MOREHEAD, Ky. – Playing against an NCAA Division I opponent in Morehead State, softball was shut down by solid pitching in both ends of the doubleheader as the host Eagles (10-6) took both games Wednesday afternoon. The first game saw the Bears pitching limit Morehead State to just two runs but the offense was unable to produce any runs of their own in support of that pitching. In the second game, the offense was again stymied while the Eagles pushed six runs across the plate.
Ali Thompson got the ball in the circle for game one and went the distance against her Division I foes, allowing eight hits over six innings and the two earned runs. She started off the game with two quick ground outs but an infield single, walk and two-out RBI double would bring home the first run of the game in the bottom of the first inning.
The Bears best chance to score in the opening game came during the top of the third when Kelsey Jenkins doubled to left-center field to start the inning. With one out, Ericka Leighty doubled into right field but Jenkins had to hold up and make sure the ball was not caught, causing her to have to stop at third on the play. Morehead State would strike out the next batter and get a lineout to center to end the threat.
SSU also put the leadoff runners in Katy Bender and Leighty on base to start the fifth and sixth innings, respectively. However, the Eagles' starter Katie Pfost would work around those leadoff base runners as she allowed just four hits over the seven innings. Leighty was the only Bears player to record a pair of hits in the opener while Kirsti Yates and Jenkins recorded the other two hits.
Allie Chapman got the start in game two and allowed just one infield single in the second inning over the first three innings as she shut down Morehead State early on by retiring nine of the first 10 batters that she faced. The Bears had an opportunity to take the lead in the second inning when Holly Brabson reached on an error and Abbey Barrett singled to put runners first and second with no outs. However, two straight strikeouts and a grounder to first would hold SSU off the scoreboard.
Morehead State scored the second game's first run in the bottom of the fourth. The Eagles started the inning with a single that was followed up by back-to-back doubles to make the score 2-0. However, Chapman would let it get no further out of reach for the time being as the Eagles next hitter singled before the Bears' hurler would get three groundouts from the next four hitters to escape further damage.
The hosts pulled away late with the help of three doubles, a single, wild pitch and fielding error in the outfield during the bottom of the sixth as the Eagles added four more runs in their final at-bats and end up with the 6-0 victory.
Like Thompson in the opening game, Chapman went the distance and allowed runs in just two of the six innings that she pitched. She would allow just nine hits and be charged with five earned runs during her time in the circle. The Bears also finished the second game with four hits as Yates, Barrett, Bender and Jenkins all collected hits.
Softball will be back in Mid-South Conference action this weekend with a doubleheader Saturday at the University of the Cumberlands. The first game will start at 1 p.m.
