RICHMOND, Ky. — The Eastern Kentucky University softball team closed out the weekend with a split, dropping its first game to Pittsburgh before responding with a 3-0 shutout win over SIUE.

The Colonels (7-10) bats were hot throughout the day, scoring seven runs against Pittsburgh and adding three more in the win over SIUE, highlighted by home runs from Kennedy Drafton and Lilly Davis.

Against SIUE, Bayle Hunnicutt (4-3) turned in another dominant performance in the circle, tossing a complete-game shutout.

The freshman went seven innings, allowing just four hits, striking out six and not allowing a run.

GAME ONE - EKU 7, PITT 11

Makayla Mathis started things off for the Colonels in the first inning with an RBI single to right field, bringing home Drafton for the first run.

In the third inning, Pittsburgh took the lead, scoring four runs.

In the bottom of the third, Jada McLeod recorded her 13th RBI of the season with a single through the right side.

After a run by the Panthers at the top of the fourth, EKU responded, scoring on an error from Pittsburgh's first baseman that brought home Claire Schreiner, making it 5-3.

After a five-run fifth inning for the Panthers, the Colonels continued to fight back.

Mathis delivered her second RBI of the day with a double to center, scoring Jaelin Haynes and putting a runner on third.

Jordan Smith followed with a single to shallow left, bringing home EKU's fifth run of the game.

In the bottom of the sixth, Mathis singled to left to drive in Taci Haase.

Later in the inning, Schreiner drew a bases-loaded walk to bring home Reese Knox.

The late runs were not enough for the Colonels as Pittsburgh closed out the game, winning 11-7.

In the loss, Mathis went 3-for-4 with three RBIs and a double.

GAME TWO: EKU 3, SIUE 0

The Colonels carried their momentum into the second game, as Drafton hit her second home run of the season in the team's first at-bat.

In the second inning, Schreiner led off with a double to shallow left. Davis then hit a sacrifice fly to left-center, bringing Schreiner home to extend the lead to 2-0.

The final run came in the bottom of the fifth when Davis gave the Cougars a bus ride ticket home with a home run deep into center field.

The Colonels' defense shut out SIUE, allowing just four hits in 25 at-bats.

EKU closed out the Colonel Classic 3-1, totaling 21 runs in the tournament.

Hunnicutt had an impressive debut at Gertrude Hood Field, tossing two complete-game shutouts over the weekend in 14 innings.

NEXT UP

The Colonels remain in Richmond to host the EKU Invitational from March 5-8, welcoming IU Indianapolis, Miami, Delaware State, and Northern Kentucky.