RICHMOND, Ky. – The Eastern Kentucky University softball team split a pair of games to open its series against Bellarmine on Saturday.
 
It was a pair of tightly contested matchups, with Bellarmine taking game one, 4-3, after scoring the go-ahead run in the sixth inning. In game two, the Colonels (25-22-1, 12-6-1 ASUN) responded after falling behind 3-1, scoring four unanswered runs, including a three-run fifth inning, to earn a 5-4 victory.
 
GAME ONE - Bellarmine 4, EKU 3
 
EKU struck first in the top of the second inning to take a 1-0 lead. Jada McLeod drew a walk and advanced to third after two groundouts. Claire Schreiner then singled up the middle to score McLeod.
 
The Knights answered in the bottom half of the inning on a solo home run by Tia Ice.
 
The Colonels regained the lead in the third when Kennedy Drafton singled and moved to third on a Bellarmine throwing error. Lilly Davis followed with a sacrifice fly to bring Drafton home and make it 2-1.
 
EKU added to its advantage in the fourth inning when Reese Knox doubled to score Schreiner and extend the lead to 3-1.
 
Bellarmine tied the game in the fifth with two runs. The inning began with an RBI double before an RBI single evened the score at 3-3.
 
The game-winning run came in the bottom of the sixth on a solo home run, giving Bellarmine the 4-3 win.
 
GAME TWO - EKU 5, Bellarmine 4
 
The Colonels opened the scoring in game two in the first inning. Jaelin Haynes drew a walk, and Davis followed with a single to the wall that brought Haynes home for a 1-0 lead.
 
Bellarmine answered quickly in the bottom of the inning to take a 2-1 advantage. Two walks and a wild pitch moved runners into scoring position before a sacrifice fly tied the game. An RBI single later in the frame gave the Knights the lead.
 
After several scoreless innings, Bellarmine pushed its lead to 3-1 after back-to-back singles and a run scored on a wild pitch. In the fourth inning, the Colonels cut into the deficit after Emily Mariscal tripled and later scored on a groundout.
 
EKU delivered its biggest inning of the day in the fifth. Trailing 3-2, Davis drew a walk, and Jordan Smith singled to put two runners on. Sharyn Duncan followed with an RBI single up the middle to cut the deficit to one. On the next pitch, Makayla Mathis doubled to center field, scoring Smith and Duncan to give the Colonels a 5-3 lead.
 
Bellarmine added one run later in the game, but Tayteum Vigansky (9-3) closed the door, holding the Knights scoreless over the final two innings to secure the win.
 
NEXT UP
 
The Colonels close out the series Sunday in a rubber match against the Knights. First pitch is set for 1 p.m.