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MOREHEAD, Ky. – A two-run home run over the left-field fence in the fifth inning of game two by senior infielder Ellen Barrett propelled the Morehead State softball Eagles to a 4-3 win and a doubleheader split, after dropping a close first game 1-0, with Ohio Valley Conference foe Murray State on Tuesday afternoon at University Field.

Morehead State is now 27-17 overall and 8-10 in OVC play.  Murray State now sits at 16-34 for the season with a 6-14 mark in conference play.

The 4-3 win marked the final time the eight seniors on the roster, who have won 101 games in their time at Morehead State, will suit up and play at University Field. 

"It's a great group of young ladies, a lot of them have been big parts of this program since they stepped on campus," said head coach David Williams of his seniors. "For them to go out and finish the season strong, that's what we want because we want to leave a legacy for them and use that to build on for future classes."

MURRAY STATE 1, MOREHEAD STATE 0

An unusual error in the third frame and a terrific start in the pitcher's circle for Haven Campbell helped Murray State to the one-run victory in the day's first game.

The Racers' Erica Downey singled up the middle to lead off the third inning. Following a pop out, Downey attempted a steal that prompted Morehead State senior catcher Robyn Leighton to attempt to throw out Downey, but the throw ricocheted off Murray State batter Jensen Strigel's helmet into foul territory down the left-field line allowing Downey to advance to third base. Striegel's at-bat continued before she grounded out to second base allowing Downey to come in for the game's lone score.

Senior Chelsea McManway (16-8) took the tough-luck loss without giving up an earned run. The left-handed ace gave up just three hits in the loss and struck out eight batters while walking three batters. Murray State's Campbell (11-10) got the win from the circle and gave up just one hit.

Senior utility player Taylor Wheeler had the lone hit for the Eagles in the sixth inning.

MOREHEAD STATE 4, MURRAY STATE 3

After a three-run homer in the game's first inning put the Eagles behind, clutch offense and solid pitching lifted Morehead State to the 4-3 win in the day's final game.

The Racers jumped out to a 3-0 lead in the first after catcher Madison Culver hit a three-run blast over the field fence. The Eagles answered back quickly in the second inning, scoring two runs on an RBI single by senior Hannah Murphy to score junior Allison Rager before Murphy was brought home by Wheeler on a double off the right-center field wall to make it 3-2.

In the fifth, following a single by junior Aubrey Bennett, Barrett stepped to the plate and launched the go-ahead home run way over the left-field fence to put the Eagles up for good 4-3. The dinger goes as Barrett's sixth of the season.

Campbell got the start for Murray State again in game two and gave up two runs on six hits in four innings, but it was Ellison Barrett who took the loss after giving up the go-ahead homer and fell to 1-1 on the season. Barrett only lasted a third of an inning before giving way to Grace Vaughn who pitched 1.2 innings and allowed just one hit.

Rager, who gave up the three earned runs and four hits in six innings of work, picked up the win in the pitcher's circle for Morehead State, improving to 10-8. McManaway entered in the seventh after a lead-off hit for the Racers and recorded three strikeouts to secure the win and pick up her third save of the season.

Offensively, Morehead State improved drastically from game one as it produced nine hits. Wheeler and Rager both went 2-for-3 with doubles, while Barrett was 1-for-3 with the two-run homer. Bennett, Leighton, Murphy, and Senior Lindsay Ward all connected on single hits.

NEXT UP

The Eagles travel to Illinois for a pair of doubleheaders at Eastern Illinois and SIUE on Friday and Saturday. The Panthers are currently 31-17 this season with a 10-8 OVC record, while the Cougars are 21-17 and are 11-7 in conference play.