Game 1 | Game 2

ROCK HILL, S.C. – The Eastern Kentucky University softball team split a pair of contests on the opening day of the Winthrop Tournament
 
The Colonels knocked off the host Winthrop, 6-1, before falling to UNC Greensboro, 8-3, in the second game.
 
In game one, the Colonels hit three home runs and scored the first six runs of the game to cruise to a game one win.
 
The Colonels (4-2) wasted no time in the first inning, freshman Ariyana Miranda sent her second home run of the season over the left field fence to give Eastern the early 1-0 lead. 
 
In the second inning, Mollie Paulick hit her first home run of the season over the right center field fence to give the Colonels a 2-0 lead over the Eagles.
 
Zoe Mihalicz got things started in the top of the third with a single through the left side. Mihalicz advanced to third after a ground out by Carly Robinson. Vianna Barron drove in her first run of her career with a single down the left field line to bring home Mihalicz and give Eastern the 3-0 lead.
 
To start the fifth inning, Sammi Miller drew a leadoff walk and Miranda sent the first pitch she saw over the center field fence for her second home run of the game to give the Colonels a 5-0 lead.
 
Grazie Frazier drove in the final run of the game with a single into right field in the top of the seventh.
 
Winthrop (2-4) scored after a RBI single by Isabella Clark in the bottom of the seventh.
 
Mollie Paulick (1-1) picked up her first win of the season tossing a complete game and striking out a season-high 12 batters.
 
Miranda went 2-for-4 with two home runs and three RBIs. Barron was 3-for-4 with one RBI.
 
 
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In game two, Greensboro scored the first two runs of the game in the bottom of the first to take a 2-0 lead and not look back.
 
Eastern got on the board in the top of the third.
 
Miranda Lopez started the inning with a double down the left field line to put a runner in scoring position. After a Melissa Jacobsen infield single put runners on the corners with no one out, Jacobsen stole second drawing a throw allowing Lopez to steal home and get the Colonels on the board.
 
UNCG (3-2) answered back in the bottom half. With two outs in the inning back-to-back hits by Delaney Cumbie and Jasmine Palmer pushed the Spartan league to 3-1.
 
The Colonels answered back in the top of the fourth. A leadoff walk by Robinson followed by a single by Barron put runners on first and second with no one out. Jackie Mercado took a 3-2 pitch into left field to bring home Amanda Sjoberg to cut into the lead, 3-2.
 
Again, Greensboro responded. Hannah Kincer sent a pitch over the left center field wall to push the UNCG lead back to 4-2.
 
UNCG scored four more runs in the bottom of the fifth inning.
 
Robinson hit her third home run of the year to make the score 8-3.
 
Barron went 2-for-3 with a double. Robinson went 1-for-2 with a walk and a home run.
 
EKU will be back in action on Saturday when the Colonels take on Towson and Boston. First pitch against Towson is scheduled for 10 a.m.