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LEXINGTON, Ky. – The Eastern Kentucky University softball team pushed No. 12 Kentucky all the way to the final inning, but in the end came up short in a 2-0 loss Wednesday evening at John Cropp Stadium.
 
The Colonels (9-12) threatened to open the scoring in the top of the third inning after freshman Paige Murphy doubled to the gap in left center and junior Sarah Fobbs singled through the infield. However, with no outs and runners on second and third, Eastern came up empty in its next three at-bats.
 
Senior pitcher Leanna Pittsenbarger battled through the first four innings without allowing a run. The righty stranded six runners in those innings.
 
In the bottom of the fifth, Christian Stokes led off the frame with a home run to dead center field to give the Wildcats (15-5) a 1-0 lead.
 
Eastern Kentucky had a chance to even the score in the sixth thanks to another key hit from Fobbs. Sophomore Krislyn Campos reached first with an infield single. One out later, Fobbs blasted a shot off the left center wall to put runners on second and third again. Kentucky pitcher Erin Rethlake was able to escape that jam with back-to-back strikeouts.
 
Brooklin Hinz added an RBI double in the bottom of the sixth inning to round out the scoring.
 
Pittsenbarger (4-5), who nearly no-hit Kentucky one year ago, allowed two runs and five hits in 5.1 innings of work.
 
Rethlake (1-0) picked up the victory for UK thanks to tossing the final three innings and striking out three Colonels.
 
Kentucky now leads the all-time series, 20-7. Eastern has not defeated UK since 2006.
 
EKU begins conference play this weekend with a three-game series at Belmont.