The Murray State softball team will look to continue their winning ways as they head to Starkville, Mississippi State, for the 2023 Alex Wilcox Memorial Tournament hosted by Mississippi State. After winning their final three games last weekend, the Racers will be hoping to build on that momentum and notch up some wins against tough opposition.
Murray State has an all-time record of 0-3 against this weekend’s opponents, with an 0-2 record against the host Bulldogs and an 0-1 mark against Abilene Christian University. Abilene Christian currently holds a record of 4-12, with Talia Nielsen leading the Wildcats in the circle with a 3-4 record and an ERA of 4.70. Meanwhile, Dartmouth opened their season last weekend with a 3-2 record at The Spring Games. Maddie Katona hit .455 for the Big Green, while Rachel McCarroll won all three games for the team with a 2.64 ERA and 10 strikeouts. Mississippi State, the host of the tournament, enters the weekend on a six-game win streak and a record of 12-4. Paige Cook leads the Bulldogs in batting average at .400, while Josey Maron has a 1.30 ERA with 43 strikeouts and just four walks.
The Murray State team has also been putting up some impressive performances of their own. Gracie Osbron finished last week with a team-high batting average of .585, while Hannah James went 1-0 with a save over three appearances and 14 innings of work, fanning 22 over the weekend. Bre Haislip had a standout performance in the weekend’s finale against Bellarmine, hitting a double to the wall in a pinch-hit at-bat that drove in three runs and made the difference in the 4-2 win.
The Murray State pitching staff has been efficient, hitting just one batter in 14 games, making them one of the 13 teams in the nation to lead the category. Lily Fischer has hit a team-high six doubles so far this season, ranking 18th nationally in total doubles and 39th in doubles per game at 0.43. The team has also been impressive in the field, averaging 0.5 double plays per game and ranking 17th in double plays per game nationally.
As the Racers head into the tournament, they will be looking to build on their impressive performances and notch up some wins against tough opposition. With their talent and determination, there is no doubt that they will give it their all and fight to come out on top.