Softball drops doubleheader to EKU

Box Score Game1 | Box Score Game 1 (PDF) | Box Score Game 2 | Box Score Game 2 (PDF)

MOREHEAD, Ky.— Morehead State softball dropped both games of an afternoon doubleheader to Eastern Kentucky University on Saturday at University Field.
 
After falling 2-0 in game one and 8-1 in game two, the Eagles drop their record to 17-15 overall and 6-3 in the Ohio Valley Conference. The Colonels remain undefeated in the OVC at 8-0 and 25-6 overall. 
 
The first game of the afternoon featured both squads putting on a pitching clinic. Sophomore Mackenzie Grossman and Hayley Flynn pitched six innings of scoreless softball. Grossman was backed up by a stellar defense, highlighted by a double play in the first inning. 
 
Following a leadoff walk and steal of second base by Krislyn Campos, Kayla Joyce knocked a single to centerfield. Junior Kayla McGuffy threw a strike to her cutoff, senior first baseman Dana Hutchins, who fired a throw to second baseman Hannah Murphy to catch Joyce trying to advance on the throw for the out. Campos tried to capitalize on the play at second, but Murphy caught her at home with sophomore catcher Robyn Leighton applying the tag at the plate for the inning-ending double-play. 
 
The only offense came in the top half of the seventh. On a 1-2 count and a runner on second, Hannah Clark lifted a fly ball to left field, clearing the fence for a two-run home run. 
 
The Eagles applied pressure in the bottom half of the inning. Hannah Murphy drew a one-out walk and was followed by a single from freshman Allison Rager. With the tying run sitting at first base the Colonels made a pitching change, sending in Alex Sallberg. Senior Lizzy Margagliotti stepped in laying down a sacrifice bunt moving the runners to second and third. Tressa Watson then struck out to end the game. 
 
With the loss, Grossman's record falls to 6-8 and Flynn moves to 16-3 on the year. Sallberg picked up her fifth save. 
 
McGuffy, Hutchins, Leighton, Margagliotti, and Ellen Barrett each collected a hit for Morehead State.
 
The second contest began with the Colonels scoring one run in the second inning, followed by a three-run third inning. Campos drove in two on a home run to straight away centerfield. 
 
The offense for EKU continued to add on with three runs in the fifth inning. 
 
Morehead State manufactured a run in the bottom of the fifth. With the bases loaded, freshman Aubrey Bennett knocked in sophomore Lindsay Ward from third base on a fielder's choice. 
 
EKU knocked in another run in the top of the sixth, giving them the 8-1 advantage.
 
The home squad collected four singles with McGuffey, Hutchins, Leighton, and Ward contributing on offense. 
 
Rager picked up the loss, moving her record to 8-4 on the year. Sallberg improved to 8-2. 
 
Next for the Eagles will be a road doubleheader with Horizon League member Northern Kentucky on Wednesday at 2 p.m. ET.