Wednesday’s Game
The Murray State softball team resumes its con-conference schedule Wednesday when it travels to in-Commonwealth rival Western Kentucky for a single-game at 6 p.m. at the WKU Softball Complex.
Last Time Out
Murray State opened conference play by going 2-1 against Morehead State and Eastern Kentucky. The Racers opened the weekend by beating Morehead State Sunday with a walk-off grand slam from Jocelynn Rodgers, but fell in the second game of the doubleheader after the Eagles rallied to score four runs in the seventh and top Murray State, 4-2.
On Monday, Jessica Twaddle and Rodgers homered to beat Eastern Kentucky, 3-0, on the back of a shutout from Mason Robinson. Jessica Twaddle led Murray State over the three-game span by going 4-for-6 with a home run and two walks, while Brenna Finck was 3-for-7 with a double, three walks and a home run. Robinson went 2-0 in the circle on the weekend and allowed just one earned run on seven hits over 14.0 innings of action.
The Western Kentucky Series
Murray State put an end to a six-game win streak in the series by Western Kentucky last season, with a 6-0 win in Murray. Despite the win, the Racers still trail WKU in the all-time series, 7-2. Wednesday with be the fifth meeting between the two teams in Blowing Green where MSU has never won.
Scouting The Hilltoppers
Western Kentucky enters Wednesday’s game at an even 18-18 on the year and are in the midst of an eight-game skid. As a team, WKU is batting .208 on the year, while it is allowing opponents to hit .276. The Hilltopper pitching staff currently gives up 3.40 earned runs per game and has struck out 156 batters and walked 135.
At 10-5 on the year, Kathryn Downing leads the way for Western Kentucky in the circle with a 2.30 ERA, 62 strikeouts and 58 walks. Offensively, Jordan Mauch currently has the highest batting average on the team at .298, while Brittany Vaughn is batting .276 with a team-high 23 RBIs.
Weather Forecast
Temps Wednesday will be in the mid-70s during the day and will dip into the mid-50s at night. There is only a slight chance of rain for the day at 5-25 percent and the winds will be light at 6-8 mph.
In Grand Fashion
Jocelynn Rodgers helped the Racers beat Morehead State Sunday with a walk-off grand slam. The grand slam was the 15th in Murray State history and the second in Rodgers’ career. She is now just the fourth Racer to have more than one career grand slam, in addition, her two walk-off grand slams are the only two in program history.
Goose Eggs
With the 3-0 win over EKU Monday, Mason Rodgers earned her fifth shutout of the season. She is now just one off her own program single-season record of six that was set in 2016. Robinson now has 16 shutouts for her career, which is also a Murray State record.
Multiple Round Trips
The Racers had two home runs in both Sunday’s opener against Morehead State and against EKU last week. Murray State has now hit multiple home runs eight times this season and are 7-1 in those games.
In The Mix
Select Murray State softball away games, including Wednesday’s game, will once again be broadcast this season on the internet via Mixlr. Fans can listen, free of charge, on any computer at mixlr.com/msuracers or by downloading the Mixlr app, available on Apple and Android devices, and searching msuracers. The games will be broadcast by MSU softball media relations contact, Parker Griffith.
Ok, What’s Next?
Murray State returns to OVC play Saturday with a doubleheader at Jacksonville State. First pitch from University Field is scheduled for 1 p.m.
by Parker Griffith