Box Score

CAPE GIRARDEAU, Mo. – The Eastern Kentucky University softball team defeated Southeast Missouri State, 4-1, on Sunday afternoon to win the series and move into first place in the Ohio Valley Conference standings.

The two teams came into the weekend in first and second in the OVC standings.
 
Eastern Kentucky (27-11, 18-5 OVC) struck first in the top of the fourth.
 
Zoe Mihalicz led off the top of the fourth for the Colonels taking the 2-2 pitch over the left center field fence to give Eastern the 1-0 lead.
 
Southeast Missouri (21-14, 16-5 OVC) answered back in the bottom of the fifth.
 
Alyson Tucker got things started for the Redhawks with a double into the right center gap. After a Jillian Anderson walk put runners on first and second with no one out, Rachel Anderson singled up the middle to score Tucker and tie the game at 1-1.
 
Pitcher Mollie Paulick got a line out to right field to leave the bases loaded and the game tied at 1-1.
 
The Colonels responded in the top of the sixth with four straight hits to start the inning.
 
Sammi Miller got things started with a single down the left field line. Mihalicz followed with a single into right center to put runners on the corners with no one out. Carly Robinson delivered with a double off the right center field fence to score Miller and give the Colonels a 2-1 advantage. Paulick answered with the fourth consecutive hit of the inning with a single off the first base bag to score two and give Eastern a 4-1 lead.
 
Paulick (8-0) tossed six innings in relief, allowing one run, and striking out four.
 
Miller went 3-for-4 with one run. Mihalicz went 2-for-3 with one home run, two runs scored and one RBI.
 
The Colonels out-hit the Redhawks 8-5 on the contest.
 
Eastern returns to the diamond on Wednesday when the Colonels travel to take on in-state rival Morehead State for a midweek doubleheader. First pitch is scheduled for 1 p.m.