Box Score

OXFORD, Ala. – The Eastern Kentucky University softball team knocked off No. 1 seed Southeast Missouri State, 2-1, to advance to the championship of the Ohio Valley Conference Tournament tomorrow afternoon.

Eastern Kentucky (34-15, 22-9 OVC) got off to a fast start in the top of the first. Sammi Miller got hit by pitch on the first pitch of the game. Zoe Mihalicz followed with a single to left field to put runners on first and second with no one out. Carly Robinson jumped on the first pitch she saw with a single up the middle to score Miller and give the Colonels a 1-0 lead just three batters into the game.  
 
Southeast Missouri (29-16, 23-6 OVC) answered back in the bottom half of the inning. After a pair of walks, Katie Dreiling took a 1-1 pitch into center field to score Kaylee Anderson and tie the game at 1-1 after an inning of play.
 
Both pitching staffs settled in after that.
 
The Colonels retook the lead in the top of the third after Miller destroyed a 0-1 pitch to lead off the inning and give EKU the 2-1 advantage.
 
The top three hitters in the order for the Colonels each had a hit.
 
Mollie Paulick (12-1) picked up the win in the circle tossing four and one-third innings allowing one run and striking out six. Samantha Reynoso tossed two and two-third innings allowing no runs and striking out one.
 
The Colonels advance to the championship game tomorrow at 1 p.m. ET. Eastern is waiting on the winner of the 7 p.m. ET time game tonight.