LOUISVILLE, Ky. — Eastern Kentucky used several big innings to snag a pair of wins against Bellarmine at Knights Field on Saturday afternoon.
The Colonels (9-32, 5-12 ASUN) used just six innings to total 21 runs, besting the Knights (10-34, 1-16 ASUN) by a final score of 10-3 in game one and 11-3 (6 innings) in game two.
Game One
EKU set the tone early in the first contest, scoring three runs in the first inning. A Jeanay Riley walk set up a two-run home run for Maggie Pertee. The Colonels tacked on one more with a RBI single from Vianna Barron later in the inning.
After six of the first seven Bellarmine batters were retired, Eastern Kentucky picked the offense up against in the third inning. Barron hit her second RBI single of the day to make it 4-0, while an Aryana Miranda double and throwing error from right field made it 6-0. Riley's RBI single with two outs gave EKU a comfortable 7-0 advantage in the top of the third.
The Knights then answered with two outs in the home half of the third inning.
Emily O'Dee looped the first hit of the game down the left field line for a single.
Alexis Hargrove stepped up and blasted the 1-2 pitch over the left-center field fence to make it 7-2. The home run was Hargrove's fifth of the season, matching her mark from the shortened 2020 campaign.
EKU, however, had more runs up its sleeve in the sixth. Lou Bowers walked to bring home Riley and a two-RBI double from Carly Robinson propelled the Colonels to a 10-2 lead. The Knights extended the game an
Olivia Bricker RBI single in the home half of the sixth, but ultimately fell 10-3.
Eastern Kentucky only out-hit Bellarmine 8-7, but the Colonels drew nine walks and Bellarmine did not draw one. EKU also churned out four extra-base hits, while the Knights had two.
Hannah Webb singled in the sixth inning to extend her hit streak to eight games, while
Chloe Collins went 2-3, resulting in a 5-8 stretch over a three-game stretch.
Samantha Reynoso pitched the first four innings for EKU and earned the win, while Kaitlyn Young pitched the final three and got the save.
Carson Goatley tossed the first inning for the Knights, while
Megan Murphy pitched 4.1, and
Claire Lehmkuhler threw the final 1.2 innings.
Game Two
The second game stayed close through four innings, but EKU racked up seven runs the final two frames to take the 11-3 victory in six innings.
An early four-spot in the second inning gave EKU another head start. Miranda drove home the first run with a RBI single to shortstop. Matira Morales proceeded to hit a RBI double and Miranda later came around to score on a wild pitch.
Sydney Young saved the Knights a run with an excellent throw to third base and
Anna Greenwell to pick off Morales. Morales would have scored on Samantha Reynoso's home run which instead put EKU ahead 4-0.
Bellarmine got two back in the fourth inning, which started with a Webb single to left field. Collins then walked, and Carly Ziegler laid down a bunt single. Young got the Knights on the board by floating a single to left field, and Bricker hit a sacrifice fly to left to draw Bellarmine within two.
EKU dropped five runs, however, in the fifth and scored two more in the sixth to seal the run-rule victory. The Knights picked up an unearned run in the sixth but could do no more, falling 11-3.
Webb's fourth-inning single extended her hit streak to nine games, matching a career high.
Lauren Narvaez pitched five innings for EKU and earned the win, while the Knights again used all three pitchers in the second contest.
The Knights wrap up their home schedule and honor the seniors on Senior Day tomorrow at 12:00 p.m. at Knights Field. The Senior Day ceremony will begin at 11:35 a.m.
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