MOREHEAD, Ky. – The third non-conference meeting between two longtime foes went all Eastern Kentucky's way, as the Morehead State softball team fell to the Colonels 15-9 and 15-1 in five innings on a windy Wednesday at the University Field at Prefontaine Park. It was the first two home contests of an expected five-game homestand for the Blue and Gold.
In the opener, MSU recorded 12 hits to mark the eighth time this season the club has reached double figures, the most times it has achieved that milestone since 2016. The Eagles also had their first three-home run game since April 18, 2018, but it was not enough.
"I was pleased with how well we hit the ball in game one," said Morehead State coach
Megan Griffith. "But we need to do a better job in the field. Four errors is unacceptable."
Game two was never in doubt as the visitors ran away with the contest as the Blue and Gold used four pitchers in the five-inning game.
"In game two, we just ran out of pitchers," Griffith said. "It is a problem we have had all season."
In the first game, Eastern Kentucky (26-9) scored once in the top of the second and then added two more runs in the third, before unloading for six runs in the fourth. Morehead State (4-31) answered with two runs in the third, fourth and fifth innings.
After their first eight batters went down in order, The Eagles picked up their first hit of the day of junior right fielder
Taikibrea Campbell's sixth double of the season. Her shot went to left-center field, marking the ninth straight game she has reached base. On the next at-bat, sophomore shortstop
Sela Pickford homered for her second time of the campaign with a shot over the fence in center field to draw the hosts back within one.
It was a theme that continued throughout the first game.
The Colonels benefitted from six hits and an error in the fourth to pull away for good.
The visitors sent a new pitcher to the circle to start the fourth, but that plan did not work out as she lasted just five batters, surrendering four hits and two runs in her time on the field.
Sophomore third baseman
Kendra Lewis opened by beating out an infield single, before freshman catcher
Nyla Doiron tripled to right field. However, the throw to third base sailed into foul territory in the outfield and Doiron came home.
The Eagles added two more runs in the fifth, courtesy of a two-run homer by senior center fielder
Darlene Montoya. The shot that sailed over the fence in left-center field was her third of the season.
EKU added two more runs in the top of the sixth after Lilly Davis' two-run homer to left field.
Sophomore left fielder
Maddy Christopher legged out a hit that landed between the pitching circle and second base and then moved up on a wild pitch in the sixth, but it was as close as the Eagles would get.
Four more runs on three hits and an error followed in the top of the seventh as Eastern Kentucky surged to a nine-run advantage.
But the Eagles would not go away quietly. After Pickford drew a leadoff walk, freshman second baseman
Victoria Spencer singled to left-center field and then Lewis blasted a shot over the fence in left-center field. The Blue and Gold put two more runners on base, before back-to-back outs ended the contest.
In total, eight MSU players recorded hits, with Spencer, Lewis, Christopher and junior first baseman
Jordan Donato each tallying two. Lewis added team highs of three runs and three RBI. Pickford finished 1-for-3, with two runs and two RBI; Montoya went 1-for-3, with two RBI and a run; Doiron was 1-for-3, with an RBI, run and a walk; and Campbell finished 1-for-3, with a run. Spencer, Montoya and Doiron also scored once apiece.
Nine different Colonels registered a hit and 10 scored. Jaelin Haynes (2-for-5, one), Sharyn Duncan (2-for-5, three RBI, two runs), Skyler Billips (2-for-3, run) and Makayla Mathis (2-for-3, two runs) led the way.
Morehead State used two pitchers. Junior
Emma Solis started and lasted three innings before being saddled with the loss. She fell to 2-11 on the year. Solis allowed four runs (three earned) on four hits, with two strikeouts and two walks. Junior
Rylie Burney finished the game by pitching the final four innings. She allowed 11 runs (six earned) on nine hits, with two walks and no strikeouts.
Starter Victoria Byrum (9-1) pitched for six innings, yielding seven runs on seven hits, with six strikeouts and two walks. Lauren Navaez threw for one-third of an inning and gave up two runs on four hits. Brooke Davis pitched two-thirds of an inning and allowed one hit. Neither had a strikeout or walk.
It was all EKU in the second game. It scored four times in the first, six times in the second, once in the third, and twice in both the fourth and fifth to come away with the win. It allied 12 hits.
Morehead State ended with four hits and scored its lone run in the third.
Pickford started the action with a single to right-center field. Then Lewis and Montoya each drew a walk, and Doiron was hit by a pitch.
The Eagles got runners on base in every inning but left seven stranded.
Maddi Rutan was the star of the game as she hit three home runs, including a grand slam in the fourth, finishing 4-for-4, with four runs and eight RBI. Her other hit was a triple. Reese Knox added a 2-for-3, two-run, one-RBI effort. Eight Colonels had hits and seven scored.
Pickford, Montoya, Doiron and Christopher each notched hits for the hosts. Pickford scored the lone run.
Morehead State used four pitchers for the second time this season and in the last 11 days. Solis pitched one inning, giving up six hits and four runs to claim the loss and fall to 2-12. She did not have a strikeouts or walk. Redshirt freshman
Delaney Overstreet and Campbell both threw for two innings and surrendered four runs on three hits. One of Overstreet's runs was unearned. Overstreet also walked three, while Campbell walked two. Neither had a strikeout. Junior
Alivia Parks faced three batters and allowed three runs on two walks and no hits. She also hit a batter.
Tayteum Viganski (4-0) earned the win after 2.2 innings of work. She yielded one run on two hits, with one strikeout and three walks. Davis pitched 1.1 shutout innings and surrendered one hit. She had a strikeout and no walks. Emma Bethel threw one inning to close the game and allowed one hit, with no strikeouts or walks.
Although the Eagles did raise their total contests with five or more hits to 24 times this season, they committed four errors for the second and third times in the last four outings. They also fell to 3-6 at home this spring.
It was the first two meetings since 2023, in a series that has met all but two years since 1993. EKU improved to 69-26 in its history against MSU, winning for the 25th and 26th time in the last 29 outings. The Colonels have now been victorious in 11 of the last 12 games played in Morehead.
Morehead State will remain at home this weekend, where it is scheduled to play UT Martin twice on Saturday and once on Sunday. However, with rain in the forecast, there is a high likelihood that the games will be moved to different days. If they hold as currently scheduled, the teams will face off at noon and 2:30 p.m. on Saturday and noon on Sunday.
