Softball 4/30/2023 8:38:00 PM

Late rally keeps Lady Aggies unbeaten; Now 50-0

Box Score By Kevin Farr
Murray State Sports Information
Reaching a 50-0 record to finish the regular season was no small feat for the Murray State softball team on the road Sunday as the Lady Aggies faced their stiffest challenges in more than a month.

The end result was more of the same as the nation's top-ranked team notched a doubleheader sweep at University of Arkansas Rich Mountain. Coach Aaron Mullens' squad had to rally in the final inning for a 5-4 game one victory and then held off the Lady Bucks in a 9-5 game two triumph.

Next on the agenda for Lady Aggies is the double elimination Region 2 tournament beginning Wednesday at Majestic Park in Hot Springs, Arkansas. Top seeded Murray State faces Carl Albert in the opening game at Noon.

In Sunday's opening game, the Lady Aggies built a 3-0 lead but watched the hosts string together four hits in the sixth inning to plate four runs and take a 4-3 advantage.

Pinch hitter Remi West opened the seventh with a double, but Murray State was down to its final strike with two outs and its unblemished record on the line when sophomore Shallen Mershon dropped a bloop single into shallow centerfield to tie the game. Pinch runner Mattie Richardson then stole second and raced home on Abby Beck's go-ahead single to right.

Murray State wasn't out of danger though as Alexa Hopkins plunked the first batter of the bottom of the seventh before coaxing a double play ball to Jadyn Hook at second base. A ground out on the very next pitch ended it to preserve the win.

Hopkins fired four and two-third innings to pick up the pitching win as she allowed no runs on two hits and struck out two.

Chesnie Hewitt smashed a two-run homer in the third that put Murray State in front before Rayna Rock added a solo home run one frame later that pushed the margin to 3-0. Hook tallied two of the club's eight hits with Hewitt, Mershon, Beck, Rock, West and Kenzie Tuck posting one apiece.

The Lady Aggies built a 4-0 lead in game two, spurred by a lead off home run from Hewitt in the first inning and her RBI single in the second that coupled with a Lady Buck error.

Rich Mountain answered with four tallies in its half of the second to tie things up which is where it remained until the fourth. That's when Mullens' club erupted for four more runs that gave them the lead for good.

The flurry started with two outs and nobody on when Hewitt was hit by a pitch and quickly raced all the way around the bases to score on K.J. Morgan's double on the next pitch. A walk, hit batter and error kept the rally rolling ahead of a run-scoring hit from Rock.

Murray State's final run came in the sixth when Morgan singled and eventually scored on a RBI double off the bat of Tuck.

Hopkins recorded her second win of the day, tossing three and two-third stanzas of scoreless relief. She allowed just one hit and struck out five.

The Lady Aggies finished with 13 hits topped by three from Morgan. Hewitt, Tuck and Brylea Russell pounded out two apiece with Beck, Rock, Hook and Emma Damato also adding one each.

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Players Mentioned

#10 Emma Damato: INF; Sophomore

#4 Chesnie Hewitt: INF; Sophomore

#17 Jadyn Hook: INF; Sophomore

#20 Alexa Hopkins: P; Sophomore

#18 Shallen Mershon: C; Sophomore

#21 Brylea Russell: Utility; Sophomore

#3 Kenzie Tuck: INF; Sophomore

#6 Remi West: OF; Sophomore

#1 Mattie Richardson: OF; Freshman

#7 Rayna Rock: Utility; Freshman

Players Mentioned

#10 Emma Damato
: Sophomore
: INF

#4 Chesnie Hewitt
: Sophomore
: INF

#17 Jadyn Hook
: Sophomore
: INF

#20 Alexa Hopkins
: Sophomore
: P

#18 Shallen Mershon
: Sophomore
: C

#21 Brylea Russell
: Sophomore
: Utility

#3 Kenzie Tuck
: Sophomore
: INF

#6 Remi West
: Sophomore
: OF

#1 Mattie Richardson
: Freshman
: OF

#7 Rayna Rock
: Freshman
: Utility