Ellen Barrett homers twice as Eagles sweep NKU

MOR 5, NKU 0 - Box Score | Box Score (PDF) MOR 6, NKU 2 - Box Score | Box Score (PDF)

HIGHLAND HEIGHTS, Ky. - Freshman Ellen Barrett hit home runs in both games as Morehead State softball swept Northern Kentucky on Tuesday afternoon. They won the first game, 5-0, and then came from behind to win the second, 6-2.

With the sweep, the Eagles improve their record to 19-16. Northern Kentucky falls to 8-25.

"Our offense stepped up today and hit the ball very well. Combined with two solid pitching performances, we were able to get two wins before jumping back into conference play this weekend," said head coach David Williams.

In the first game, sophomore Mackenzie Grossman threw her second shutout of the season and Barrett delivered the first of her two home runs in the fifth inning to build a 4-0 lead. Senior Dana Hutchins then added a solo home run in the fifth inning.

Grossmann (7-8) allowed eight hits and a walk, while striking out six in seven innings.

Junior Kayla McGuffey and freshman Allison Rager both had multi-hit games. 

The Eagles trailed 2-1 entering the sixth inning of game two and tied it on sophomore Hannah Murphy's single to left field, which scored freshman Payton Callihan. 

In the seventh, Barrett hit her second home run of the day, a two-out two-run blast, that gave Morehead State a 4-2 lead. Sophomore Lindsay Ward then singled in two more runs to make it 6-2.

Rager then pitched a perfect seventh inning to seal the victory. Rager (9-4) picked up the win after allowing five hits and two earned runs in seven innings. She walked three and struck out four. 

Murphy finished 3-for-4 with an RBI, while Barrett, Ward, and sophomore Robyn Leighton each had two hits. Leighton hit her sixth home run of the year in the second. Barrett now has five home runs on the season.

Next up, the Eagles head to Illinois to face SIUE on Saturday and Eastern Illinois on Sunday. Both doubleheaders begin at noon.