Box Score

JACKSONVILLE, Ala. – Eastern Kentucky fell 15-6 in six innings in the series finale with Jacksonville State on Sunday. The Gamecocks completed a three-game sweep of the Colonels.

EKU (12-31, 6-11 OVC) got on the board in the top of the first when Jena Handley was hit by a pitch with the bases loaded. However, JSU (23-16, 10-6 OVC) answered in the bottom of the inning when Nikki Prier drove in a pair with a double to center field. Eastern trailed 3-1 in the third inning when Handley drove in Samm Daniels and Melissa Costa’s single to left center plated two more to move the Colonels in front 4-3.

The back and forth contest continued in the bottom of the third when the Gamecocks scored three times to move back on top by two. Amanda Crow’s two-run home run highlighted the inning. Eastern Kentucky was able to tie the game in the fourth, before JSU pulled away. Handley and Costa each drove in a run to tie the game at 6-6.

Jacksonville State scored three times in the bottom of the fourth and one more in the fifth to push ahead 10-6. Mary Beth Ledbetter’s single through the left side in the sixth inning added another run to the score board and kept the bases loaded with Gamecocks. Tess Echols followed with a grand slam to end the game by run-rule, 15-6.

Five JSU players had two hits each. Crow finished 2-for-3 with two runs and three RBIs. Echols went 2-for-4 with a run and five RBIs.

Raquel Howes had three hits in three at bats and scored once for EKU. Costa had a hit and three RBIs. Handley was 2-for-3 with a run and three driven in.

The Colonels will return to action on Saturday when they host Murray State for a three-game series. Saturday’s doubleheader begins at 1 p.m.