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

RICHMOND, Ky. – The Eastern Kentucky University softball team was victorious in its home opener against Southeast Missouri (5-1) Saturday afternoon at Gertrude Hood Field, but fell in game two of the doubleheader (5-3).

EKU now sits at 12-12 overall and 2-2 in Ohio Valley Conference action.

Junior pitcher Leanna Pittsenbarger (9-6) tossed her 10th complete game of the season in the opener. The righty struck out 13 SEMO hitters, one shy of her career high, and allowed a single run in the top of the seventh.

Sophomore Sarah Fobbs was the offensive star as the left fielder hit a home run in both the second and third innings. Fobbs' long ball to left to lead off the second made the score 1-0. Freshman Krislyn Campos came through with a two-out RBI later in the inning to extend the lead to 3-0.

After Fobbs hit another blast to right center to stretch the cushion to 4-0, senior Christina Ciolek capped the EKU scoring with an RBI single in the fourth.

In game two, Eastern grabbed a 2-0 lead only to see Southeast Missouri rally with five runs in the fourth. All five of Redhawk runs came with two outs. Haylee Krack and Leah Duffe each tallied two-run singles in the frame.

Sophomore Kayla Joyce hit her third home run of the season in the fifth to cut the deficit to 5-3, but that would be the only run EKU would manage the rest of the game.

SEMO's (6-14, 1-1) win snapped a seven-game losing streak. Keaira Schilling (2-5) pitched five innings and allowed two earned runs to notch the win.

Campos, Ciolek and Fobbs each had multiple hits in both games. Ciolek is now riding a seven-game hitting streak.

Sophomore pitcher Hayley Flynn came on in relief in game two and allowed just one hit to go along with five strikeouts in 3.1 innings.

Eastern Kentucky continues its home swing tomorrow, March 23 with a doubleheader against UT Martin. First pitch is set for 1 p.m.