JACKSONVILLE, Ala. – Eastern Kentucky University’s softball season came to an end with an 8-4 loss to Tennessee Tech University at the Ohio Valley Conference tournament in Jacksonville, Ala. The Colonels conclude their 2008 campaign with a 28-20 record. The Golden Eagles advance to face Morehead State.
EKU grabbed the early lead in the elimination game. In the bottom of the first inning, senior Adriel Foxley drove in Chanze Patterson with a single up the middle for the first run of the game. Sophomore Shyenne Hussey followed with a two-run home run to right field and the Colonels had a 3-0 lead. The homer was the second of the tournament for Hussey and her ninth of the season.

The Golden Eagles got on the board in the top of the second with Amanda Glover’s solo home run over the right-center field fence. The score remained 3-1 until the fourth.

With one on and two outs, Tech rallied in the top of the fourth. Lacie Coquerille singled up the middle to drive in a run and cut the deficit to 3-2. With the bases loaded, Sarah Street drove in the tying and go-ahead runs with a single up the middle. Stephanie Fischer capped off the inning with a three-run homer over the center field fence. EKU entered the inning with a 3-1 lead and left the inning down 7-3.

Each team added one run to its total over the final three innings. Eastern Kentucky stranded eight runners over the final four innings. The Colonels left two on base in the fourth and sixth and left the bases loaded in the seventh.

Freshman Stacye Toups (10-7), making her first tournament appearance, suffered the loss after allowing seven runs on six hits in four innings. Street (16-16) earned the win despite allowing four runs in four innings. Maddi Schmissrauter picked up the save after tossing three innings of scoreless relief.

Hussey finished 2-for-3 with a run scored and two RBIs for EKU. Anna Zdroik was the only Golden Eagle with more than one hit, she finished 2-for-4 with a run scored. Fischer went 1-for-1, walked twice, scored twice and drove in three.