Softball Eagles split doubleheader with Eastern Michigan

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MOREHEAD, Ky. - The Morehead State softball team split its doubleheader with Eastern Michigan on Saturday afternoon, winning the first game 13-5 in six innings before falling 8-5.

With the split, the Eagles move to 9-8 on the year, while EMU moves to 7-10.

In the first game, Morehead State put up four runs in the second inning, which was jump-started by Karly Thompson's two-run home run. After Eastern Michigan trimmed the lead in half with two runs in the third, Lizzy Margagliotti highlighted a three- run third for the Eagles with a two-run bomb of her own.

After EMU trimmed the lead to 7-5 with runs in the third, fourth, and fifth, Morehead State put the game away with three runs in both the fifth and the sixth to win it 13-5.

Thompson, Margagliotti, Robyn Leighton and Tressa Watson all finished with two hits for the Eagles. 

Allison Rager (4-2) picked up the win in relief after allowing an unearned run and three hits in 2.2 innings of work.

"We swung the bats really well in the first game. We made adjustments at the plate extremely well and found the holes," said head coach David Williams. "I'm really confident in our offense and we've been hitting the ball really well."

The Eagles battled from behind in the second game as Eastern Michigan scored two runs in the first, second, and third innings and led 6-1. 

Ellen Barrett's two-run home run in the bottom of the third trimmed the lead to 6-3 and Leighton delivered a two-run single in the fifth to cut it to 6-5. But, Eastern Michigan added two more runs in the top of the seventh to increase their lead to 8-5.

The first two batters reached for the Eagles in the bottom of the seventh, but EMU's Abbie Minsker retired the next three batters to end the game.

Morehead State recorded nine hits in the loss, eight of which came from the middle of their lineup. Leighton went 2-for-3 and finished the day 4-for-5 with two runs and two runs batted in. 

Taylor Funk (2-3) recorded the loss for the Eagles. She allowed six runs, four of which were earned, along with six hits in 2.2 innings. Megan Tymorek pitched well in relief, allowing just four hits and two earned runs in 3.1 innings.

Minsker (2-2) pitched a complete game to pick up the win for Eastern Michigan. She allowed nine hits and five earned runs in seven innings.

"We left runners in scoring position in three consecutive innings and had another chance there at the end," said Williams. "We made some mistakes with our pitching and on defense, as well. But, we did give ourselves a chance at the end because of our offense, so I feel well going forward."

Morehead State hosts Toledo in a doubleheader at University Field on Wednesday afternoon. First pitch is set for 2 p.m. ET.