GAME ONE BOX | GAME TWO BOX
MOREHEAD, Ky. – Senior Paige Murphy cranked a trifecta of home runs, including a grand slam, to push the Eastern Kentucky University softball team over the top in the squad's twin bill sweep of Morehead State University Friday afternoon. The Colonels won by scores of 7-0 and 14-2.
The two teams were in a chess match through five innings in game one. But, Destinee Lizzmore got things brewing for EKU with a lead-off single in the top of the sixth. Murphy took a base via hit by pitch to put two on for Hannah Clark. The junior delivered with a base-clearing bomb, her eighth of the season, to put the Colonels ahead, 3-0.
After Mollie Paulick pitched her sixth scoreless inning Samantha Reynoso reached to open the seventh. After the Eagles put two more Colonels on, one on balls the other on error, Murphy blistered the first pitch she saw for a grand slam, putting MSU in a 7-0 hole.
The deficit proved insurmountable as Paulick (8-4) claimed the shutout victory, giving up just two hits.
--
Lizzmore got things going for the offense again in game two with another lead-off single, this time down the left field line. Murphy came up with a two-bagger through the same side to bring the newcomer home.
Clark singled, collecting a run batted in, making it 2-0 EKU.
A solo shot from Murphy added another in the third, 3-0.
Lizzmore brought Brooke Harrison home in the fourth, after notching a double of her own. After two more hits the Colonels piled on four more to take a 7-0 advantage.
Johnkyria Alston racked up a two-RBI double in the fifth to continue laying on the runs, 9-0.
Morehead State attempted to cut into the lead in the bottom of the frame, bringing two across, 9-2.
The Colonels added four more hits and another round-tripper from Murphy in the sixth to end it, 14-2.
Murphy hit .714 over the pair, going 5-for-7 in the batter's box with three home runs and a double. The Louisville, Kentucky native tallied nine RBIs. Her two home run performance in game two ties the school record for home runs in a game.
Alston, Emily Corbitt, Lizzmore, and Clark each notched hits for extra bases.
With the victory the Colonels move to 22-12 (5-1 OVC) while Morehead State falls to 18-10 (2-4 OVC).
EKU will be back in action on Tuesday at 6 p.m. as they welcome in the University of Kentucky to Gertrude Hood Field.
