RICHMOND, Ky. — The Eastern Kentucky University softball team rallied for a dramatic 9-6 comeback victory over Northern Kentucky on Sunday.
The Colonels (11-11) trailed until a five-run bottom of the sixth inning, highlighted by home runs from
Kennedy Drafton and
Lilly Davis.
HOW IT HAPPENED
Northern Kentucky jumped out to an early lead, scoring six runs in the top of the first inning.
The Norse loaded the bases after the first three batters drew walks. EKU responded by bringing in
Tayteum Vigansky (3-2) in relief.
With the bases loaded, Northern Kentucky scored on a sacrifice fly, followed by a double to left field that plated two more runs for a 3-0 lead.
A few pitches later, another double cleared the bases, giving the Norse a 6-0 advantage at the end of the first.
Vigansky then settled in, allowing just two hits the rest of the way and holding Northern Kentucky scoreless over the final six innings.
EKU responded in the bottom of the second with a two-run inning to begin chipping away at the deficit.
After a walk and a single up the middle,
Reese Knox ripped a triple off the back wall, driving in two runs to make it 6-2.
EKU continued to rally in the bottom of the third, scoring two more runs.
Jada McLeod walked and later scored on a Northern Kentucky throwing error after a
Jordan Smith single.
With a runner on third,
Skyler Billips singled up the middle to bring home
Vanessa Keller, trimming the deficit to 6-4.
After the third, the game became a defensive battle, with both teams struggling to get runners on base.
That changed in the bottom of the sixth.
Emily Mariscal sparked the sixth-inning rally with a double to deep left-center. Knox followed with a walk, setting the stage for Drafton.
Drafton blasted a home run to deep center, giving the Colonels their first lead of the game at 7-6.
One batter later, Davis hit a solo home run to give EKU some breathing room.
To cap the inning, Billips singled to bring home
Makayla Mathis after a Northern Kentucky throwing error, sealing the Colonels' comeback and a 9-6 win.
NEXT UP
The Colonels travel for a pair of weekday matchups, first facing Western Kentucky on March 10, then Middle Tennessee State on March 11.
