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Box Score

RICHMOND, Ky. – Home runs by Raquel Howes and Larkyn Wood led Eastern Kentucky to a 5-3 win over Western Kentucky on Thursday at Gertrude Hood Field.

With four straight wins, the Colonels (11-13, 4-1 OVC) have their longest winning streak of the season.

Western struck first, scoring a pair of runs in the top of the second inning.  A single by Shawna Sadler drove in the first run of the game.  A second run came across on the same play after an EKU fielding error.  The Hilltoppers added a run to their lead in the top of the third.  Mallorie Sulaski’s single to right-center allowed Preslie Cruce to score from third base.

Howes tied the game with one swing of the bat in the bottom of the third.  With two runners on, the junior sent a pitch over the left-center field fence for her sixth home run of the season.  Three batters later and one runner on, Wood hit her fourth home run of the season to put Eastern on top 5-3.

WKU (19-12) loaded the bases with two outs in the fourth, but stranded all three runners.  In the top of the fifth, with one out and runners on first and second, Sadler lifted a fly ball into short left field.  Diane Gallagher charged in to make the catch and then caught the runner off second to end the inning. 

Western threatened one last time in the top of the seventh.  With two outs and runners on first and second, Shaylon Robb came on in relief.  She struck out the first batter she faced on four pitches to end the game.

Kristin Perry (1-1) started for Eastern.  She allowed three runs on six hits in six and two-thirds innings.  She walked three and struck out two.  Emily Rousseau (8-6) went the distance for Western, allowing two earned runs on six.  She walked three and struck out seven.

Wood was the only Colonel to record multiple hits.  She finished 2-for-3 with a run and two RBIs.  Karavin Dew went 2-for-4 for the Hilltoppers.

The Colonels will take to the road this weekend for a three game series at Jacksonville State.  The series features the second place Gamecocks and third place EKU.  Saturday’s doubleheader is slated for a 2 p.m. ET start.  Sunday’s single game will begin at 2 p.m. ET.