MURRAY — The state of Alabama and Murray State’s softball program will write chapters collectively as soon as once more this weekend when the Racers head to Tuscaloosa to play of their first-ever NCAA Match.
In actual fact, it was solely Saturday that the Racers final frolicked in that state, a enterprise that ended with a first-ever Ohio Valley Convention Match championship and an extension of the file for many single-season wins – now as much as 40.
“Alabama has been good to us this 12 months. Perhaps we will get two in a row this time,” stated Murray State Head Coach Kara Amundson, whose group gained the OVC title at Choccolocco Park within the city of Oxford, about an hour east of Birmingham. Murray State began its title run by profitable its first two video games, placing it in place to play two video games, if wanted, to win one within the title spherical. That benefit proved huge because the Racers dropped Saturday’s first sport to Belmont earlier than coming again to beat the Bruins within the second sport.
The Racers are enjoying Stanford in at the moment’s first sport, which can bode nicely relating to fan help. Historically, followers of the Southeastern Convention faculties will throw their help for supposed underdogs in video games their very own group shouldn’t be enjoying.
That might imply Bama followers will throw their help to the lower-seeded Racers in opposition to PAC-12 energy Stanford as Bama faces Chattanooga at 2:30 at the moment, adopted by the Racers and Cardinal at 5:30.
That will be a pleasant change from the final time Murray State rubbed elbows with this system that gained all of it in 2012 and has been in competition since then a number of different occasions. That was in 2019 at an occasion hosted by Troy within the southeastern part of the state.
It could have been deemed a “impartial” web site, but it surely was a determined home-field edge for the well-supported Tide, ranked ninth within the nation, as they took two video games from the Racers, the primary by a 12-0 in 5 innings.
Nevertheless, the Racers have been rather more aggressive in opposition to Bama of their subsequent sport, falling 16-10 in sport the Racers led 3-1 and had tied at 3-3 within the third inning earlier than the Tide scored 4 occasions within the fourth.
Murray State, although, got here proper again, scoring thrice within the fifth earlier than the Tide flexed its muscle the remainder of the way in which.
Bama shouldn’t be the one SEC faculty positioned in that state. Not too removed from Troy resides Auburn, although not as historically profitable as their neighbors west of Birmingham, the Tigers have had some good moments, which makes the outcomes of a February 2021 go to to Auburn fairly spectacular for the Racers.
They did lose each video games, however by very shut margins of 1-0 and 3-1. And the 2 huge weapons for the Racers this 12 months within the circle, Hannah James — 2022 OVC Pitcher of the 12 months — and Jenna Veber, whose efforts earned an All-OVC Second Staff choice, have been excellent in these video games, combining to permit solely three hits in each video games.
Talking of James and Veber, they’ve historical past with a number of the gamers from different groups who will likely be enjoying in Tuscaloosa.
“Jenna informed me that one of many pitchers she performed in opposition to in highschool (throughout her days in Oswego, Illinois close to Chicago) now performs for Stanford (Regan Krause, who’s from Pontiac, north of Bloomington),” Amundson stated, marveling at how two gamers from small cities in Illinois will now meet once more on a area in Alabama within the NCAA Match.”I feel it’s unimaginable to have that occur, but it surely reveals the dimensions of the game. From the smallest, little communities, so many can play at this stage. I feel it’s unimaginable.”
James’ historical past might be extra vital. A star pitcher at East Jessamine Excessive College in Nicholasville, she helped her group to a 38-6 file in 2016. One of many groups she confronted within the state match was East Carter, led by a tall, fire-balling right-hander named Montana Fouts.
That’s the identical Montana Fouts, now Bama’s main pitcher, who threw an ideal sport in final 12 months’s Faculty World Sequence best-of-three championship collection with UCLA. Bama went on to lose that collection, however Fouts continues to be thought to be one of many prime pitchers in faculty softball.
Nevertheless, on that day in Owensboro, James received the most effective of Fouts as East Jess beat the Comets, 7-4, as James scattered seven hits, whereas her teammates touched Fouts for 11.
At this time’s sport will be seen on ESPN+ and also will be broadcast domestically on WNBS 97.9 FM.