Thursday, March 16, 2006

JOHNSON CITY, Tenn. (March 16, 2006) - Kelsey Anderson hurled a two-hit shutout in game one and slammed a three-run homerun in game two, helping the Eastern Kentucky softball team to 6-0, and 9-3 victories over ETSU, Thursday at Metro-Kiwanis Park.  EKU improves to 12-10 on the season, while the Lady Bucs fall to 7-18.

Leading 1-0, the Colonels pounded ETSU hurler Courtney Jenkins (Knoxville, Tenn.) for four runs in the top of the third, including a three-run blast from Becky Werle. 

Anderson carried a no hitter into the bottom of the fourth, when Stephanie Gaynord (Manassas, Va.) roped a double to left center.  The Lady Bucs' second base knock came from Mary Catherine Vercoe (Signal Mountain, Tenn.), who belted a double in the fifth.

EKU slammed eight hits on the game, while recording an errorless effort in the field.  Anderson pitched a gem to improve to 7-4, fanning eight Lady Bucs in a complete 7.0 innings of work.  Chanze Patterson led EKU at the plate with a pair of hits.

ETSU committed four errors in the loss, with Jenkins (1-8) giving up five hits and five runs in just 2 2/3 innings.  Brittany Lehrschall (Leland, N.C.) managed to hold the Colonels at bay in relief, giving up just three hits and one unearned score in 4 1/3 innings.

The Lady Bucs finally got their bats going in game two, posting six hits.  ETSU managed to load the bases with no outs in the bottom of the seventh, but couldn't put any runs across thanks to a stellar Colonel defensive effort.

Eastern Kentucky jumped ahead early, scoring three runs in the first behind a three-run blast from Anderson.  The Lady Bucs responded with a first-inning run of their own, with Briana Knight (Brier, Wash.) coming home on a groundout by Vercoe. 

The Colonels tacked on another pair of runs in the second with Kalyn Fox scoring on a wild pitch, and Alex Merrell crossing the plate after an ETSU error.  ETSU had three miscues on the game.  Fox would hurt ETSU again in the fifth, smashing a two-run shot over the left-field fence.

The Lady Bucs would add a pair of runs in the third with Gaynord, who had two hits in game two, scoring on a botched pick-off attempt, and Knight scoring another run, this time on a groundout by Jessie Hackworth (Clinton, Tenn.).  But those were all the runs the Lady Bucs could muster on the afternoon.

Vercoe (2-7) took the loss in 4 2/3 innings in the circle, allowing seven hits and nine runs, six earned.  Once again, Lehrschall took the mound in relief and cooled the Colonel bats, giving up no runs and no hits in 2 1/3 innings. 

Fox got the win for EKU, improving to 4-4 on the year.  EKU managed seven hits in the nightcap, while committing three errors.

The Lady Bucs begin Atlantic Sun action this weekend, playing at Kennesaw State on Saturday, March 18.  The first pitch of the doubleheader is slated for 2 p.m., in Kennesaw, Ga.