TERRE HAUTE, Ind. – Indiana State softball dropped the series finale to Murray State on Sunday at Price field, falling to the Racers, 4-3.
 
Indiana State (23-23, 11-9 MVC) scattered 12 hits throughout the contest. The Racers (30-16, 14-6 MVC) finished with six hits, scoring all four of their runs in the third inning.
 
Murray State won the series, taking two of three games over the weekend and now lead the all-time series 3-1 over the Sycamores.
 
The Action
Lexi Benko got the start for the Sycamores, stranding runners on second and third in the top of the first inning. A line drive caught by Kaylee Barrett in right field would retire the side, bringing Indiana State to the plate where they would jump out to an early lead. With two outs in the frame, Isabella Henning singled through the right side followed by an infield single by Kennedy Shade. Annie Tokarek then drove in Henning with a single up the middle to put ISU up 1-0.
 
Following a 1-2-3 inning for Benko in the second, Abi Chipps reached with a two-out single and stole second but Murray State was able to retire the side with no damage done.
 
The Racers would get on the scoreboard in the third, plating four runs on three hits in the frame. After a one out walk by leadoff hitter Erin Lackey, Jadyn Thompson doubled off the wall in left center to put runners on second and third. A walk would load the bases, leading to a sacrifice fly to center field that would tie the game at one. Following the sac fly, Racers catcher Taylor Jackson homered over the wall in left center for a three-run shot, putting Murray State up 4-1. Lexi Benko would be replaced by Cassi Newbanks who stranded a pair of runners with a swinging strikeout to limit the damage. Isabella Henning recorded her second hit of the game in the bottom half of the third.
 
In the top of the fourth, Murray State was in business again until Kaylee Barrett caught a fly ball in right and fired home to get the runner at the plate to end the inning and keep the score at 4-1. The Sycamores went down in order in the bottom half.
 
Cassi Newbanks worked a scoreless top of the fifth, bringing up the Trees offense where Danielle Henning reached on a line drive single up the middle to highlight the Sycamores in the frame. Newbanks would put the Racers down in order in the sixth, picking up her second strikeout of her relief outing.
 
With one out in the bottom of the sixth, Annie Tokarek singled to right field for her second hit of the contest. Hannah Welch would come on to pinch run for Tokarek but was able to jog home as Cassie Thomerson lifter her second home run of the season over the wall in left field to bring the Sycamores within one run. TeAnn Bringle followed the home run with a double to right center which would chase Murray State starter Jenna Veber from the game. Bre Haislip entered in relief and got a groundout and a lineout to keep the Racers in the lead, 4-3, after six innings of play.
 
Newbanks set down the Murray State offense in order in the top of the seventh, bringing the Sycamores back in the dugout for a chance to rally. Olivia Patton started the inning off with a single to right field. Trying to move Patton over, Danielle Henning would end up reaching on a bunt single as nobody covered first base for the Racers. Isabella Henning then loaded the bases with her third hit of the game, a single through the right side. Hannah James, who had entered in relief of Haislip following the Patton single, then got Kennedy Shade to pop up and struck out Annie Tokarek and Cassie Thomerson to get out of the bases-loaded jam and clinch the series victory for the Racers.
 
Up Next
The Sycamores will travel to Evansville on Tuesday, April 25 for the third game of the season series against the Aces, with first pitch set for 6 p.m. ET at Cooper Stadium.
 
For the latest information on Sycamore Softball, be sure to visit GoSycamores.com. You can also find the team on social media, including Twitter, Facebook, Instagram and YouTube.