CLEARWATER, Fla. – The Eastern Kentucky University softball team opened the 2026 season Friday at the NFCA Leadoff Classic, falling to Boston College and South Alabama in a pair of hard-fought contests.
 
The Colonels demonstrated resilience throughout the day, mounting late rallies in both contests and erasing deficits before ultimately falling short in the three-day tournament opener.
 
GAME ONE – EKU 4, BC 8
 
Freshman Bayle Hunnicutt took the circle for the Colonels in her first collegiate appearance.
 
Boston College struck first when Emma Knight doubled to center field in the top of the first, driving in the game's opening run.
 
The game remained tight until the top of the fourth when Boston College broke it open with a four-run outburst. Kiley Buckley opened the frame with a walk and came around to score on Meghan Schouten's double to center field. After a pitching change, Carly Bunnell followed with a double to right-center, plating Schouten. Janis Espinoza grounded out, but Tavye Borders crossed on the play to make it 4-0. The rally continued as Sammy Horn singled home Bunnell, extending the lead to 5-0.
 
Boston College added another run in the top of the sixth. Espinoza drew a walk and advanced into scoring position before Abby Ptak delivered a single to shallow left, driving her home and extending the advantage to 6-0.
 
Boston College tacked on two more runs in the top of the seventh. Buckley singled and moved into scoring position before Schouten drove her home with a single up the middle. Boston College added another when a throwing error allowed Tannis Jackin to score, pushing the margin to 8-0.
 
The Colonels mounted a spirited rally in the bottom of the seventh, plating four runs to close the gap. With the bases loaded, Lilly Davis drew a walk to bring home pinch runner Riley Oleksik. Moments later, Kaitlyn Wallis scored on a wild pitch. Jada McLeod then delivered the biggest blow of the inning, ripping a two-run single through the right side to score Kennedy Drafton and Davis, trimming the final margin to 8-4.
 
GAME TWO – South Alabama 4, EKU 3
 
Victoria Byrum took command in the circle for the Colonels in the second game, working all seven innings.
 
The game remained scoreless through three innings until the top of the fourth, when Lillie Stagner launched a two-run homer to left-center, plating Olivia Branstetter.
 
EKU answered immediately in the bottom half as Drafton tied the game with a two-run blast to right-center, scoring Reese Knox. The Colonels seized the lead later in the frame when Makayla Mathis singled to left and advanced to second on a wild pitch before scoring on McLeod's RBI single, giving EKU its first lead of the season.
 
South Alabama answered in the top of the fifth as Edy Gavin doubled to left and moved to third on a wild pitch before scoring on a sacrifice fly by Sydney Stewart, knotting the game at 3-3.
 
South Alabama reclaimed the lead in the top of the sixth when Branstetter launched a solo shot to center field.
 
EKU mounted one final threat in the bottom of the seventh as Emily Mariscal reached on an error and Jordan Smith followed with a single to put runners on first and second. Jaelin Haynes then laid down a sacrifice bunt, moving both runners into scoring position. With two outs and the bases loaded, the Colonels came close, but the inning ended on a pop out, giving the Jaguars a 4-3 victory.
 
UP NEXT
 
The Colonels return to action Saturday, continuing play at the NFCA Leadoff Classic with a noon matchup against Penn State, followed by a 6 p.m. contest against North Carolina Central.