GAME ONE BOX | GAME TWO BOX
MACON, Ga. – Senior Paige Murphy went yard in game two for the second time this season, plating three runs, to swing the lead back in favor of the Eastern Kentucky University softball team and secure an 8-6 win over Drexel after dropping game one, 5-4, on the first day of the Black and Orange Challenge.
The Louisville, Kentucky native had a stellar day at the plate, going 4-for-5 with three walks, one home run, two doubles, three runs scored and five RBIs.
The Dragons pitching staff walked a run across to allow EKU (6-4) the first run of the game in the bottom of the first. But, Drexel responded by plating three in the fourth to take the lead, 3-1.
DU (0-1) continued to add on in the top of the sixth when Linda Rush hit a two-run home run to lead by four, 5-1.
Zoe Mihalicz lit the spark for the Colonel rally in the bottom of the sixth with her first collegiate round-tripper. Emily Corbitt kept in tempo and doubled through the left side. Mattira Morales singled to center for an RBI, bringing EKU within two, 5-3.
Lizzmore walked to put two on for Murphy who went yard to put EKU up, 6-5.
After a base hit from Johnkyria Alston, Hannah Clark collected a two-run bomb of her own to extend the Colonel advantage, 8-5.
"I just felt like I was seeing the ball really well today," Murphy stated. "I stayed patient at the plate and stayed the course both games. It's such an awesome feeling to get such a key hit late in the game. I was very proud of us for fighting the whole game and bringing our bats alive at such a key moment."
Eastern Kentucky struck first in game one against Radford after a double from Murphy and a single from Alston put two on for the heavy-hitting Clark in the first inning. She made contact, pushing Murphy across to take a 1-0 lead.
Back-to-back one-out doubles from Lizzmore and Murphy opened the top of the third frame as Eastern took a 2-0 lead.
Alston notched another hit to bring Murphy around and stretch the lead to 3-0.
Home runs to open the bottom of the third, fourth and sixth innings racked up runs for the Highlanders, putting the Colonels in a 5-3 hole.
Murphy plated Brooke Harrison in the top of the seventh to add one more, but it wasn't enough as EKU fell, 5-4.
The Colonels will face the home team, Mercer, at 2 p.m. tomorrow followed by the University of Akron at 6:30 p.m.
