Box Score vs. Evansville
Box Score vs. Lipscomb

NASHVILLE, Tenn. – Eastern Kentucky picked up its first victory of 2010 with a 6-4 victory over the Evansville today in the team’s first game at the Lady Bisons Classic hosted by Lipscomb in Nashville. The Colonels (1-10) lost their second game of the day to the host team by a score of 5-2.

Against Evansville (2-5), an RBI single by Raquel Howes in the top of the first inning staked EKU to an early lead. After Howes stole second base, senior Jena Handley drove her in with a single through the left side to make it a 2-0 game. RBI singles by Tamara Robey and Amy Gaertner in the bottom of the second tied the game for Evansville.

Larkyn Wood broke the tie for Eastern in the top of the fourth with her first career home run, a two-run shot. Another RBI single by Howes in the fifth proved to be the game winner. Evansville added two more in the bottom of the sixth to cut the lead to 5-4, but that is as close as the Purple Aces would get. Howes provided an insurance run with her first career homer in the top of the seventh.

Howes finished 3-for-4 in the first game with two runs scored and three driven in. Sophomore Diane Gallagher had two hits, two runs and two stolen bases. Robey went 3-for-5 with an RBI for Evansville.

Mea Flores (1-2) came on to pitch in the second inning. She allowed two runs on seven hits in four innings to earn her first win of the season. Junior Stacye Toups held the Purple Aces hitless over the final inning and two-thirds to earn the save.

In the second game of the day, Lipscomb (14-1) scored the first five runs of the game. Lauren Dortwegt accounted for the game’s first run in the bottom of the third when she scored on an EKU error. Christen Campbell’s two-run double in the fourth stretched the lead to 3-0. The Lady Bisons added two more in the fifth.

The Colonels attempted a comeback in the seventh. With two outs and one on, Ashley Dollins connected on her second home run of the season to cut the deficit to 5-2, but Eastern’s comeback bid ended one batter later.

Dollins and Howes recorded the only two hits in the game for Eastern Kentucky. Dortwegt finished 2-for-2 with two runs and an RBI for Lipscomb.

The Colonels will conclude the Lady Bisons Classic with two games on Sunday. EKU will face Murray State in a non-conference tilt at 11 a.m., and will take on Evansville again at 1:15 p.m.