The Eastern Michigan University softball team lost a tough 6-5 game to the Kennesaw State University Owls Sunday afternoon at Kennesaw State in a rematch of Saturday afternoon’s contest, when the Eagles lost 7-0.
Kennesaw State junior catcher Angie Dascoli’s RBI single to left field in the bottom of the seventh inning ended up being the decisive run of the game.
The Eagles pitching was solid through the game. All three of Eastern’s pitchers contributed, combining to give up only 10 hits during the game. But the pitching only came up with two strikeouts and allowed six earned runs.
Sophomore pitcher Lindsay Rich started the game and pitched for 2 2/3 innings. She allowed five hits, four runs and provided the only two strikeouts for Eastern.
Senior Jenna Ignowski pitched for 1 1/3 innings. Ignowski allowed only one hit and one run, but gave up three walks. Junior Lauren Wells pitched for two innings and allowed four hits and three walks, taking her third straight loss for the Eagles.
For Kennesaw State, Monica Vickery got the start. In pitching 2 1/3 innings, she gave up six hits, three runs, striking out two and walking one batter.
Morgan Sikes followed her and pitched 1 2/3 perfect innings; she struck out two batters. Amanda Henderson pitched the final three innings; she gave up two runs (one earned) on two hits, while walking three and striking out five.
Kennesaw State scored three quick runs in the first inning, but the Eagles came out in the second and began to chip away at the deficit.
KSU freshman outfielder Mady Hostetler and freshman catcher Aoife Duffy both reached base to set up sophomore outfielder Jenn Lucas with a scoring opportunity. Lucas delivered, as she doubled into center field and drove in both runners.
The Eagles tied the game in the top of the third inning on a Courtney Nicholson RBI single, scoring senior outfielder Katy Blaharski.
The Owls quickly answered in the home half of the third with an RBI double from Alexis Collis. They added another run in the bottom of the fifth on an infield single from junior outfielder Carly Van Auken.
The Eagles attempted to mount a comeback in the seventh.
Van Auken grounded out to the shortstop but was able to score Lucas.
Nicholson also seized an opportunity as she singled to short. A bad throw sent her to second base and Blaharski was able to score, tying the game at six.
The Owls would have one more chance to take the win and avoid extra innings. With a double to center field and an RBI single by Dascoli the Owls defeated the Eagles.
The Eagles finished the Georgia Tech-Kennesaw State invitational with a 2-3 record.
The Eagles kick off the Florida Atlantic University Tournament on March 1. The game begins at 1 p.m. as they take on the Jacksonville University Dolphins in Boca Raton, Fla.
