Eastern Kentucky's Big Sixth Dooms Softball Friday Afternoon, 8-6

Friday, February 23

Macon, Ga.

12:15 p.m.

Drexel University

0-1

Eastern Kentucky

6-4

Team	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	Runs R	Hits H	Errors E
DREXEL	0	0	0	3	0	2	1	6	8	1
Eastern Kentucky	1	0	0	0	0	7	X	8	7	5

Photo by: Greg Carroccio

Eastern Kentucky's Big Sixth Dooms Softball Friday Afternoon, 8-6

2/23/2018 3:18:00 PM | Softball

Box Score

MACON, Ga. -- Eastern Kentucky used a seven-run sixth inning to comeback to beat the Drexel softball team Friday afternoon in the Dragons' season-opener at Mercer's Black and Orange Challenge in Macon, Ga., 8-6. Linda Rush led the Dragons, going 2-for-4 with a two-run homer and a two-run double in the game.

The Dragons were cruising into the bottom of the sixth with a 5-1 lead, thanks to Rush's two-run homer to left-center in the top half of the frame. In the bottom of the sixth, Colonels' catcher Zoe Mihalicz drilled a solo shot to center to cut the Drexel lead to 5-2. After Emily Corbitt doubled to left, the Dragons got two quick pop-up outs. Eastern Kentucky was not ready for the sixth to come to a close, though. Mattira Morales stepped up and knocked in Corbitt with a pinch-hit single followed by a walk, which then knocked Drexel pitcher Brooklyn Daly out of the game. Head coach Carl Taylor called upon the lefty Katie Haley to face Paige Murphy with two on and two out. Murphy would get the best of the matchup, mashing a three-run home run to center for the lead. Then after a single to the next batter, the Colonels hit their third homer of the inning, this time a two-run shot off the bat of cleanup hitter Hannah Clark to take an 8-5 advantage. Drexel would get one back in the seventh, but would ultimately fall short, 8-6.

Eastern Kentucky opening the scoring with an RBI single off the bat of Mihalicz in the first. The Dragons then got three-back on a double by Rush, which scored three, including one on a throwing error, to set up the wild sixth inning.

Haley, who gave up three earned without recording an out, took the loss for the Dragons, while Samantha Reynoso earned her second win after tossing three innings in relief. The Dragons' starter, Daly, finished with a line of five earned on four hits and six walks in 5 2/3 innings. Drexel third baseman Hannah Walker had the team's other multi-hit game, going 2 for 3 with a walk and a run scored. Eastern Kentucky improved to 6-4 in the early going, while Drexel dropped to 0-1.

The Dragons take on Mercer this afternoon in Game 2 at the Mercer Black and Orange Challenge. Competition at the tournament continues through Sunday.