RICHMOND, Ky. – The Eastern Kentucky University softball team (24-20, 6-11 ASUN) hit six home runs in two games to split a doubleheader with Jacksonville State (27-15, 13-4 ASUN) on Saturday evening at Gertrude Hood Field during Alumni Weekend.
 
The Colonels dropped game one by a close 6-3 score to open the day and 
 
Vianna Barron led the charge for EKU going 5-for-7 with three home runs, six runs batted in, and four runs.
 
Designated hitter Lou Bowers followed suit with four hits in seven at-bats, including two homers in game two over JSU. She set a new career-high six runs batted in EKU's 16-10 win.
 
EKU tallied 19 hits during the doubleheader and scored its most runs in a single game since April 30, 2022, on the road at Lipscomb.
 
Game One: JSU 6, EKU 3
 
Sophomore Lauren Narvaez was selected for her 22nd start of the season and her fifth ASUN series start against JSU. The Gamecocks made quick work belting a homer over the left field wall for the 2-0 advantage in the second inning.
 
EKU responded in the bottom of the inning as Jasmine Miller sent a home run that narrowly passed the left field foul pole for to equalize the contest, 2-2.
 
Jacksonville State broke the standoff in its next at-bat scoring one run off a controversial fielder's choice up the middle for the 3-2 lead.
 
Narvaez held JSU scoreless in the fourth inning with two ground outs and a strikeout, her strikeout would be her third and final of the game.
 
A five-hit top of the fifth brought in three runs for Jacksonville State to take a commanding 6-2 lead over EKU.
 
The Colonels found a run in the bottom of the sixth as Barron sent a solo home run over the center field wall, her eighth of the season, narrowing the gap, 6-3.
 
JSU held the Colonels to a groundout, flyout, and strikeout to end game one of Saturday's slate 6-3.
 
Narvaez went the full distance tossing 137 pitches in seven innings of work with three strikeouts.
 
Game Two: EKU 16, JSU 10
 
Freshman Brooke Davis earned the nod in game two, her 13th start of the year. JSU tallied one run in the top of the first off a Lindsey Richardson single to left, she continues to lead the ASUN Conference in batting average after Saturday's performances.
 
EKU plated four runs in the bottom of the innings with two outs off a walk by Pertee, a single by Jasmine Miller, and a two 2-run homer from Barron. Starting the back-and-forth slugfest for the next two innings.
 
JSU reclaimed the lead in the top of the second off two hits and an error, plating four runs and taking the 5-4 lead.
 
EKU threw another jab in the bottom of the second off a double from Miller and a 2-run homer by Bowers, the Colonels second-straight inning with a homer.
 
Jacksonville State led off the top of the third with a solo shot off the roof in left field to narrow its deficit, 7-6. Freshman Emma Bethel was inserted in relief to combat the Gamecocks' haymakers. JSU would plate three additional runs to end the inning with the 9-7 lead.
 
Barron knotted the game at 10 with a 3-run homer in the bottom of the fifth, her third blast of the day and 10th of the season. Two batters later, Bowers sent another 2-run blast over to left for the 12-10 EKU lead. The Colonels would load the bases with two outs, but ended the fifth inning with three hits, five runs, and three left on base.
 
The EKU offense exploded in the sixth inning with four runs off a sac fly from Miller and singles from Lilly Davis and Jaelin Haynes.
 
Narvaez closed the second match out tossing five innings in relief with one strikeout to improve to 12-14 on the season.
 
Next Up
 
EKU and Jacksonville State decide the series tomorrow afternoon at Gertrude Hood Field beginning at 1:00 p.m. ET.