ROSEMONT, Ill. – The EKU softball team produced 19 runs in two games on Saturday, as the Colonels picked up two wins on the second day of the Total Control Invitational.
EKU (5-2) defeated the University of Illinois Chicago 8-5, before handing Green Bay an 11-2 loss in Saturday's concluding game.
The Colonels struck first in Saturday's opener, chalking up seven runs in the first two innings.
EKU looked to capitalize with one away and the bases loaded, but an out at the plate thwarted the initial scoring attempt. However the Colonels' offense soon exploited the situation. With two outs and three aboard,
Sarah Jackson singled through the left side to score
Paige Murphy who singled two batters earlier.
The bases remained loaded for
Brittany Oldaker who drove a two RBI single up the middle to extend the EKU lead to 3-0.
After a quick home half of the inning, the Colonels aimed to add to their lead.
Krislyn Campos sent a solo shot over the wall in left field, putting EKU up 4-0.
Kayla Joyce followed with a single up the middle, forcing a Flames' pitching change.
The EKU offense quickly adjusted, as Murphy delivered a single to third base, putting two on for
Sarah Fobbs. Fobbs dropped a well-executed sacrifice bunt to advance Murphy and Joyce, as the Colonels had two runners in scoring position.
Hannah Clark belted a three-run homer to left center, giving EKU a commanding 7-0 lead.
The seven-run cushion would be all senior pitcher
Hayley Flynn needed, as Flynn and the Colonels stonewalled the Flames' offensive attack through four innings.
Nevertheless, the Flames were able to cross the plate in the fifth, compliments of a three-run homer from Laura Swan.
An RBI single from Fobbs in the top of the sixth inning added to EKU's lead, as the Colonels held an 8-3 advantage.
The Flames sent runs home in the bottom half of the sixth. Both Lexi Watts and Taylor Cairns delivered RBI singles, trimming the Colonels' lead to 8-5 but the damage was done as the Colonels picked up their first win of the day.
In Saturday's second game, Green Bay plated a run in the top half of the first. The lone run was no match for the potent EKU offense.
The Colonels quickly answered in the home half of the first, as Murphy scored when Fobbs drew a base on balls.
EKU recorded eight runs in the bottom of the second inning to put the game out of reach. Clark knocked a two RBI single up the middle to put the Colonels up 3-1. Fobbs stepped to the plate to calibrate Green Bay's new pitcher, driving a two-run shot down the right field line and extending the lead to 5-1.
Jackson followed with a single that helped Fobbs cross the plate, as Jackson swiped second base to score Fobbs on the throw.
Later in the inning,
Kelly Wood sent a liner to first base that was fumbled as Clark and
Rachel Minogue scored on the error to give EKU a dominant 9-1 cushion.
After Green Bay added a single run in the fourth, the Colonels responded with two runs of their own in the bottom half of the inning as Joyce sent a two-run double down the right field line to help the Colonels secure their fifth win of the season.
Clark and Campos both went deep and finished 4-for-6 on the day for the Colonels, while Joyce finished 4-for-8. Clark tallied five RBIs, while Fobbs added three in two games.
Flynn held the Flames to just four hits in five and one-thirds innings on the mound to pick up her fourth win of the season.
Alex Sallberg was solid in a relief performance, limiting UIC to two hits in one and two-thirds innings and striking out two.
Sallberg got the nod in Saturday's second game, picking up her first win of the season. The junior tossed four innings, scattering two runs and striking out four.
Murphy McRoberts made her second appearance of the season. The freshman logged one inning on the mound, retiring the three batters and striking out one.
The Colonels have a short turnaround as they play their final game of the Total Control Invitational on Sunday against Lipscomb University. Sunday's game is scheduled for 10 a.m.
