JACKSONVILLE, Ala. – Eastern Kentucky University’s softball team built a 6-3 lead after five innings against Samford University in the first round of the 2008 Ohio Valley Conference tournament, but the Bulldogs staged a late-inning rally and won the game 8-6. The Colonels (28-21) will play in the elimination round on Friday. The Bulldogs (24-27) advanced to a Thursday evening second round meeting with Morehead State.

Sixth seeded Samford grabbed the early lead on Emily Deaux’s sacrifice fly in the top of the second inning. The third seeded Colonels answered in the bottom half of the inning. With one out, senior Katie Rolf launched her sixth home run of the season, a solo shot, to tie the game. Later in the inning, senior Chanze Patterson brought home two runs with a single to center field and EKU had a 3-1 lead.

The Bulldogs came right back and tied the game in the third. Jeslyn Metcalf’s infield single drove in one run. Katie England tied the game with a single through the left side.

With the score tied in the bottom of the fifth, EKU plated three runs to take what appeared to be a commanding lead. Sophomore Shyenne Hussey led off the inning with a solo shot to straight-away center field, her eighth homer of the season. Freshman Cassi Gibson made it a 5-3 game with an RBI single up the middle. Fellow freshman Amber Lenz also drove in a run with a single up the middle.

The Colonels carried a 6-3 lead into the sixth inning, but Samford didn’t fold. After a lead-off walk, Jodi Pence replaced EKU starter Kalyn Fox and retired the next two batters. After Pence issued a walk, Fox came back into the game. The next four batters reached base as the Bulldogs staged a four-run rally. Kristy Lawrence scored on a fielding error, Aaren Fisher was hit by a pitch with the bases loaded to force in a run and cut the deficit to 6-5. Amanda Barrs followed with an RBI single that tied the game. A wild pitch allowed England to score the go-ahead run.

Hussey doubled in the bottom of the sixth with one out, but the Colonels couldn’t get the tying run home. Samford made it a two-run lead when Lawrence homered in the top of the seventh. Eastern went down in order in the bottom of the inning to end the game.

Barrs started for Samford. She left the game at the start of the fifth inning, but returned in the sixth and picked up her first save of the season. Kayla Burris (8-7) earned the win after tossing just two-thirds innings of scoreless relief. Fox (8-6) suffered the loss for Eastern Kentucky. The junior pitched six and one third innings, allowed seven runs on 13 hits. Only four of the runs she allowed were earned.

Hussey finished 3-for-4 with a run and an RBI. Pam Webber went 2-for-3 with a run. Gibson finished 2-for-4 with an RBI. For Samford, Barrs went 3-for-4 at the plate with a run and an RBI. Jessica Owens and Lawrence each scored two runs.

A rain delay on Thursday evening has left the upcoming tournament schedule in question. The Colonels will face the loser of the No. 5 Tennessee Tech/No. 1 Jacksonville State game on Friday. As of 8:30 p.m. ET Thursday night, that game had not started.