The Murray State Racers split a doubleheader with the Southern Illinois Salukis in their final home games of the season on April 21. The Racers now hold a record of 20-21 overall and 11-9 in the Missouri Valley Conference, while the Salukis stand at 29-15 overall and 18-6 in conference play.
The results keep Southern Illinois second in the conference standings, trailing only Belmont. Murray State remains fifth, just behind Northern Iowa.
In the first game, Southern Illinois edged out Murray State with a score of 4-3. After two scoreless innings, SIU scored first with an RBI double in the third inning. Parker Holcombe answered for Murray State with an RBI single to tie it up. The Salukis added another run on an error before Adison Hicks gave the Racers a brief lead with a two-run homer in the fifth inning. However, SIU reclaimed control after hitting a two-run home run in the sixth and held on for victory. Bre Haislip took the loss as starting pitcher for Murray State, while Raylee Roby pitched two hitless innings of relief.
Adison Hicks went 2-for-3 at bat with her home run and two runs batted in (RBI), while Kynadee Warner contributed by going 2-for-4. Parker Holcombe also had one hit and one RBI.
In game two, strong performances from Holcombe and Hicks helped secure a shutout win for Murray State at 3-0. Holcombe drove in Hicks for the opening run before adding another RBI single later on. Warner tripled to start off scoring opportunities before being driven home by Hicks’ own triple. Karlye Graber earned credit as winning pitcher after allowing just three hits over nearly four innings of relief work.
Looking ahead, Murray State will continue its Missouri Valley Conference schedule with an away series against Illinois State beginning Friday, April 24.
