Box Score

RICHMOND, Ky. – The Eastern Kentucky University softball team came up short against No. 22 University of Kentucky on Wednesday night at Gertrude Hood Field.
 
At a capacity filled Gertrude Hood Field, Kentucky got on the board first after Jenny Shaper sent the 2-2 pitch over the left center field fence to take the early 1-0 lead.
 
UK pushed three more across in the top of the third to take a 4-0 lead, but EKU answered right back.
 
Melissa Jacobsen got the bottom of the third started with a single down the left field line with one out. Destinee Lizzmore reached on an error followed by a Sammi Miller walk that loaded the bases for the Colonels. Carly Robinson got Eastern on the board after drawing a walk to make it 3-1. EKU was not done there, Emily Corbitt drove the 1-2 pitch right back up the middle to bring home two and make it 4-3 after three innings of play.
 
Abby Cheek wasted no time getting one of those runs back as she sent a 3-2 pitch over the left center field fence to give UK a 5-3 lead. Kentucky pushed one more across after Katie Reed singled down the left field line to score Alex Martens. UK scored one more in the fifth to take a 7-3 lead heading into the sixth inning.
 
Gaby De La Cerda got things started with a double down the left field line, followed by a Jacobsen single to put runners on the corners with no one out. With runners on second and third, Hannah Clark shot an 0-2 pitch the other way to bring home two and make the score 7-5.
 
Kentucky scored four more in the top of the seventh to pull away.
 
Corbitt went 1-for-2 with two walks and two RBIs. Jacobsen was 2-for-3 with two runs on the night. Clark chipped in a 1-for-4 performance with two RBIs on the contest.
 
Cheek went 2-for-3 with one home run, two walks and one RBI. Reed was 3-for-3 with four RBIs.
 
The Colonels return to the diamond Saturday, when they travel to Tennessee State for a doubleheader starting at 2 p.m. ET.