UE Softball swept in doubleheader, by Murray State

MURRAY, KY. (WFIE) - Murray State staged a pair of late rallies to take both ends of the doubleheader against the University of Evansville softball team on Friday afternoon at Racer Field.

Game 1 – Murray State 6, UE 4

Trailing by a 4-2 margin the top of the 7th, the Purple Aces rallied to tie the game, but a 2-run walk-off home run gave the Racers the victory in the seventh.

Taylor Howe opened the scoring in the top of the third. After hitting a double to begin the inning, she scored on a fielder’s choice by Eliza Piggott. Murray State fought back, scoring three times in the bottom of the third. Miriah Powell hit a solo home run in the fourth to cut the deficit in half and make it a 3-2 game.

Murray State added an insurance run on a sacrifice in the bottom of the sixth to make it a 2-run game entering the 7th. Morgan Adams and Piggott opened the inning with walks before both advanced on a sac bunt by Zoe Frossard. Brooke Voss brought in pinch runner Dori Brown on a sac fly before Powell’s single to center tied the game to score Keghan Pye.

Just when it looked like UE seized the momentum, the Racers opened the bottom of the 7th with a walk before Hannah Sutton’s home run ended the game. UE finished the game with seven hits as Kynadee Warner went 3-4. Gracie Hollingsworth suffered the loss throwing the complete game. She gave up six runs, four of which were earned.

Game 2 – Murray State 5, UE 2

Scoring three runs in the bottom of the sixth inning, the Racers broke a 2-2 tie to finish with a 5-2 win in the second end of the doubleheader.

UE loaded the bases in the top of the first looking to take an early lead as Taylor Howe doubled with Niki Bode and Morgan Adams walking to load the bags with no outs. Two runners were thrown out at home before a fly out ended the inning. Murray State broke through with a pair of runs in the bottom of the frame to jump in front.

The score remained two until the top of the fourth when the Purple Aces tied it up. Zoe Frossard scored on an error before Kynadee Warner scored on a double from Howe. Looking to retake the lead, MSU loaded the bases with two outs. Miriah Powell made a huge diving catch to end the inning and keep it tied.

Unfortunately, the Racers offense got back to work in the sixth scoring three runs as UE committed a pair of errors. Evansville went down in order in the top of the 7th to end the game.

Kate Ridgway made the start and threw the complete game. Five runs scored but just one was earned. UE had four hits in the game with two coming from Howe. The Aces look to take the third game on Saturday with first pitch slated for 1 p.m.