WILMINGTON, N.C. – A three-run blast in the top of the seventh from senior
Kayla Joyce lifted the EKU softball team to a 4-3 win over Army in the Fairfield Inn and Suites Seahawk Softball Bash on Friday.
The Colonels (1-1) trailed 3-1 in the top of the seventh when Joyce powered a game-winning three-run blast to left field to give EKU a 4-3 lead with Army down to its final three outs.
Senior pitcher Haley Flynn and the Colonel defense retired the Black Knights in order in the home half of the seventh to notch their first win of the season.
EKU struck first as a double to the gap in center from sophomore
Sarah Jackson scored
Paige Murphy, putting the Colonels up, 1-0.
The Black Knights' two-run third put them in front 2-1, before Army added another run in the fifth.
With EKU trailing 3-1, Joyce's game-winning homer evened the Colonels' record to 1-1 on the opening day of play in 2016.
The Colonels dropped first game of the day to host UNC Wilmington, 5-4.
After back-to-back singles from Murphy and
Hannah Clark in the top of the first, an erred throw from UNC Wilmington allowed Jackson and Murphy to cross the plate to give the Colonels a 2-0 lead.
In the home half of the inning, however, the Seahawks were able to plate three runs to take a 3-2 lead. With the bases loaded, a UNC Wilmington single sent two runs home to knot it up. Abby Harris singled up the middle that allowed another run to cross the plate for the Seahawks, as UNC Wilmington held a 3-2 lead after one.
The Seahawks added to their lead in the second inning, as a two-run single from Anna Hessenthaler extended the Seahawk lead to 5-2.
EKU trimmed the lead back to one in the fourth, as Joyce drove in
Rachel Minogue who singled to second base to lead off the inning for the Colonels.
In the top of the seventh, EKU faced its final three outs of the game. With two away, Clark belted her first collegiate homer to pull the Colonels within one, 5-4.
Johnkyria Alston followed with a single through the left side of the Seahawk defense, but the Colonels' comeback fell short.
Joyce led the EKU offense, finishing 4-for-6 on the day with four RBIs.
The Colonels are back in action on Saturday against Saint Francis (Pa.). Saturday's game is scheduled for 1:30 p.m. against the Red Flash.
