Racers Split Opening Day in Baton Rouge

Friday, February 7

Baton Rouge, La.

4:25 p.m.

Murray State

1-1

Minnesota

1-0

Minnesota

Murray St.

2/7/2014 3:29:00 PM | Softball

Box Score 1 Box Score 2

| UCA Box Score (PDF) | Minn. Box Score (PDF) | Season Stats (PDF)

For the first time since 2012 and only the second time in program history, the Murray State softball team kicked off its season with a win, topping Central Arkansas, 8-4, Friday morning at Tiger Park in Baton Rouge, La., as part of LSU's 2014 Tiger Classic. In game two, however, the outcome for the Racers was not as favorable, as they fell to Minnesota, 8-2.

Murray State (1-1) recorded hits in every inning but the fourth and seventh and finished the game with 13 hits. Five of the 13 hits went for extra bases including a program-high three triples. The only other time that the Racers have had three triples is during the program's first-ever game on Feb. 26, 2010 against SIU Edwardsville.

Leslie Bridges got the hit parade started with a single that drove in Casey Castile who reached on a walk. The hits kept coming from there including a triple by Jessica Twaddle in her first collegiate at bat in the second and a home run from fellow freshman Jocelynn Rodgers in the third.

The Racers took a 6-0 lead in the top of the fifth inning and looked to close out the game from there. However, the Bears (0-1) had other ideas and reeled off four runs in the frame including a three-run bomb by Jessie Taylor.

Murray State was not discouraged though and used a RBI triple from freshman Cayla Levins in the bottom of the fifth and a pinch-hit RBI single from Erica Howard to push the lead to 8-4. CheyAnne Gaskey then closed out the game in the seventh to pick up the complete game victory. Gaskey finished the game four runs on eight hits with four strikeouts.

Twaddle finished the day at 2-for-2 with a double, a triple and a walk, while Mo Ramsey finished 3-for-3 with a triple, a run, a stolen base and two RBIs. Alexa Becker and Leslie Bridges also picked up multiple hits to finish the day with two each.

The second game was a tough one for MSU, as they ran up against a solid Minnesota team. The Golden Gophers (1-0) pushed across eight runs on seven hits in the contest, including a big game from Tyler Walker who accounted for six of Minnesota's eight runs with a three-RBI triple, a sac fly and two runs scored.

The Racer offense that was so potent in the opener against Central Arkansas struggled to find its footing against the Gophers. However, the Racers were finally able to push runs across in the bottom of the seventh with two outs, after Becker broke up a no-hit bid by Minnesota's Sarah Groenewegen in the fifth.

The rally began with a walk by Twaddle and was continued one batter later with a single by Rodgers. After a walk by Miller to load the bases, Ramsey put MSU on the scoreboard with an RBI single that drove in Twaddle with Rodgers also scoring on the play via an error. However, it was not be as the Racers ended the inning with the bases loaded

J.J. Francis (0-1) took the loss for Murray State giving up six earned runs on four hits with six walks and three strikeouts over 2.2 innings. Freshman Mason Robinson had a positive outing in her first collegiate appearance going the final 4.1 innings and giving up one run on three hits with one strikeout and a walk.

On Saturday, the Racers will play their final two games in Baton Rouge against more tough competition. Oklahoma State will be first up for MSU at 3 p.m., followed by the 17^th-ranked host LSU under the lights at 7 p.m.