MOREHEAD, Ky. – The Morehead State softball team put its first seven batters on base as part of a 4-0 first inning, but that early edge and a 10-hit barrage over the course of the day was not enough to snap its winless skid as visiting SIU Edwardsville claimed a 9-5 victory in the Ohio Valley Conference opener for both teams at MSU's University Field Saturday afternoon.
It also was the home opener for Morehead State (1-19/0-1) which has now dropped nine straight contests at the University Field dating back to March 23, 2024. In total, the Blue and Gold has fallen in its last 11 games.
"We really brought out the bats today and also ran the bases well," said MSU coach
Megan Griffith. "We just gave the game away with a lot of self-inflicted mistakes."
After SIUE (8-9/1-0) leadoff batter Lauren Yslava began with a single and then stole second base, it was all the Eagles. Sophomore left fielder
Maddy Christopher opened the MSU first with a single to center field. Freshman right fielder
Sophie Collins followed with an infield single, before senior catcher
Ilencia Lightbody knocked her fifth career homer, this time over the center-field fence, to give the hosts a 3-0 advantage.
Then sophomore third baseman
Kendra Lewis drew a walk, freshman designated player
Victoria Spencer and senior centerfielder
Darlene Montoya had back-to-back singles forcing the Cougars to make a change in the circle. After sophomore shortstop
Sela Pickford reached on a fielder's choice, junior second baseman
Jordan Donato plated Spencer to extend the lead to 4-0.
The Eagles eventually sent 10 batters to the plate.
However, SIUE answered with four runs in the top of the second, helped by three Eagle errors. The Cougars collected two hits in the inning but were aided by two hit batsmen and a wild pitch that resulted in all four runs being unearned.
The Blue and Gold moved ahead again in the bottom of the third after freshman first baseman
Nyla Doiron doubled home Montoya.
The score remained 5-4 in favor of MSU until the visitors scored twice in the top of the fifth. The Cougars picked up a pair of hits, including an RBI single from Emma Henderson, that helped lift SIUE in front for the first time. Henderson also scored on a wild pitch for the go-ahead run.
SIUE broke the game open in the top of the seventh after two of its first three batters singled. Reserve outfielder Danielle Shuey's home run over the fence in right-center field pushed the margin to four.
MSU battled in the bottom of the seventh, putting two batters on base with two-out singles. Henderson then came into the circle to secure the final out and get the save.
SIUE continues its stranglehold on the series, particularly in Morehead, where it now leads 19-4. Overall, it holds a 31-7 advantage.
Montoya led the Eagles with a 3-for-4, run-scoring performance. Lightbody finished 2-for-4 with three RBI and one run. Spencer also ended 2-for-4, with a run.
Yslava went 2-for-5 at the plate, adding both an RBI and a run, to pace the victors. Kaytlynn Slayars also was 2-for-5. Henderson and Raegan Duncan were both 1-for-3, with two runs scored.
Junior
Rylie Burney (0-9) suffered the loss. She gave up nine runs (five earned) on nine hits, while walking three and striking out two in a complete-game effort. However, she was hurt by hitting five batters and notching five wild pitches.
Kiana Villa picked up the win in her first decision of the season after throwing 6.2 innings in relief. She allowed five hits and no earned runs. Henderson earned the save after facing just one batter. She finished with a strikeout. Starter Avery Arwood pitched to six batters but was unable to get an out. She allowed four runs (all earned) on five hits and a walk.
The two teams will meet again for a doubleheader on Sunday at noon. The original schedule featured two contests on Saturday but early in the week was switched to its current format due to a threat of rain.
Live stats for Game 2 can be found at:
https://stats.statbroadcast.com/broadcast/?id=571440&vislive=siue, with Game 3 at:
https://stats.statbroadcast.com/broadcast/?id=571441&vislive=siue.
MSU will be on the road for its next four games, beginning with a single contest at Northern Kentucky on Wednesday, Mar. 12 at 4 p.m. The team will travel for a three-game series at Eastern Illinois next weekend, before returning home to host Southern Indiana on March 22-23.
