LOUISVILLE, Ky. – Softball came away with a two-game split Saturday, defeating Bellarmine 8-6 after falling to Western Michigan 6-1. The back half of the day's doubleheader marked the second time in as many days that the Eagles (4-3) were able to beat their in-state rival. The loss to WMU represents the only game in the series history between the two schools.
Senior
Alexis Strother continues to be a force in the MSU lineup, going a combined 4-for-6 on the day including a perfect 4-for-4 performance against Bellarmine.
Peyton Rose, a junior from Versailles, Ky., also had an excellent day at the plate, batting 3-for-6 with two runs, two RBI, and two doubles in the games today.
HOW IT HAPPENED – WESTERN MICHIGAN
- The Broncos scored first after a bases-loaded single drove in a pair of runs in the top of the second.
- MSU answered back in the bottom of the inning with a bases-loaded single by Kirya Kingery that cut the Western Michigan lead in half.
- WMU pushed the margin back up to two after a single brought home a runner in the top of the fourth.
- Western Michigan kept up the scoring in the top of the sixth with a three-run home run that stretched the lead to a final score of 6-1.
NOTABLE – WESTERN MICHIGAN
- After being hit by a pitch in the bottom of the second, Peyton Slater is now tied for seventh in MSU history in the category with 17 times HBP.
- Freshman Lennon Spicer had the longest outing for an Eagle pitcher this season, throwing a full 7.0 innings.
- Kirya Kingery now ranks second on the team in RBI, earning her fourth on the year with the aforementioned single.
- Freshman Erin Boyle recorded her first hit in an Eagle uniform with a bunt single in the bottom of the second.
HOW IT HAPPENED – BELLARMINE
- The Eagles hit the ground running against Bellarmine, scoring on an RBI single by Alexis Strother and a sac fly by Peyton Jordan to take the lead 2-0 in the top of the first.
- Trinity Spear's single up the middle brought Peyton Rose home after the latter doubled to start the second.
- MSU stretched the lead to five after Peyton Rose's second double of the game drove in two more in the third.
- Bellarmine answered back in the bottom half of the inning with a two-RBI single followed quickly by a single and passed ball that drove in one apiece. A second two-RBI single in the inning allowed Bellarmine to take a 6-5 lead.
- Alexis Strother tied the game with a single that brought Maddi Gailor around to score in the top of the fourth.
- Strother continued to be a nightmare for Bellarmine pitchers as she smacked yet another RBI single that scored two to give MSU an 8-6 lead in the sixth.
NOTABLE – BELLARMINE
- Alexis Strother went a perfect 4-for-4 in the game with a career-high four RBI to lead the Eagles offensively.
- MSU earned 11 hits on the game, tying a season-high previously set in the first game of the year against Norfolk State.
- Peyton Rose now leads the team in doubles after she earned both of her two-baggers on the season in this contest.
- Maddi Gailor scored three times throughout the game to tie a season-high previously set by Peyton Jordan.
UP NEXT
The Eagles will play in their first game at University Field since March 11, 2020, when they host OVC rival Eastern Illinois at 2 pm ET next Saturday. The home-opening series continues the following day with the front half of a doubleheader set to begin at noon while game two is tentatively slated for 2 pm ET.
