STATS (HTML | PDF)
MOREHEAD, Ky. – The Morehead State softball team rallied to take the final game of the Belmont series, 5-4, Sunday and complete their first conference series sweep.
"After the two wins yesterday, the team was confident that they would be able to come out and take a win today," Head Coach David Williams said. "Once we hit the two home runs they had the confidence to finish off the game."
The Eagles improved to 23-19 on the season and 9-11 in Ohio Valley Conference play, while the Bruins dropped to 14-32 overall and 4-19 in league action.
Senior Katie Pfost (14-10) picked up the win in the circle. In a complete-game effort she surrendered 10 hits, allowed four earned runs and struck out four.
On offense, sophomore third baseman Katie Raile went 3-for-3 with a home run, and junior Stephanie Etter registered a pair of hits. Junior McKenna Bartko also plated a pair and launched a solo homer.
"McKenna has been swinging the bat for us well lately," Williams said. "She's coming up with big hits and I'm very proud of how she's come along this season."
Belmont struck first when junior shortstop Ashley Hammer connected on a two-run home run, her third smash of the year, over the left centerfield fence.
The Eagles answered in the fifth frame as back-to-back home runs from Raile and Bartko tied the score. It was Raile’s first home run of the season, and Bartko’s third and second of the series. MSU continued the scoring when seniors Amber Riddle and Kayla Ashbrook each drove in one to push the lead to 4-2.
A single from Bartko in the sixth proved to be the deciding factor, as the Bruins threatened but only picked up two in the seventh via a double off the wall from sophomore outfielder Kat Hollingsworth.
"I'm extremely confident in this team going into the last week of the regular season," Williams added. "They know what they need to do and are willing to take on the task at hand."
The Eagles are back in action on Tuesday when they are scheduled to host OVC opponent Tennessee Tech in a rescheduled game at University Field. First pitch is slated for 2 p.m. ET. Live stats will be available via MSUEagles.com.
