Game 1 | Game 2

RICHMOND, Ky. – The Eastern Kentucky University softball team split a doubleheader against Eastern Illinois University on Saturday in Richmond.  
 
The Colonels took game one, 7-3, before falling in game two 13-11.

Eastern Kentucky (32-12, 22-6 OVC) used a big first inning and never looked back in game one of the doubleheader against Eastern Illinois.
 
Sammi Miller got things started with a double into the right center gap. After a Zoe Mihalicz walk put runners on first and second, Carly Robinson bunted, and the pitcher misplayed it allowing Miller to come around to score from second to take an early 1-0 lead. Vianna Barron followed with a walk to load the bases with no one out. After the next two batters got out, Isabella Gonzalez worked a walk to score Mihalicz and give EKU the 2-0 advantage. The Colonels kept the pressure on, after Miranda Lopez singled up the middle to score two more and Eastern Kentucky took a 4-0 lead after one inning of play.
 
Eastern Illinois (22-18, 13-13 OVC) got one back in the top of the third after a Haley Mitchell single scored Megan Burton to make it 4-1.
 
The Colonels answered back in the bottom of the third. Gonzalez got things started with a lead off walk. Lopez followed with a double off the wall to put runners on second and third with one out. Lou Bowers and Miller worked back-to-back walks to bring home a run and take a 5-1 lead. Mihalicz brought home another run with a fielder's choice to give EKU the 6-1 advantage. Robinson followed with a single to left field to bring home the final Colonel run of the game to give Eastern Kentucky the 7-1 lead.
 
EIU got two back on solo home runs in the fourth and the seventh innings.
 
Tori Peterson (16-3) started in the circle tossing five innings, allowing two runs and striking out six. Mollie Paulick pitched the final two innings allowing one run and striking out three.
 
Robinson went 2-for-3 with one double and one RBI. Lopez went 2-for-3 with one double and two RBIs.
 
Haley Mitchell went 2-for-4 with one home run and two RBIs.
 
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Eastern Kentucky struck first in bottom of the first again with small ball.
 
Back-to-back singles by Miller and Mihalcz got things started in the bottom of the first. Robinson advanced the runners into scoring position with a sacrifice bunt. Bowers brought home the first run of the game with a RBI ground out to give EKU the early 1-0 lead.
 
The Colonels pushed another one across in the bottom of the third on the solo home run by Robinson to take a 2-0 lead.
 
Eastern Illinois answered back in the top of the fourth with RBI singles by Holt and Abby Taylor to tie the game at 2-2.
 
EKU responded again in the bottom of the fourth though.
 
Back-to-back singles by Ariyana Miranda and Lopez put runners on first and second with one out. After a fielder's choice put runners on the corners, EIU tried to pick-off Miranda at third base and the throw got away and Miranda scored to take the 3-2 lead. Mihalicz followed with a hit by pitch to load the bases and Robinson made them pay again. Robinson singled down the left field line to score two and the Colonels took the 5-2 advantage.
 
Eastern Illinois scored 10 runs in the top of the fifth highlighted by two home runs by Mitchell to take a 12-5 lead.
 
The Panthers scored one more in the top of the sixth to take a 13-5 lead.
 
EKU did not go down without a fight. The Colonels struck for six runs in the bottom of the sixth highlighted by a grand slam by Miranda to cut the EIU lead to, 13-11, but the Colonels could never get closer.
 
Robinson went 2-for-2 with three RBIs.
 
Mitchell went 3-for-4 with two home runs and four RBIs.
 
The Colonels and the Panthers wrap up the series tomorrow at Gertrude Hood Field. First pitch is scheduled for 1 p.m. Senior Day activities will happen before the game.