Box Score

LEXINGTON, Ky. – The Eastern Kentucky University softball team took an early lead over No. 9 Kentucky but came up short, 6-5, against the Wildcats in Lexington on Tuesday night.

Eastern Kentucky (12-6, 4-2 OVC) got on the board first in a big way.
 
Isabella Gonzalez got things started with a one-out walk in the top of the second inning. Miranda Lopez followed with a single down the right field to put runners on the corners. Freshman Jaelyn Sanders delivered in a big way. Sanders took a 0-1 pitch over the left field wall to give Eastern the early 3-0 lead.
 
Kentucky (21-2, 1-2 SEC) started chipping away after that.
 
Renee Abernathy got things started with a leadoff single. After stealing second base, Grace Baalman singled down the left field line to score Abernathy and cut the Colonel lead to two, 3-1.
 
In the bottom of the third, Kayla Kowalik got things started with an infield single and then stole second to put a runner on second with no one out. After a flyout, Lauren Johnson doubled down the left field line to score Kowalik and make it a 3-2 game.
 
The Wildcats took the lead in the fourth.
 
Kentucky scored four runs in the fourth highlighted by a three-run home run by Peyton Mallory to give the Wildcats a 6-3 lead over Eastern.
 
The Colonels did not go down without a fight.
 
Jasmine Miller singled with one out to get things started in the top of the sixth. That is when Sanders flexed her muscles again. The freshman hit her second home run of the game, this time to right field to cut the Wildcat lead to one, 6-5. The Colonels, however, did not get any closer.
 
Sanders went 2-for-3 with two home runs and five RBIs. Sammi Miller went 2-for-4 with one double.
 
The Colonel rotation combined for six innings and three earned runs.
 
Eastern out-hit Kentucky in the contest, 9-8.
 
Eastern welcomes rival Jacksonville State to Gertrude Hood Field this weekend for a doubleheader on Saturday and a single game on Sunday. First-pitch against the Gamecocks on Saturday is scheduled for 1 p.m.