Gurski getting the offense going by hitting an RBI double to drive in freshman
Chandra Parr, giving the visiting Evansville squad the early 1-0 lead.
Murray State countered with a score by shortstop Alexa Becker on a wild pitch from Gurski.
UE didn't let the game stay tied for long, as the Aces
Emma Buckles hit a two run RBI double to centerfield that drove in
Michal Luckett and Kirsten O'Conner, as Evansville took the 3-1 lead headed into the bottom of the second. Murray State was unable to add any runs in the bottom of the inning and Evansville kept the lead headed into the third.
The Aces were unable to score any runs in the top of the inning and this is where Murray State would strike. The Racers added seven runs to the board, as the home team had seven runs on six hits in the bottom of the inning, taking the 8-3 lead.
Gurski gave up one more run in the bottom of the fourth inning, leading to the Racers 9-3 win.
Briana Combs came in for Gurski in the fifth inning and finished out the game in the circle, striking out one and allowing no hits or runs in 2.0 innings.
Gurski finished the day throwing 4.0 innings, striking out seven, but allowed nine runs on seven hits, leading to her 10
th loss this season.
Game Two The Purple Aces looked to bounce back in game two of the doubleheader, but were unable to control the Racers offense once again.
Evansville started senior
Taylor Perry (0-4) in the circle and after a scoreless first inning for both squads, the senior pitcher gave up seven runs on seven hits in the bottom of the second, leading to an early 7-0 lead for the home team.
Annie Moore entered the circle for Perry in the second and Moore closed out the inning.
UE cut the Racers lead down to five in the top of the third inning, as junior slugger
Kayla Fortner hit a two run RBI single that drove in Megan Gurski and Chandra Parr, leaving the score 7-2 Murray State.
The sophomore Moore held the Racers in check for the bottom half of the inning and neither team was able to get any offense going in the fourth.
Courtney Land would hit a sacrifice fly in the top of the fifth inning that drove in Gurski to cut Murray State's lead to 7-3.
After Annie Moore kept the Racers off the board in the bottom of the inning, Evansville was unable to get anything going in the top of the sixth and the home team was able to strike again.
Murray State added two more runs in the bottom of the sixth as Moore gave up a two run homerun to Mallory Young, giving the Racers the 9-3 lead and the win.
The Purple Aces will host Missouri Valley Conference rival Drake this weekend at Cooper Stadium on Saturday and Sunday.
