OXFORD, Ala. – First-Team All-Ohio Valley Conference pitcher Rachel Rook recorded 14 strikeouts and allowed just one run in nine innings, but it wasn't enough as #1 Murray State (38-15-1) used a walkoff home run by Gracie Osbron to beat #4 Southeast Missouri (28-23), 3-1, in 12 innings.
 
With a runner on and two outs in the bottom of the 12th Osbron hit SEMO reliever Marisa Davis' offering over the right center wall.
 
Before the decisive home run, Paige Halliwill reached on an error to begin the 12th, Aubrie Shore hit a grounder to second and Halliwill was initially ruled safe on a fielder's choice at second base. After the umpires further discussed, the call was overturned and Halliwill was out on the close play. Had the initial ruling stood, the Redhawks would have had runners at first and second with no outs. 
 
Hits and runs did not come easy in a heavyweight bout that pitted the OVC's top two pitchers in Hannah James and Rook.  
 
OVC Pitcher of the Year James and Rook put up zeros across the scoreboard through the first eight innings of play.
 
In the ninth, SEMO broke through to score a run when Abigail Rickermann singled, went to third with the help of a base hit by Halliwill and an error. On the next play, Shore lifted a deep fly ball to center and was robbed of a home run when Jensen Striegel jumped to make a great catch. Rickermann still scored on the sacrifice giving the Redhawks a 1-0 edge.
 
Lindsey Carroll immediately tied the game on a leadoff solo home run in the bottom half of the inning. Carroll hit the second pitch of her at-bat over the center field fence to make it a 1-1 contest.
 
James and Rook both exited the game in the 10th with no-decisions despite their remarkable performances.
 
MSU, which left 11 runners on base, put runners in scoring position multiple times. Rook, however, silenced every threat.
 
The Racers had runners at second and third with one out in the bottom of the second when Rook got out of the jam with back-to-back strikeouts.
 
MSU again had runners at second and third the next inning, but didn't score after Rook forced Lily Fischer to fly out to right.
 
Once Davis relieved Rook, she held the Racers scoreless in the 10th and 11th innings prior to the game-ending home run.
 
Rook allowed just four hits and walked four to go along with her 14 strikeouts. She finished with 10 or more strikeouts in a game for the sixth time this season and now has a total of 217 through 51 contests.
 
Meanwhile, James added 10 strikeouts and gave up one run on four hits. She did not give up a walk and brought her season total to 216 Ks.
 
Jenna Veber (16-7) was credited with the win, while Davis (4-7) took the tough luck loss.
 
The 12-inning game matched the longest in OVC Tournament history. SEMO was also involved in the other 12-inning marathon that resulted in a 10-9 loss to Eastern Illinois during the 2015 OVC Tournament in Edwardsville, Illinois.
 
SEMO will face #6 Tennessee Tech in an elimination game later tonight. That game was originally slated to begin at 5:30 p.m., CT, but will be played later due to the length of the Redhawks and Racers extra inning affair.