Game 1 Box Score
Game 2 Box Score

RICHMOND, Ky. – Eastern Kentucky overcame a three-run deficit to defeat Tennessee State 4-3 in the first game of an Ohio Valley Conference doubleheader on Friday at Gertrude Hood Field. The Colonels cut a four-run deficit in the second game to one but couldn’t complete the comeback and lost 6-4.

The Tigers (9-17, 4-5 OVC) took advantage of three EKU errors to plate three runs in the second inning of the first game. Brittany Webb’s RBI double down the left field line made it 3-0 in favor of the visitors.

The Colonels (9-22, 4-5 OVC) evened up the score in their half of the third. Raquel Howes led off the inning with a double down the left field line. A sacrifice bunt pushed the runner to third and Howes scored on a fielder’s choice. With two outs, DeAnn Horswill was hit by a pitch to put runners at the corners and Christina Datko followed with a walk to load the bases. Back-to-back singles by Samm Daniels and Diane Gallagher drove in one run each to tie the score at 3-3.

With two outs and a runner at second base in the bottom of the fourth, Nikki Bruce lined the ball into center field and Howes scored ahead of the throw to push the home team in front for the first time.

EKU starter Stacye Toups made sure the lead would hold up. She retired the side in order in the fifth and the sixth. The first two batters went down in the seventh before a Tiger was hit by a pitch to put the tying run on base. However, a ground ball to the pitcher ended the game. Overall Toups retired 13 of the final 14 batters to come to the plate beginning with the final batter of the third inning. None of TSU’s three runs were earned. The junior allowed four hits and struck out seven to improve to 4-3 on the season.

Gallagher finished 3-for-3 with one RBI and two stolen bases. With 28 stolen bases in 2010, the sophomore is approaching Chanze Patterson’s school single-season record of 31 stolen bases. Howes went 2-for-4 with two runs scored.

Four Tigers accounted for Tennessee State’s four hits.

With two outs in the top of the third inning of the second game, a misplayed ground ball led to the first TSU run. Tamara Perkins followed with a three-run home run over the left field fence to extend the visitors’ lead to 4-0.

EKU got on the board in the bottom of the third. With a runner on, Howes legged out a triple to cut the deficit to three. After the Tigers added a run to their lead in the top of the fourth, the Colonels plated three in their half of the fourth to draw within one. After a run scored on a TSU error, Daniels doubled to left center to make it 5-3. An illegal pitch allowed Datko to score from third to cap the inning.

Eastern wouldn’t get any closer. Tennessee State added a run in the fifth on a RBI single by Caitlin Eaton to set the final score. Eaton finished 2-for-2 with a run and an RBI. Brooke Blackford went 2-for-4 with an RBI. Perkins only hit was her three-run home run.

Gallagher, Howes and Horswill each finished with two hits for Eastern Kentucky.

The two teams will conclude their three-game series on Saturday. Due to the possibility of rain Saturday afternoon the game time has been changed to 12 p.m.