BOX SCORE: (BUCKNELL) (NKU)

BUIES CREEK, N.C. – Morehead State softball claimed two victories on the opening day of the Campbell Stampede over Bucknell and Northern Kentucky.
 
The victories improved the Eagles to 5-1 overall.

Morehead State used a dominate pitching performance by Chelsea McManaway in the first game against the Bison, followed by an offensive onslaught in game two against the Norse.

"We showed great offensive efficiency today and drove the ball well," said head coach David Williams. "Our defense played solid behind our pitchers, who had excellent outings. They were two all-around quality team wins."
 
MOREHEAD STATE 1, BUCKNELL 0
 
The senior McManaway came away with her third victory (3-0) on the young season, allowing just one hit over eight innings while also ringing up 13 Bison batters in game one Friday morning.
 
Senior Infielder Hannah Murphy went 3-for-3 and drove in the game-winning run during the top of the eighth inning to give Morehead State the 1-0 victory.
 
Senior Robyn Leighton scored the go-ahead run for the Eagles after advancing to second base at the beginning of the eighth inning due to the international tiebreaker rule.
 
Juniors Allison Rager and Aubrey Bennett also recorded hits for Morehead State.
 
MOREHEAD STATE 9, NORTHERN KENTUCKY 4
 
After falling behind 2-0 in the opening frame Morehead State scored five runs in the second inning and never looked back.
 
Senior Ellen Barrett's double started the big inning for the Eagles. Barrett was later driven in by way of a Taylor Wheeler walk with the bases loaded for the first Morehead State run of the game. With the bases still loaded, Paige Scruggs stepped to the plate and singled to left field scoring Leighton and Kalle Coleman. Scruggs and Wheeler advanced to second and third on passed balls during the next at bat. Rager capitalized on the mistake and drove both runners in with a single.
 
The Eagles picked up two more runs in the third via an RBI double from Aubrey Bennett and a sacrifice fly from Murphy.
 
Wheeler singled in Kalle Coleman in the fifth, and Allison Davis scored on a wild pitch in the sixth inning to cap the Eagles' big day offensively.
 
Morehead State collected nine hits in the game, with Rager, Barrett, and Scruggs collecting two apiece.
 
Wheeler, Scruggs, and Rager added two RBI each, while Coleman and Bennett added one each, respectively.
 
 The junior Rager picked up the victory as pitcher (2-1).
 
NEXT UP
 
The Eagles will continue in the Campbell Stampede Saturday with a return matchup against the Bucknell Bison. The game's first pitch is slated for 11:30 a.m. ET.