The Eastern Kentucky University softball team was eliminated from the ASUN Tournament after a loss to North Florida on May 5.
This game marked the end of the Colonels’ season, which concluded with a record of 27-25-1. The match began with Victoria Byrum starting as pitcher for Eastern Kentucky, followed by relief appearances from Bayle Hunnicutt and Tayteum Vigansky.
North Florida took an early lead in the first inning by scoring two runs. Eastern Kentucky responded in the bottom half of the inning, scoring four runs to take a 4-2 lead. Kennedy Drafton initiated the rally with a single up the middle and later scored on an RBI single by Emily Mariscal. Makayla Mathis tied the game with an RBI double, and Jordan Smith gave Eastern Kentucky its first lead with a two-run single.
Momentum shifted when Cook Taylor entered as pitcher for North Florida during the first inning, limiting Eastern Kentucky’s offense to three hits and one run over seven innings. North Florida tied the game in the third inning and then took a 5-4 lead following a home run in the fourth. In the sixth inning, North Florida extended its advantage to 8-4 after capitalizing on wild pitches and errors.
Eastern Kentucky attempted a comeback in their half of the sixth inning by loading bases and scoring on a sacrifice fly but left two runners stranded. The team was unable to score again in their final at-bat, resulting in an 8-5 defeat.
The Colonels’ season ended after this opening round tournament loss.
