RICHMOND, Ky. - The Eastern Kentucky University softball team split its ASUN Conference-opening doubleheader against Austin Peay on Saturday, earning a 10–8 victory in game two to even the weekend series.
After losing 5-2 in the opener, the Colonels (12-14, 1-1 ASUN) responded with an offensive surge in the second game, highlighted by a seven-run inning.
The difference came from the bottom of the lineup. After hitters six through nine went hitless in the first game, they combined for four hits and scored five runs following a change in the batting order.
Reese Knox led EKU, going 2-for-3 with two RBIs, two runs, a double and a stolen base.
Claire Schreiner also contributed in the lower part of the lineup, finishing 2-for-4 with two runs and a double.
The Colonels used three pitchers, but
Bayle Hunnicutt (6-4) earned the win. The right-hander tossed 5.2 innings with five strikeouts, holding the Governors scoreless until the fifth inning.
GAME ONE – EKU 2, APSU 5
The Governors took an early lead with a two-run home run from Sammie Shelander in the top of the first inning.
EKU answered in the bottom of the first when
Jada McLeod hit an RBI single, bringing Knox home.
In the third, Shelander struck again with her second two-run home run of the day to deep center, giving Austin Peay a 4-1 lead.
The Colonels added a run in the sixth when
Jaelin Haynes scored on a sacrifice fly, cutting the deficit to 4-2.
Austin Peay added another run late to secure the 5-2 win for the Governors
GAME TWO – EKU 10, APSU 8
The Colonels got on the board early in the first. Knox and
Kennedy Drafton each singled to put runners in scoring position before Knox came home on a groundout.
After several scoreless innings, EKU broke the game open in the bottom of the fourth with a seven-run inning.
The inning began with Haynes reaching on a fielder's choice, followed by a Schreiner single to right. After a passed ball, Haynes slid home to score.
Jordan Smith followed with a single to short, bringing Schreiner home to make it 3-0.
After a pitching change by Austin Peay, Knox hit an RBI double to left-center, scoring Smith and
Riley Oleksik.
Makayla Mathis kept the rally going with an RBI single, bringing Knox home.
Drafton later singled and moved into scoring position after a stolen base and a wild pitch. McLeod then hit an RBI single to left, scoring Drafton and giving EKU an 8-0 lead after the fourth.
Austin Peay responded in the fifth. After loading the bases, Brie Howard hit a grand slam to cut the lead in half.
EKU weathered the storm in the bottom of the inning when Schreiner doubled to left-center. Smith followed with a walk before a sacrifice fly brought Schreiner home and moved Smith to third. A groundout later in the inning scored Smith, extending the Colonels lead to 10-4.
The Governors continued to chip away, hitting their fourth home run of the day to score two runs and make it 10-6.
Austin Peay added two runs in the seventh, but EKU recorded the final out on a flyout to secure the 10-8 victory.
NEXT UP
The Colonels close out the series against the Governors on Sunday at 1 p.m. ET.
