Published: February 26, 2008 01:34 pm         

MSU softball blasts way to 9-0!

Eagles sweep the Blues Classic in Memphis

SOUTHAVEN, Miss. - Freshman third baseman Rebecca Butler hit a one-out, walk-off home run in the bottom of the seventh frame Sunday morning to lift the Morehead State softball Eagles to a 1-0 win over Evansville in MSU's final game of the Blues City Classic.

The Eagles swept through the tournament with a 5-0 record to win the team title and are now 9-0 on the 2008 season. Senior Kari Quinn was named tournament MVP as she hit five home runs and won two games, and Alex Gjevre, Korey Ellis and Butler were also named to the All-Tournament team.

Butler, whose homer was her second career round-tripper, broke a scoreless pitcher's duel in the seventh on a 1-2 pitch. Her homer was only MSU's second hit of the game.

But, in what has become a strong point for the Eagles under first year coaching staff Holly Bruder, Gary Potts and Jen Anthony, Gjevre tossed another stellar game in the circle. She came within one out of the Eagles' third no-hitter this season, only allowing a two-out single in the seventh for the Purple Aces' lone hit. She did hit three batters but also struck out three along the way. She improved to 4-0 on the year and lowered her ERA to 0.25.

Ellis, who came into the game as MSU's leading hitter, got the other hit for the Eagles.

Morehead State will take its unblemished mark on the road again next weekend when it travels to Chattanooga, Tenn., for five games in the Frost Classic.

Still Perfect: Softball Moves to 8-0 with Wins Over Arkansas-Pine Bluff, Alabama A&M

SOUTHAVEN, Miss. - Morehead State's softball team kept its undefeated 2008 season intact Saturday as it defeated Arkansas-Pine Bluff 5-2 and then pounded Alabama A&M 15-0 in five innings at the Blues City Classic. Senior Kari Quinn hit three home runs and also moved to 3-0 in the circle with the win over AAMU, while freshmen Heather Widner and Rebecca Butler also picked up career firsts as well. MSU is now 8-0.

Butler hit her first career home run against AAMU, and Widner collected her first career save against UAPB.

In the opener against Pine Bluff, sophomore pitcher Sarah Funston picked up her second win of the 2008 season by throwing six complete innings. She allowed six hits but also converted a career high 10 strikeouts in improving to 2-0. Widner came on in relief and tossed the final inning to record the save.

Sophomore Courtney Seiler stole three bases for MSU as the Eagles swiped five on the afternoon.

At the plate, Butler led a seven-hit performance for MSU with a 2-for-3 showing. Quinn had a two-run home run in the fifth inning, and MSU also got safeties from Bri Jones, Allie Honkofsky, Brandy Bucher and Funston. Jones and Funston also added doubles. Amanda Smith hit a two-run homer off Funston for the Lions' only runs.

In the win over Alabama A&M, the Eagles used an 11-run second inning, highlighted by Quinn's three-run homer, to finish off the Bulldogs in five frames. Butler added a two-run round-tripper in the second inning scoring outburst, and Bucher also drilled her first home run of the season in back-to-back fashion following Butler.

Quinn was 2-for-4 with five RBI in the game. In the first four games of the Blues City Classic, Quinn is hitting .429 with five home runs and 11 RBI. In her first three seasons at Morehead State, she had not hit a home run. Senior catcher Korey Ellis and sophomore Ashley Archer also added three hits apiece, including a double each, as MSU smashed 14 hits and took advantage of seven Bulldog errors. Only five of the Eagles' runs were earned. Butler and Bucher also had two hits each, and Butler posted three RBI.

Quinn didn't allow a hit while striking out three in the first three innings to pick up the win. Widner struck out a trio of hitters in the last two innings to close the game.

Quinn Homers Twice and Throws No-Hitter as Softball Eagles Win Twice Friday

SOUTHAVEN, Miss. - Friday was simply Kari Quinn's day to shine. The Morehead State senior pitcher/outfielder from Phoenix, Ariz., hit a pair of two-run first-inning home runs and threw her second no-hitter of the 2008 season as the Eagles defeated Southeast Missouri (2-0) and host Memphis (2-1) at the Blues City Classic at Greenbrook Park. Quinn no-hit SEMO, and sophomore Alex Gjevre tossed a one-hitter against Memphis as the Eagles remained undefeated at 6-0 this season.

Quinn, who also tossed a seven-inning no-hitter in a 2-0 win over Eastern Michigan last week, almost nearly repeated her stats from a week ago exactly in the SEMO contest. Today, she struck out eight SEMO hitters and faced just four batters over the minimum in improving to 2-0 on the year. In 16 innings pitched, Quinn has not allowed a run yet. Last week, she fanned nine against EMU.

In the first inning of the Eagles' first game in the tournament, Quinn also provided the only runs her team would need. On just the ninth pitch from Redhawk pitcher Elaine Fisher, Quinn drove her first career home run over the fence in left field to score junior Bri Jones, who had walked. The Eagles had three other hits in the game, including a double by freshman Rebecca Butler.

In the nightcap, Gjevre also tossed another masterpiece, holding a powerful Memphis Tiger offense to only one hit in a complete-game win. She moved her record to 3-0 on the season, only allowing a third inning home run to Lelia Dolfo for her first earned run allowed this season.

Like deja vu, the Memphis game played out similarly to MSU's first of the day. The Eagles, who were the visiting team, batted first and saw Jones draw a walk to open the game. Quinn then stepped in and drilled her second round-tripper of the day and the second of her career to right field this time to stake the Eagles to a 2-0 lead.

Gjevre made it stand up. She did issue five walks and hit two batters but countered that with seven strikeouts. At the plate, the Eagles belted six hits. Quinn also added a single for her two hits, and Korey Ellis, Courtey Seiler, Bianca Cardanas and Ashley Archer rapped out a single apiece as well.

Gjevre outdueled Memphis ace Janelle Vale who had entered the contest 3-0.