A tough season for the Eastern Michigan softball team has found a bright spot defeating Michigan State 6-5 in nine innings.
The victory also ended a six-game losing streak for the Eagles (10-24) to end a nine-game road trip.
Pitcher Lindsay Rich brought in what turned out to be the winning run in the ninth inning on a successful suicide squeeze. The squeeze bunt was used as an insurance run to extend the lead to 6-4 after center fielder Jenn Lucas hit the go ahead home run to break the 4-4 tie earlier in the frame.
Rich was able to retire two Spartan batters in the bottom of the ninth before yielding a run to tighten the score at 6-5, giving way to Abbie Minsker. Minsker retired the only batter she faced and recorded her first save of the season.
EMU took advantage of poor defense from Michigan State, scoring three runs on three Spartan errors to keep the score tied until the extra innings.
Lucas drove in two runs on the day with one RBI coming from her solo homer in the ninth, and right fielder Michelle Kriegshauser went 2-for-4 with a walk and an RBI as well.
The Eagles return home for a Friday doubleheader against conference rival Buffalo. First pitch for game one is set for 1 p.m. at Varsity Field.
