CARBONDALE, Ill. – No. 5 seed Indiana State knocked off No. 4 seed Murray State in extra-innings on Thursday, winning 2-1 in 12 innings over the Racers to advance to Friday's semifinal where they will take on No. 1 seed Northern Iowa at 3 p.m. ET.
 
The Sycamore victory gives ISU 31 wins which ties the program record for wins in a season. Thursday's win is also the first time Indiana State has won two games in an MVC Tournament since 2019 and the first time the Sycamores have advanced to the semifinal round since they won the entire tournament in 2015.
 
The Action
Three hours and 36 minutes, 12 innings and a combined 355 pitches later, Indiana State got the final out of Wednesday's quarterfinal at Charlotte West Stadium to stay alive in the MVC Tournament.
 
Danielle Henning reached on an infield single in the top of the first but would be left stranded on second to end the top of the first inning. Lauren Sackett started in the circle for the Sycamores and struck out three Racer hitters in the bottom half of the first including a swinging strikeout to strand a pair of runners on base.
 
ISU went down in order in the second, bringing Murray State back to the plate. Sackett allowed a pair of walks in the bottom of the frame but struck out two-straight hitters to get out of the jam and keep the Racers off the scoreboard.
 
The Sycamores struck first in the contest, going up 1-0 in the top of the third after a Racer error allowed Abi Chipps to score from third. Chipps and Olivia Patton both had singles in the frame. After a walk and a hit by pitch from Sackett, Cassi Newbanks would enter in relief with two outs in the inning. Murray State got a single to left field, scoring a run to tie the game at one apiece. Newbanks got a strikeout to retire the side.
 
In the top of the fourth, Indiana State went 1-2-3 again as Newbanks returned to the circle in the bottom half. The Racers loaded the bases with two outs but Kaylee Barrett would track down a fly ball to end the inning and keep the game tied 1-1.
 
Abi Chipps picked up her second hit of the day with a one-out bunt single and then moved to second after a sacrifice bunt from Olivia Patton. The Racers were able to snag a lineout to end the top of the fifth. Newbanks worked another scoreless frame in the bottom half.
 
Kennedy Shade singled to left field for the only action from the Sycamores in the sixth. Cassi Newbanks set Murray State down in order in the bottom half for her third-straight scoreless relief inning.

Abi Chipps reached on a bunt single again with two outs in the top of the seventh, making her 3-for-3 on the day. Olivia Patton followed her with what ended up being a ground-rule double as she lined a ball sharply to third and it ricocheted out of play, allowing Chipps to go to third and Patton to second. The Racers were able to induce a pop up to escape the jam. Patton would make a diving catch in center in the bottom half of the frame to send the game to extra innings.
 
Both teams went down in order in the eighth, moving the game to the ninth inning where Kaylee Barrett and Abi Chipps singled with two outs but the Sycamores could not convert a run. Chipps' single made her 4-for-4 on the day which broke her career-high for a hits in a game. Her previous best was three which she last had against Illinois State in the 2022 MVC Tournament. Cassi Newbanks stranded runners on the corners to send the game to the 10^th inning.
 
Danielle Henning started off the 10^th frame with a single but the next three Sycamores went down in order to send the Racers to the plate. Newbanks allowed a one-out single in the bottom of the 10^th but would get a pop up and a groundout to retire the side.
 
After the Sycamores went 1-2-3 in the top of the 11^th, Murray State would threaten in the bottom of the frame. A one-out double to left followed by an intentional walk had the Racers in business. A groundout moved the runners over with two away. Murray State brought on a pinch hitter but would not score as Cassi Newbanks got a ground ball which was fielded by TeAnn Bringle who fired to first to escape.
 
A scoreless game since the third inning, the Sycamores finally broke through in the top of the 12^th as Isabella Henning scorched a ball through the left side with two outs, scoring Olivia Patton who singled and moved to second on a Danielle Henning sacrifice bunt.
 
Cassi Newbanks returned to the circle for the 12^th and would strand runners on second and third as Kennedy Shade scooped up a ground ball and threw on to first to end the game and send the Sycamores to the semifinal.
 
Newbanks finished with 9.1 shutout innings in relief, striking out five while picking up her sixth win of the season. Lauren Sackett struck out five in her 2.2 innings of work.
 
Indiana State finished with 11 hits led by Abi Chipps who went 4-for-5. Olivia Patton went 3-for-5 with Danielle Henning also having a multi-hit game, going 2-for-5. Kennedy Shade and Kaylee Barrett both had a hit as well.
 
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