RICHMOND, Ky. – The Eastern Kentucky University softball team (15-11) dropped games two and three of its ASUN Opening softball series with Liberty (16-9) on Thursday night at Gertrude Hood Field.
Liberty claimed Thursday's games by scores of 9-1 (6 inn.) and 5-0, winning the series 21-4 in overall runs.
EKU got six hits on the day from
Lou Bowers,
Jeanay Riley,
Maggie Pertee, and
Nikola Schwarzingerova,
Vianna Barron, and
Lilly Davis.
Game One: Liberty 9, EKU 1 (6 innings)
Liberty opened its scoring barrage in the top of the second, bringing in one run off an EKU error in the infield. The Flames would follow with two runs in the top half of the third after loading the bases twice.
The Flames padded their lead to 7-0 in the fourth off another infield error and a two-run blast over the left field wall.
EKU responded with its first and only run in the second game of the series as Bowers scored off a Riley grounder to the left side.
The Colonels third error of the game scored Liberty's eighth run. The visitors would add another run in the top of the sixth off a single for a 9-1 lead.
Bowers gave EKU its second hit of the game in the bottom of the sixth, however, LU's Paige Bachman shut the door, throwing a complete game and ending the first contest in six innings.
Freshman
Brooke Davis earned the loss in game one and moves to 3-3 on the season.
Game Two: Liberty 5, EKU 0
Sophomore
Lauren Narvaez was given the nod in the circle in game two, coming off a 5.1 inning outing with three strikeouts the night before.
Both teams went scoreless through the first two innings with one hit, leading the charge for the home team was infielder Pertee who was bumped up to the leadoff spot.
Liberty found its first run of the game in the third inning off a double to the right center gap. Extending their lead to 3-0 in the top of the fifth off three additional hits.
The Flames used four hits, two errors, and two walks to score two runs in the top of the sixth, pushing the lead to 5-0.
Liberty would claim the game 5-0 in seven innings, their 15th-straight win on the season.
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EKU returns to action on Tuesday, March 21 at 6:00 p.m. as the Colonels host in-state Louisville, ending a 12-game home stand at Gertrude Hood Field. Tuesday's game will be a white out for fans in attendance, with tickets starting as low as $5. Tuesday's game is sponsored by Richmond Centre Chick-Fil-A.
