Softball 3/1/2024 9:25:00 PM

Lady Aggies split pair in Drury Invitational

Box Score 1 | Box Score 2 By Kevin Farr
Murray State Sports Information
SPRINGFIELD, MO – Fifth-ranked Murray State survived the upset bid of Allen County College on Friday but were unable to hold off Johnson County while splitting a pair of games in the Drury Invitational.

The Lady Aggies pulled away for an 11-6 triumph in the first game before watching Johnson County rally in its final two at bats for a 10-7 verdict in the nightcap.

Now 19-3 on the year, Murray State closes out tournament action on Saturday at 9:30 a.m. against Southeastern Iowa Community College before a contest with Coffeyville Community College at 2 o'clock.

Murray State wasted little time in bolting to the lead against Allen County, pushing across three first inning runs spurred by a Karsyn York triple and Bradi Harman double.

A two-run single from York in the fourth added to the advantage and the Lady Aggies made it 6-0 in the fifth when Shaylin Midgley single and raced home on a Courtney Gray triple.

The Lady Aggies never had a chance at the run rule as Allen County, which fell to 6-4 on the season, plated four runs in the fifth and another in the sixth to make things very interesting.

Mullens' crew took all suspense out of the equation with a five-run flurry in the seventh inning that put it out of reach. Gracie Lute tossed in a two-run homer with York contributing a two-run single and Lexi Meadows a RBI double.

York managed four of the team's 12 hits and also drove in four during the monster hitting performance. Gray notched three hits with one RBI with Midgley adding a pair as well as one apiece from Meadows, Harman and Lute.

Dara Hamlin was credited with the pitching win, firing four strong innings in the starting assignment, allowing one run on one hit, struck out two and walked two.

Murray State held a 7-2 edge through three innings of game two and looked to be well on the way to another victory when the Lady Aggie bats went cold, managing just four hits over the remainder of the contest.

That allowed Johnson County to rally, pushing across two in the fourth, one in the fifth, two in the sixth and three more on a game-ending walkoff home run in the seventh. The Kansas club improved to 7-3 on the year.

Mattie Richardson, York and Harman all homered in the second inning with Haili Igou and Gray adding roundtrippers in the third to build what looked like a comfortable lead.

Both teams finished with 10 hits as York, Harman, Igou, Gray and Richardson all had two for Murray State.

Gray, Brooklyn Ellis and Hamlin all had difficulty in the pitching circle, allowing runs with Hamlin charged with the loss in one-third of an inning.

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Players Mentioned

#1 Mattie Richardson: OF; Sophomore

#2 Karsyn York: OF; Sophomore

#5 Shaylin Midgley: Utility; Sophomore

#3 Courtney Grey: Utility; Freshman

#10 Haili Igou: INF; Freshman

#30 Gracie Lute: INF; Freshman

#21 Lexi Meadows: INF; Freshman

#18 Brooklyn Ellis: P; Freshman

#4 Bradi Harman: Utility; Freshman

#9 Dara Hamlin: P; Freshman

Players Mentioned

#1 Mattie Richardson
: Sophomore
: OF

#2 Karsyn York
: Sophomore
: OF

#5 Shaylin Midgley
: Sophomore
: Utility

#3 Courtney Grey
: Freshman
: Utility

#10 Haili Igou
: Freshman
: INF

#30 Gracie Lute
: Freshman
: INF

#21 Lexi Meadows
: Freshman
: INF

#18 Brooklyn Ellis
: Freshman
: P

#4 Bradi Harman
: Freshman
: Utility

#9 Dara Hamlin
: Freshman
: P