Richmond, Ky. --- The Tennessee State University softball
team split a doubleheader with Eastern Kentucky on Friday, dropping game one, 4-3,
before defeating the Colonels, 6-3, in game two.
In game one, Tennessee State (9-17, 4-5 OVC) jumped out to a
3-0 lead in the second inning but saw the advantage slip away in the next frame.
Eastern Kentucky (9-22, 4-5 OVC) went ahead, 4-3, in the fourth and never
trailed again.
A single by Tamara Perkins and a double by Brittany Webb
along with three Eastern Kentucky errors, led to TSU scoring three runs before
the Colonels answered with three to tie the game, 3-3, in the third.
EKU took a, 4-3, lead in the fourth and held the advantage
for the rest of the game. The Tiger batters went down in order in the fifth and
sixth. The first two batters went down in the seventh before Katie Jordan was
hit by a pitch to put the tying run on base. However, a ground ball to the
pitcher ended the game.
Natalie Papini (0-2) was charged with the loss while Stayce
Toups (4-3) picked up the win for EKU. Tennessee State only tallied four hits
in the contest compared to Eastern Kentucky's 10.
The second game of the day saw TSU once again jump out to an
early lead. After Brittany Webb crossed the plate to give TSU a 1-0 lead Tamara Perkins hit a three-run homer down the left field line to make the score 4-0 in
favor of the Tigers.
EKU got on the board in the bottom of the third with a run
to make the score, 4-1, but TSU increased its lead back up to, 5-1, when Brooke Blackford singled to right center to score Webb.
EKU rallied to within one, 5-4, behind a three-run inning in
the fourth. The Tigers, however, were able to add an insurance run in the top
of the fifth and keep the Colonels at bay.
Caitlin Eaton (2-for-2) and Brooke Blackford (2-for-4) each
recorded two hits for TSU while Tamara Perkins led the team with three RBI.
Hannah Schnebly (5-5) earned the win for TSU. She threw four
strikeouts and didn't allow any earned runs in 3.2 innings pitched.
Game time for tomorrow's series conclusion has been changed
to 12 p.m. ET.
