GAME 1 STATS (HTML | PDF) | GAME 2 STATS (HTML | PDF)
RICHMOND, Ky. – The Morehead State softball team dropped the first two games of a three-game series, 3-1 and 4-3, to Ohio Valley Conference opponent Eastern Kentucky at Hood Field on Saturday.
The sweep improved EKU to 19-6 in league action and 34-18 overall, while MSU fell to 10-14 in conference play and 24-23 overall.
Senior Katie Pfost (15-12) was credited with the loss in game one after striking out eight and going the distance for the Eagles in the circle. The lefty was tagged with three earned runs off nine hits. Sophomore Leanna Pittsenbarger picked up the win for her team-leading 20th victory in 2013.
The Colonels were able to pick up a pair of early runs in the first inning off a two-out single from junior first baseman Christina Ciolek, and tacked on a single run to extend the lead in the third off a single from senior second baseman Raquel Howes.
MSU picked up a single run in the fourth inning after senior first baseman Amber Riddle and senior outfielder Elizabeth Wagner reached on a walk and a single, respectively. Junior second baseman Stephanie Etter moved the runners with a sacrifice bunt, and sophomore third baseman Katie Raile scored Riddle with a single to center field.
EKU was only able to scatter three hits over the last three innings, but outhit the Eagles, 9-5, in the contest.
Raile (2-for-3) led the Eagles at the plate with their lone RBI, while Wagner, senior outfielder Sam Woodall and junior McKenna Bartko each registered a hit.
In the night cap, the teams were scoreless through six innings, but Etter broke the tie on a line drive single through the left side. The RBI was her 20th of the season. EKU answered in its half of the sixth frame after a bases loaded RBI single from pinch hitting junior Nicole Heitz. The single also broke up the no-hitter for McMurray.
The Eagles took the lead back in the seventh off a two-run home run from the pinch hitting Bartko, her fourth roundtripper of the season. EKU answered again with a pair in the bottom half of the inning to even the score, and senior outfielder Carissa Reisinger connected on a walk-off single for the win.
At the plate, Etter went 2-for-3 with an RBI. Woodall and senior Elizabeth Wagner also had a pair of hits.
Junior Kelcey McMurray suffered the loss in 6.1 innings of work to fall to 5-9 on the season. She was credited with two earned runs off four hits with seven strikeouts. Sophomore Shaylon Robb earned the win to improve to 10-9.
The Eagles are back in action on Sunday for the final game of the EKU series, and their final game of the regular season. First pitch is slated for 1 p.m. ET. Live stats and audio will be available at MSUEagles.com, and in-game updates can be found at Twitter.com/MSUAthletics.
