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BIRMINGHAM, Ala. – Senior Christina Ciolek and freshman Amber Murray hit solo home runs in the fourth inning to lift the Eastern Kentucky University softball team to a 3-2 win over Belmont Saturday evening.

EKU (3-5) lost its first game of the day, a 3-2 decision to host Samford. Both games were a part of the 2014 Samford Invitational. The Colonels conclude play at the tournament tomorrow, Feb. 15 against Evansville.

The Colonels trailed Belmont, 2-1, heading into the fourth before Ciolek led off the inning with a solo blast to left field. Two batters later, Murray gave Eastern the lead for good with another long shot to left field.

Murray, hailing from Elk Grove, Calif., was making her first appearance in a collegiate game against Belmont. The freshmen reached base in all three of her plate appearances which also included a single and a walk.

Junior pitcher Leanna Pittsenbarger (2-2) made the lead hold up by pitching the final 3.2 innings in relief without giving up a hit.

In Saturday's opener against Samford, Abby Sweeney's two-run shot in the bottom of the fifth inning proved to be the difference for the Bulldogs. Eastern Kentucky entered that frame leading 2-1 thanks to a Ciolek home run and Krislyn Campos sacrifice fly.

Junior pitcher Shaylon Robb (0-2) was the hard-luck loser as she pitched six innings while allowing just two earned runs and three hits.