EVANSVILLE, Ind. – Trailing 2-1 in the second inning, Murray State scored seven unanswered runs to defeat the University of Evansville softball team by an 8-2 final on Saturday at Tri-State Orthopaedics Field at Cooper Stadium.
 
Murray State's first two runners of the afternoon reached base before Mikayla Jolly forced a double play for the first two outs.  The Racers were limited to one run as the game entered the bottom of the first. 
 
Alexa Davis led the bottom of the first off with a single and would tie the game on a hit by Jenna Nink.  Jess Willsey's RBI double brought in Nink to give the Purple Aces their first lead of the contest.  Bailey Broemmer of MSU tied the game with an RBI double in the top of the second before a perfectly executed double steal put them back in front at 3-2.
 
Evansville threatened in the bottom of the frame as Marah Wood led off with a single and stole second.  Following a strikeout, a hard line out halted the threat.  Murray State held the 1-run lead until the top half of the fourth when Parker Holcombe's 2-run single added some insurance and extended the lead to three.  They added three more runs in the final innings.
 
UE was held to six hits with Jess Willsey going 2-for-3.  Broemmer went 2-2 for the Racers while Holcombe had two hits in four plate appearances.  Jolly took the loss with 3 2/3 innings of work and five runs, four earned, crossing the plate.  Bre Haislip started the game for the Racers and allowed two unearned runs in 2 1/3 frames.  Raylee Roby tossed 4 2/3 innings of relief and gave up just one hit.
 
Sunday's series finale is set for a 12 p.m. start.