The Eastern Michigan University softball team snapped a 13-game losing streak Tuesday afternoon with a 5-3 win over the Youngstown State University Penguins at Varsity Field in game one of an afternoon doubleheader.
“[The win] felt amazing,” freshman catcher Aoife Duffy said after the game. “To come out and stop that losing streak so we can win more games after that.”
Junior Lauren Wells (ND, 0-15) got the start for the Eagles (11-25-1) in game one. She lasted 3 2/3 innings, giving up one earned run on three hits. She struck out five batters, but walked
six. Her ERA jumped from 6.07 to 7.54.
“I thought that Lauren Wells did a good job,” sophomore pitcher Lindsay Rich said. “But things happen and you have to change things up. But I think she did a great job.”
Rich (W, 5-5) came in to relieve Wells in the fourth inning and earned the win. She went 3 1/3 innings in relief, giving up two earned runs on three hits. She struck out one batter and did not issue any walks.
“I think the pitching was solid,” Duffy said. “We have a couple of things to work on here and there, but it will come in time. We’ll get it.”
Duffy finished the game 1-for-2, raising her batting average to .142, in the backup catcher’s 14th start of the season.
“There’s always room for improvement,” Duffy said. “But I’m glad my hitting is finally becoming a process and that I’m slowly getting back to what I was in the fall, so I’m happy about that.”
Kayla Haslett (L, 0-5) got the start for Youngstown State (9-17).
She pitched a complete game, giving up five runs (four earned) on seven hits, while striking out five Eagle batters and walking one.
Youngstown State got on the board quickly with an RBI single from shortstop Kelly Stowe with two outs in the top of the first inning.
The Eagles would tie the game in the bottom of the third on a sacrifice fly from senior third baseman Nellie Coquillard, scoring sophomore left fielder Jenn Lucas.
Lucas would add to the Eagle lead one inning later with a three-run double, scoring Rich, senior designated hitter Courtney Loe and sophomore pinch runner Cassidy Jenkins. The team would add one more run in the fifth, on an RBI-double from Coquillard, scoring senior center fielder Courtney Nicholson.
In the top of the seventh, Youngstown State attempted to start a rally with a two-run homer from catcher Vicky Rumph, but Rich put an end to the rally by retiring the final two batters and securing the win for EMU.
