LEXINGTON, Ky. - The Eastern Kentucky University softball team fell in an in-state matchup against Kentucky on Tuesday night.
 
The Colonels (18-19, 7-4 ASUN) controlled the game early, leading through three innings after tallying five hits, including three doubles. However, EKU managed just one hit the rest of the way as the Wildcats rallied with two runs in both the fourth and fifth innings to secure a 5-2 victory.
 
Three pitchers saw action in the circle for EKU. Bayle Hunnicutt earned the start and effectively controlled the game early before Kentucky broke through with two runs in the fourth inning. Tayteum Vigansky saw brief action in relief before Victoria Byrum closed out the contest, limiting the Wildcats over the final two innings.
 
EKU struck first in the top of the second inning. Jada McLeod reached scoring position with a double to left field before Skyler Billips delivered a double off the center-field wall, bringing home McLeod to give the Colonels a 1-0 lead.
 
The Colonels added another run in the third inning when Kennedy Drafton doubled to right-center field, advanced to third, and later scored on a wild pitch to extend the lead to 2-0.
 
Kentucky responded in the bottom of the third with a solo home run and later took its first lead of the game on a two-out, two-RBI double to go ahead 3-2.
 
The Wildcats added insurance in the fifth inning with another solo home run, followed by a double that led to an RBI single, pushing the lead to 5-2.
 
NEXT UP

The Colonels return to action this weekend with a series against North Alabama. The series begins with a doubleheader on Saturday, followed by a finale on Sunday. North Alabama currently sits atop the ASUN standings with a 10-2 conference record.