RICHMOND, Ky. – Sophomore catcher Jena Handley hit a grand slam in the bottom of the sixth inning to propel the Eastern Kentucky University softball team to a 6-2 win over Southeast Missouri Saturday afternoon at Gertrude Hood Field. The game was the OVC opener for both squads.

Trailing 2-1 in the bottom of the sixth, the Colonels (11-7, 1-0 OVC) rallied with five runs to win their conference opener for the second straight year. Eastern was able to load the bases utilizing just one hit. With one out, freshman Amber Lenz notched an infield single before senior Adriel Foxley was hit by a pitch. Sophomore Shyenne Hussey then walked on four pitches to bring Handley to the plate.

Handley, who grounded into a double play with the bases loaded in the fourth inning, roped the first pitch she saw in the sixth down the left field line for the grand slam. Freshman Erin Luther added an insurance run later in the inning with her first career homer.

Southeast Missouri (10-12, 0-1) scored its runs on long balls by Stacia Dopudja in the fourth and Michelle Summers in the fifth.

Junior Kalyn Fox (2-2) allowed one hit in three innings of relief pitching to earn her second win of the year. For Southeast Missouri, Elaine Fisher (5-8) went the distance, giving up five earned runs and striking out two batters.

The Colonels and Redhawks will conclude the series tomorrow, March 16, with a doubleheader beginning at 1 p.m.