MOREHEAD, Ky. – The Morehead State softball team achieved its best six-game start to an Ohio Valley Conference schedule in school history Tuesday afternoon as the Eagles defeated Eastern Kentucky 2-0 in game one of a doubleheader. The win moved the Eagles to 5-1 in the league. The Colonels responded to shut out the Eagles 5-0 in game two and salvage a split of the doubleheader.
The doubleheader became a case of missed opportunities for both squads as the teams combined to strand 31 runners on the base paths. In the opener, the Eagles (12-13/5-2 OVC) got a two-out, two-run single in the second inning and starter Alex Gjevre made it hold up, tossing a complete three-hitter with six strikeouts. In the second game, EKU hurler Stacye Toups (3-3) scattered six hits but came up with five strikeouts and didn’t allow a run.
After falling to 2-7 to begin the year, Gjevre has now won her last three starts and five games overall to move back to .500 at 7-7. In her last three starts, all OVC wins, she has not allowed an earned run in the span of 15 innings. She also pitched an inning and a third in the second game today and moved over 100 strikeouts for the season.
Eastern Kentucky starter Kristen Perry (4-8) only gave up three hits to the MSU hitters but walked six and hit two batters. She had seven strikeouts.
The Colonels (8-21/3-4 OVC) had the bases loaded with no one out in the top of the first inning, but the Eagles were able to thwart the scoring opportunity. A fly ball in foul territory was caught for the first out by MSU left fielder Sam Woodall. Leadoff batter Diane Gallagher, who had walked, came home to score the apparent first run on the flu out, but the Eagles appealed the play at third and Gallagher was deemed to have left early for the second out. Another walk loaded the bases again, but Gjevre struck out the final batter.
The Eagles scored their two runs in the second. Senior catcher Bianca Cardneas drew the first of her four walks on the day. After Kayla Ashbrook was hit by a Perry pitch, Taylor Sherritt came in to run for Cardenas at second base. Ashbrook and Sherritt each advanced on stolen bases before senior center fielder Courtney Seiler rifled a single up the middle to score both runners.
Cassi Gibson had two of the Colonels’ three hits.
The second game was another case of leaving runners on base and in scoring position. The Eagles stranded eight while the Colonels left nine without scoring. EKU put together nine hits off MSU starter Sarah Funston (5-5) and Gjevre. Both teams committed three errors, leading to three of the Colonels runs being unearned.
Sam Daniels started the scoring for EKU with an RBI single in the second to score Nikki Bruce – who had also singled. EKU loaded the bases with two down in the fourth via a Bruce double, a Melissa Costa hit by pitch and a Daniels’ single. Gjevre came in to relieve Funston and appeared to be able to get out of the inning. Gallagher hit a hard ground ball toward first base. Amber Riddle came up with the ball but her throw to the base eluded Sam Sparks trying to cover. Bruce and Christina Datko scored to make it a 3-0 Colonel lead.
EKU increased its margin to 4-0 when DeeAnn Horswill was hit by a Gjevre pitch with the bases loaded in the fifth inning. The Colonels added their final tally as Raquel Howes tallied an RBI single in the sixth.
Ashbrook was 2-for-3 to lead the Eagles’ six hit effort. Howes, Bruce and Daniels had two hits each for the Colonels.
Morehead State returns to action on Wednesday as it hosts Bellarmine in a doubleheader slated to begin at 2 p.m. EKU and MSU will finish their three-game series on April 14 in Richmond.
