Box Score (PDF)

Live Stats | Live Video vs. Jax. State

OXFORD, Ala. – Junior Amber Murray finished 2-for-2 with two RBI and senior right-hander Hayley Flynn set a program record for wins in a season, as the EKU softball team advanced in the winner's bracket of the 2016 Ohio Valley Conference Championship with a 6-4 win over Eastern Illinois University Thursday at Choccolocco Park.
 
EKU (37-15) will take on No. 1 seed Jacksonville State on Friday at 6:00 p.m. ET. Friday's game was originally scheduled for 4 p.m. ET but was altered due to weather. 
 
Flynn tossed her second complete game in as many days, breaking the EKU program record for wins in a season previously held by two-time OVC Pitcher of the Year Jonelle Csora. The senior finished with seven strikeouts, while allowing five EIU hits on the night.
 
Despite a five and a half hour weather delay, the Colonels kept their momentum from Wednesday's 3-0 win over Tennessee Tech.
 
With the score knotted two in the top of the fourth, Murray sent a bomb off the scoreboard in right center to give the Colonels a 4-2 lead. Freshman Brittany Oldaker knocked a two-out, pinch-hit single to right field to put one on for Murray. Murray took the first pitch she saw and relocated it over the fence, as EKU regained the lead.
 
EIU (24-27) answered with two runs of its own in the bottom of the inning on solo shots from Kylie Bennett and Amber Toenyes to even the score at four all.
 
After a scoreless fifth, the Colonels got back on the board with an RBI single from sophomore Paige Murphy. Oldaker reached on a fielder's choice, before Murray dropped her second hit of the game with a single to center to start the inning. With two away, Murphy then put one through the gap on the right side to give the Colonels a one-run lead.
 
Sophomore Johnkyria Alston followed with an RBI single down the line in right field, as Murray scored her third run of the night and EKU extended its lead to 6-4.
 
The Colonels took a 2-0 lead in the third after an RBI double to right field from senior Kayla Joyce that put the Colonels up 1-0. Later in the inning senior Sarah Fobbs drove a ball to left, as Joyce collided with the EIU catcher at the plate for the score to give EKU a two-run advantage.
 
The Panthers responded in the home half of the inning on an erred EKU throw and a sacrifice fly from Kayla Bear to score Jennifer Ames to even the score at two.
 
The Colonels hit .375 (6-for-16) with runners on in the game, while the Panthers were 0-for-7.
 
Murphy's three hits led EKU, while Joyce and Murray also finished with multiple hits. Five Colonels finished with RBIs in the win.