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RICHMOND, Ky. – Eastern Kentucky junior Noelani Esperas tossed a five inning no-hitter as the Colonel softball team finished off its 2010 season with an 8-0 victory over Austin Peay on Sunday at Gertrude Hood Field.

Esperas (1-5) allowed three base runners on a pair of walks and a fielder’s choice to pick up her first win of the season. She struck out one.

EKU caps the 2010 season with a 15-34 overall record and a 9-14 mark in Ohio Valley Conference games. The Colonels edge Austin Peay (16-35, 8-14 OVC) for seventh place in the conference standings.

A wild pitch allowed Cassi Gibson to score the game’s first run in the bottom of the first inning. That run set up a big inning for the Colonels. Moments later, with the bases loaded, freshman Nikki Bruce ripped a double off the fence in right field to drive in a pair of runs. A ground ball to second by DeAnn Horswill was misplayed and found its way into the outfield. Bruce and Melissa Costa scored on the play to stretch the lead to 5-0.

EKU platted three more in the bottom of the fourth. On a ground ball with the bases loaded, the Lady Govs tried to get the force-out at home, but the ball was dropped and Raquel Howes scored. Horswill followed with a single through the right side to score Costa and Jena Handley and extend the lead to 8-0.

Trying to keep the game alive, the Lady Govs had runners on second and third with one out in the top of the fifth. APSU’s Detra Farley flied out to third for the second out. Randal Davenport lifted a long fly ball to left field, but Diane Gallagher had room to make the catch and end the game.

Howes finished 2-for-3 with two runs scored. Costa went 3-for-3 with two runs scored. Bruce contributed two RBIs while Horswill drove in three.

In her final game as a Colonel Handley, a senior from Garden Grove, Calif., went 1-for-2 with two runs scored.