RICHMOND, Ky. – Visiting Tennessee State salvaged the final game of the three-game set with a 4-3 victory over the Eastern Kentucky University softball team Saturday afternoon. With the win, the Lady Tigers (8-16, 2-4 OVC) handed the Colonels (15-8, 5-1) their first conference loss of the year.

Tennessee State jumped on top in the first inning thanks to back-to-back home runs by Tamara Perkins and Bridget Metzger.

The Colonels rallied with three runs in the second to take a 3-2 lead. With the bases loaded, senior Katie Rolf knocked in the first run with an RBI single. Junior Pam Webber followed with a sacrifice fly to even the score. An errant throw by TSU’s right fielder on that play allowed freshman Erin Luther to score the go-ahead run from second base.

In the fifth inning, Colonel junior Jodi Pence (2-1) entered the game as a relief pitcher and immediately found trouble. Three singles and a walk forced EKU to bring in junior Jenn Bledsoe to try to stop the bleeding. However, Bledsoe proceeded to walk in the winning run.

The Colonels were able to put the lead-off hitter on base in both the sixth and seventh innings, but could not score the tying run.

Tennessee State’s Lauren Webber (1-0) pitched the final four innings of the contest and did not allow a hit.

Eastern Kentucky continues OVC action on Tuesday, March 25, with a doubleheader at Morehead State. Game time is set for 3 p.m.