Box Score 1 | Box Score 2
PDF Stats (Game 1) | PDF Stats (Game 2)

RICHMOND, Ky. – The Eastern Kentucky University softball team exploded for 22 runs in a doubleheader sweep over visiting Tennessee State Saturday afternoon. The Colonels won by scores of 9-2 and 13-5.

EKU (25-16, 12-4 OVC) has now won six straight league games while the Tigers (11-29, 2-12) have dropped seven consecutive games overall.

Sophomore Katie Tackett led the offensive outburst by going 5-for-8 with two home runs and five RBIs in the twin bill. Tackett, who hit a long ball in each game, is now tied for the team lead with freshman Sarah Fobbs with nine home runs. Junior Christina Ciolek also had five hits while senior Raquel Howes chipped in with four RBIs.

In the opener, the Colonels broke up a 2-2 tie with five runs in the fourth to pull away from TSU. All five runs scored in the key inning came with two outs.

Howes kept the fourth inning alive with a two-run single up the middle. Following a Fobbs walk, Tackett roped a three-run home run to left center to make the score 7-2.

Pitchers Hayley Flynn and Leanna Pittsenbarger combined to tally 13 strikeouts in game one. Flynn (3-0) earned the win by going the first four innings, striking out seven Tigers and giving up two runs.

Eastern scored a run in every inning of the second contest to roll past Tennessee State. The Colonels scored six in the third, including a Tackett two-run shot, to open a 9-0 advantage.

The Tigers made a charge in the fourth by scoring five runs on one hit. Tennessee State capitalized on two walks, a hit batter, a throwing error and an Ashley Haynes two-run double to cut the deficit to 9-5.

However, Eastern Kentucky finished the game in the fifth with three runs keyed by doubles from redshirt freshman Haley Schenasi, Tackett and Ciolek.

Pittsenbarger (15-8) notched the game two victory thanks to going 5.0 innings, striking out 10 batters and allowing only two hits.

EKU and Tennessee State wrap up the three-game series tomorrow, April 14 beginning at 1 p.m.