GAME 1 (HTML | PDF) | GAME 2 (HTML | PDF)
MURRAY, Ky. – Senior outfielder Anna Sommer crushed her first career grand slam to lead the Morehead State softball team to a 9-2 victory over Ohio Valley Conference opponent Murray State in game one of a Sunday afternoon doubleheader at Racer Field. The Eagles fell to the Racers in game two, 9-4.
The Eagles move to 14-14 on the season and 2-8 in conference action with the split, while the Racers are now 13-21 overall and 6-7 in league play.
Senior pitcher Katie Pfost (8-7) earned the game-one victory in a complete-game effort. She surrendered two earned runs, allowed six hits and struck out six in the contest. Senior Shelby Kosmecki suffered the loss for the Racers to move to 5-14.
Sommer (2-for-2) led the Eagles with five RBI, while senior first baseman Amber Riddle and junior second baseman Stephanie Etter had a game-high three hits each. Senior shortstop Kayla Ashbrook registered a pair of hits and plated a run, while senior designated player Adrena Anderson posted a hit and RBI.
The Racers picked up the first run of the contest on a solo shot over the right-field fence for the early lead, but the Eagles answered in the second on a single to right center from Sommer. With the score still knotted after three innings, the Eagles scored three runs off three hits in their half of the fourth. Following a lead-off walk, Riddle doubled down the left field line to score one, and Etter and Anderson each added RBI singles.
Morehead State extended its lead when Sommer cleared the bases and racked up four RBI on her second home run of the season, and Ashbrook chipped in with her third roundtripper of the season in the sixth inning.
The Racers only other run in the contest came off a single in the fifth inning.
Despite an early 2-0 lead off a Riddle home run in game two, Murray State used a nine-run fourth inning to secure the victory. The two-run shot was the team-leading sixth for Riddle, and the 33rd of her career. It also gave her 132 career RBI to tie the Morehead State career mark.
The Eagles were able to take two back from the Racers in the top of the sixth off an RBI single from sophomore Katie Raile.
At the plate, Raile and Riddle led the Eagles with a hit and two RBI, while senior Elizabeth Wagner and Etter added a pair of hits each.
Junior right-hander Kelcey McMurray took the loss for the Eagles to fall to 2-5 this season, while CheyAnne Gaskey moved to 8-6 with the victory. McMurray gave up five earned runs off nine hits. Fellow junior pitcher Greta Smeins surrendered four earned runs in two-thirds of an inning of relief. Pfost also tossed 2.1 innings.
The Eagles are back in action on Tuesday when they step out of conference play to travel to Miami (Ohio). First pitch for the doubleheader is slated for 3 p.m. ET. Live stats will be available via MSUEagles.com.
